Impact of alien plants on Western Ghats causes concern

Published : Jun 15, 2023 11:00 IST - 7 MINS READ A 2020 study showed that the Lantana camara, a tropical American shrub, has invaded more than 40 per cent of India’s tiger habitats, threatening them through a causal chain that ultimately depletes the tiger’s prey base. Forest departments and non-profits have been largely unsuccessful in their efforts to control them since tailormade national policies or legal frameworks to tackle their spread are nearly non-existent in India. “Forest departments and non-profits have been largely unsuccessful in their efforts to control invasive species since tailor-made national policies or legal frameworks to tackle their spread are nearly non-existent in India.” “Later,” said Keshavan, “the tree started spreading, and now it is everywhere in the sanctuary, including in the barren and dry eucalyptus plantations, along the river banks and swamps. Villagers of Nedumthana and Begur forest hamlets in the Tholpetty range also say that the Senna is destroying their forests and the State should do something to stop its spread.” Uprooting Senna saplings, he added, “We can find a solution but we must start soon.” Highlights One of the commonest and deadliest invasive trees of the Western Ghats is the Senna spectabilis. It is essential to understand the manner of spread to develop strategies for region-specific management of the species High survival rate The Senna spreads mostly in open areas, monoculture plantations, and riparian forests.