Invasive alien plants in Nilgiri Biosphere Region

Invasive alien plants in Nilgiri Biosphere Region

Part of: GS Prelims and GS III- Environment

In News

• Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health
• The spread of invasive plants, especially Senna Spectabilis, is posing a major threat to the Nilgiri forest region, owing to its quick growth and coppicing character
  • The thick foliage arrests the growth of other indigenous species of trees and grass, and causes food shortage for the wildlife population, especially herbivores, during summer. 
  • Moreover, wildlife would not feed on the leaves of the tree as it was not palatable for them
• The plant started to invade in adjacent tiger reserves, including Bandipur and Nagarhole in Karnataka and the Mudumalai tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu