Effect of Invasive plants

  • October 1, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Effect of Invasive plants

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context – Some states banning and taking steps to control invasive plants

Gujarat banned Conocarpus plants

Significance/ Background- To increase forest cover in Gujarat, Conocarpus plants was used in recent years.

Effects-

  1. Harm local flora and fauna-
    • Cause diseases- cold, cough, asthma
    • Roots go deep inside and damage telecommunication lines and freshwater system
    • Unsuitable to plant eating animals
    • Kills competition (against Gause rule)- eg- Delhi- Vilayatikikar taken over native trees like- acacia, kadamb etc
    • Depletes water table
    • Reduce fodder availability in forests for animas- chances of animals foraying into human settlements increases- man animal conflicts (WII study )
  2. Adverse impact on human health too

Other states taking similar steps-

  1. Telangana banned same plant.
Effect of Invasive plants Environment