Why in news?
A December 2025 study published in Nature Sustainability reveals that invasive alien plants are invading 15,500 square kilometers of India's natural areas annually, doubling their range in sensitive regions like the Western Ghats, Himalayas, and Northeast.
Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts
- Invasions threaten biodiversity by suppressing native plants, impacting over 100,000 square kilometers of tiger habitat and 11,700 square kilometers of wild herbivore ranges by 2022.
They cause economic losses of $127.3 billion in India from 1960-2020, block access to pastures and water, and harm livelihoods through respiratory issues from species like Prosopis juliflora.
Key Invasive Species in India
- Lantana camara: Invades forests like Kanha Tiger Reserve, reducing native plants and herbivore forage, potentially impacting tigers.
- Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Chokes rivers and lakes, depleting oxygen and harming fisheries.
- Prosopis juliflora: Spreads in arid areas, outcompeting natives.
- African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): Dominates waterways, threatening native fish.
- Parthenium hysterophorus (Congress grass): Infests farmlands, causing allergies.
Management Efforts
- Kerala's forest department launched a mission in November 2025 to eradicate invasive plants.
- Experts urge a national strategy with rapid detection, risk assessment, ecosystem restoration, and public awareness to counter this escalating threat.
Way forward
- Establish a national invasive species alert and early warning cell for coordinated surveillance and rapid response.
- Develop a unified national policy and legislation specifically for invasive alien species, defining roles across ministries and imposing penalties.
- Strengthen border biosecurity with strict quarantine, risk assessments, and regulations on imports of plants and animals.
- Prioritize integrated management using mechanical, chemical, and biological controls, followed by native species restoration.
- Launch public awareness campaigns and train locals for community-led monitoring, removal, and habitat rehabilitation.
Download Pdf
