Many plant species vanishing from city: report

Based on his work experience in the field of biodiversity and the projects he carried out in the western ghats,professor Sanjeev B Nalavade cites many reasons for these plant species becoming endangered. According to him,factors like extraction,collection,harvesting or logging of these plants for making of ayurvedic drugs and for religious purposes,have played a major role in the extinction of such plants.

“Besides,there are other causes,too,like over-grazing,forest fires and habitat destruction,” said Nalavade,who is working as an associate professor and head of the department of Geography at Fergusson College. He is

also the honorary advisor with RANWA,a city-based NGO that works for the

biodiversity.

One of the major reasons that botanist PK Ghanekar lists is that the indigenous species are facing competition from the exotic plants.

“Exotic plants like Parthenium Hysterophorus and Cassia Biflora are very aggressive and grow at a high speed. They act as the natural enemies for the indigenous plant species by depriving them from local flora elements,” said Ghanekar,who was also the head of the Botany Department,Garware College and has written three books on the subject.

As per the experts,there are several other factors that are responsible for the rarity of these plants. For example,as compared to the exotic plants,indigenous plants grow at a slow pace.

There are very few flowering plants in this category,which again makes them less attractive for the people

who prefer to have exotic plants because of their look and fragrance.

The change in the micro-climatic condition has also contributed to their struggle for existence. If the plant has some use,it is exploited indiscriminately,otherwise it is simply cut off.

“Absence of the pollinators for these species is another reason,” adds botanist Sachin Punekar.

Commenting on what measures can be taken to get the situation under control,Nalavade said,“Although it is difficult to implement,various steps can be taken. For instance cultivation of endangered plant species on commercial basis,banning collection of these plants from the wild and conserving source area of such plants.”

Botanist Punekar suggests methods like tissue culture and re-introducing the species to their natural habitat.