The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Conference on invasive plants

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Monday, Jan 05, 2009
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Conference on invasive plants

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Why does India still not have a policy for prevention and management of invasive plants which are affecting the country’s ecosystem? Is economic exploitation of invasive plants a method to control their growth? Will uncontrolled growth of invasive plants affect the country’s economy?

These are the crucial issues that will be discussed during a three-day international conference on “Invasive plants in tropics: Ecology, Management and Livelihoods” organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), and the School of Ecology and Conservation, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, which began on Sunday.

Meera Saksena C., Principal Secretary, Forests, Ecology and Environment, who inaugurated the conference, stressed the need for implementing the results of research on effects of invasive plants. The Forest Department, which is witnessing the effect of Lantana Camara on the growth of grass in Bandipur reserved forest area, is keen on implementing measures to curb the growth of invasive plants to preserve the ecosystem.

K.V. Sankaran, coordinator, Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network, quoting studies as saying, pointed out that a large amount of money was being spent in developed countries to prevent the growth of invasive plants, and about 5 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product was being spent for this purpose.

However, in India, there was neither a policy nor the technology to prevent entry of invasive plants as well as the growth of existing ones, Dr. Sankaran said, stressing the need for creating awareness among the people on such plants through the local bodies. He said funds should also be earmarked for the purpose.

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