India knows its invasive species problem but this is why nobody can deal with it properly

In 1993, the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into legal effect to conserve biological diversity, ensure that biological diversity would be used sustainably and that its benefits would be shared equitably. The Conference of Parties (CoP), the governing body in charge of implementing the CBD’s decisions, is now meeting for the 13th time at Cancun, Mexico. One item on the agenda, during the two-week meeting that started on December 4, is a review of progress on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020) and the related Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The plan and targets were adopted during the 10th CoP at Nagoya in Japan’s Aichi prefecture, in 2010

The Cutting Edge of Conservation

Mention the word ‘conservation’ and for most people the mental images evoked are of tigers,elephants, giant pandas, marine turtles, or of imposing liana-festooned tropical rain forests. But conservation is as much about these iconic creatures and habitats as it is about other, less photogenic things: the tribal forest-dweller who depends on wild fruits for her livelihood and subsistence; the hill farmer deciding between growing an organic apple orchard or selling his land to a developer wanting to build a mountain-view resort; the decision-makers sitting in far-off cities amending the wildlife protection act, or formulating policies about land use

Factors influencing the local scale colonisation and change in density of a widespread invasive plant species, Lantana camara, in South India

Identifying factors that underlie invasive species colonisation and change in density could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of biological invasions and for invasive species management. We examined a suite of factors potentially influencing the landscape-level invasion of Lantana camara L., one of the most ubiquitous invasive species in South Asia. These factors included disturbance factors like forest fires, historical habitat modification, and edge effects, in addition to factors like propagule pressure and habitat suitability. We examined the relative importance of these factors on the colonisation and change in density of L. camara in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. We used extensive (1997–2008) datasets tracking the presence and abundance of L. camara and combined these with corresponding data on disturbances, propagule pressure, and habitat suitability. We used an information-theoretic model selection approach to determine the relative importance of each factor on the colonisation and change in density of L. camara. Colonisation was mainly a function of proximity to already established populations (i.e. propagule pressure), whereas increase in L. camara density appeared to be constrained by high fire frequency. Research and management efforts need to recognize the multi dimensional nature of mechanisms underlying L. camara’s success during different invasion phases when strategizing interventions to mitigate its effects

Notes from the Other Side of a Forest Fire

Although widely used as a tool in forest management across the world, causing fires is illegal in Indian forests. This article points out that the present understanding of fire as essentially disruptive has its antecedents in a colonial perspective that came from seeing the forest primarily as a source of timber. However, the practices of indigenous communities as well as the insights of ecological studies point to the importance of using fire in controlled ways to manage dry and deciduous forest ecosystems

Filling in the (forest) blanks: the past, present and future of India’s savanna grasslands

For most people, savannas conjure up iconic images of vast open African landscapes, with giraffes, elephants, and large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores. In reality, savannas are a pan-tropical vegetation formation, from the pampas and cerrados of Latin America, to the plains of northern Australia

IPBES Invasive Alien Species Assessment: Chapter 1. Introducing biological invasions and the IPBES thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control

Chapter 1: Introducing biological invasions and the IPBES thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control of the Thematic Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The Ecological Consequences of Managing Forests for Non-Timber Products

HUMANS WERE HUNTERS and gatherers long before they became farmers and loggers. The fruits of hunting and gathering non-timber forest products continue to this day to make an important contribution to subsistence and market economies alike. Worldwide, it is estimated that several thousands of species are collected from the wild for a variety of purposes (Myers 1988); in the high-diversity forests of Amazonia, for example, more than two-thirds of all tree species are used by indigenous peoples (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2001). At the local community level, non-timber forest products (hereafter, NTFP) can account for 35 per cent (for example, Zimbabwe; Cavendish 1997) to as much as 60 per cent (for example, India; Hegde et al. 1996) of household incomes. And even at a global level, the estimated value of the market in herbal medicines alone (a large proportion of which is collected from the wild) is about US$ 14 billion (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2001)

The Case of Exploding Lantana and the Lessons it Can Teach Us

Invasive alien species are a growing conservation problem,worldwide. There are over 200 invasive plants in India, ofwhich Lantana camara is one of the best known. This articlelooks at a brief history of Lantana’s arrival and spread acrossthe Indian subcontinent and the lessons that conservation biologistscan learn from it

Invasive Plant Species in Indian Protected Areas: Conserving Biodiversity in Cultural Landscapes

Invasive plant species in Indian protected areas have received relatively little attention until recently. This may partly be due to a historical emphasis on wildlife protection, rather than on a broader science-based approach to conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. A literature review of invasive plant species in India showed that nearly 60 % of all studies have been done since 2000, and only about 20 % of all studies are from protected areas. Studies from protected areas have largely focused on a small subset of invasive alien plants, and almost half these studies are on a single species, Lantana camara, probably reflecting the species’ ubiquitous distribution. The spread of alien plants in India has been both ecologically and human mediated. Efforts to manage plant invasions have, in the past, been diluted by the ambivalence of managers attempting to find beneficial uses for these species. Despite growing knowledge about the harmful impacts of certain invasive plants on native species and ecosystems, their deliberate spread has continued, even till quite recently. And, despite the successful implementation of management initiatives in some protected areas, these efforts have not expanded to other areas. The lack of a national coordinated effort for invasive species monitoring, research, and management largely underlies this