Himachal moves in to curb spread of alien plant species

The state forest department has decided to prepare an effective strategy to tackle the spread of alien plant species Lantana and Congress Grass,which is not only spoiling the landscape but also effecting the native plant species.

The state forest department has decided to prepare an effective strategy to tackle the spread of alien plant species Lantana and Congress Grass,which is not only spoiling the landscape but also effecting the native plant species.

Over the last two decades,these species have become a cause of serious concern from the ecological,biodiverse,socio-economic and health points of view. Though the list of such plant species is a fairly long one,Lantana (Lantana camara),Congress Grass (Parthenium Hysterophorus),Neela-Phulnu (Ageratum Conyzoides) and Crofton Weed (Eupatorium Adenophorum) four exotic weed species are the subject of immediate attention, said Dr G S Goraya,Chief Conservator of Forests (Floral Diversity).

In this regard,a two-day workshop was held at Sundernagar to analyse the extent of the problem and work out a strategy to meet the challenge. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,Vinay Tandon and Chairman of Punjab University Botany Department,R K Kohli,was among the key figures who participated in the meet.

The workshop unanimously acknowledged the enormity of the problem and asked a shift of focus on Lantana. The steps proposed included containing the spread by starting from newly infested areas and moving towards the high infested areas,developing a nucleus and radiate from there,basic resilience of the native flora for rehabilitation by relying on natural regeneration to be supplemented by planting with bamboo,broad leaved and grass species.

The scientists were opposed to recommending chemical or biological methods for tackling the problem.

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Himachal moves in to curb spread of alien plant species

The state forest department has decided to prepare an effective strategy to tackle the spread of alien plant species Lantana and Congress Grass,which is not only spoiling the landscape but also effecting the native plant species.

Himachal moves in to curb spread of alien plant species

The state forest department has decided to prepare an effective strategy to tackle the spread of alien plant species Lantana and Congress Grass,which is not only spoiling the landscape but also effecting the native plant species.