more-in In an effort to revive forest patches with natives plant species, Forest Department is currently carrying out removal of invasive plant species in Sirumugai range in Coimbatore. Senior officials with the Forest Department told The Hindu that invasive plants like Prosopis juliflora (seemai karuvelam) and Lantana camara (Unni chedi) are removed from the backwater area of Bhavani dam in Sirumugai. The special drive is expected to improve the backwater area where large number of herbivorous animals graze. “Lantana camara is the single largest invasive plant species in the forests of Tamil Nadu. Invasive plants are removed from 50 to 100 hectares of forest land a year in Coimbatore. This has been conducted for the last five years and the special drive is held in Sirumugai range this year. The results have been good,” said S. Ramasubramanian, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle. According to Mr. Ramasubramanian, Lantana camara has been posing threat to native plants and shrubs as they area spreading fast in forests. As berries of the shrub are favourite feed for birds, their droppings also aids seed distribution in the forests. K. Kalidasan of Osai said that Lantana camara has occupied natural grass lands in forests that are ideal for elephants. The thick shrubs also block movement of herbivorous animals. “Grass accounts to nearly 60 % of the food consumed by an elephant. With Lantana camara increasingly occupying the grasslands, the natural fodder for elephants in forests will be a question in the future,” said Mr. Kalidasan. He said that a scientific study needs to be conducted on the invasive species in the forests of Tamil Nadu and a protocol set for the eradication of such species and revive native plants. Mr. Ramasubramanian said that the invasive plants were removed manually as well as with the help of earthmovers as even roots left in the ground may help it regrow. Prosopis juliflora, a good firewood, removed from the forests are later sold. Funding for the activity comes from Tamilnadu Bio-Diversity Conservation and Greening Project, Special Area Development Project and Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) and Opuntia ficus-indica, a species of cactus, are also spreading fast in the forests of Tamil Nadu. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is another invasive plant species that is spreading fast in the grasslands of the Nilgiris.

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