Biological Invasions Network of India | Research | Policy | Communication | Management | Restoration | Led by Ninad Mungi, Monica Kaushik, Rajat Rastogi
Joined April 2022
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Very timely and important initiative. Such experiments must be studied and upscaled for restoring invaded ecosystems and benefiting local communities. India needs a strong policy framework for streamlining these initiatives. @WWFINDIA
Turns out this weed had a better use.🐅
With support from WWF-Australia's Global Tiger Innovation Fund, local communities in India's Western Ghats are turning invasive lantana into fuel, helping restore #tiger habitat and support local livelihoods.
#GlobalTigerDay @wwfindia
This new study highlights pervasive distribution of multiple alien plants in India. Increasing threats by biological invasions demand multipronged approach for effective and timely management. There's an urgency to form strategic response to this challenge
@BioinvNet @moefcc
What #drives #spatial #distribution 🌏patters of #alien #plants 🌱 in #India?
Here we address this question..
Study led by brilliant @saidasajadwani and coauthor @SReddy_Chintala
Using ~ 1️⃣ lakh (0.1 million) records, we test major #invasion hypotheses.
doi.org/10.1111/jbi.70274
Bioinvasions India retweeted
#WATCH Imphal, Manipur: Despite social media buzz, the blooming of water hyacinths in Lamphelpat has raised environmental concerns.
Manipur University PhD scholar Namirkpam Rakesh says, "...the roots of these plants can absorb heavy metals and oil from the water... This plant can grow rapidly, and one plant can produce 100 offspring in 23 days... Its increasing numbers can impact the ecology of the water..." (23.05)
Invasive species can kill ecosystems and impact people dependent on it. Their propagation must stop and their population must be controlled. India needs more targeted efforts towards this challenge
#WATCH Imphal, Manipur: Despite social media buzz, the blooming of water hyacinths in Lamphelpat has raised environmental concerns.
Manipur University PhD scholar Namirkpam Rakesh says, "...the roots of these plants can absorb heavy metals and oil from the water... This plant can grow rapidly, and one plant can produce 100 offspring in 23 days... Its increasing numbers can impact the ecology of the water..." (23.05)
Bioinvasions India retweeted
Why has Madras High Court ordered eradication of seemai karuvelam?
✍🏼 @imranhindu
trib.al/QEV3EkY
Repurposing invasive plants can incentivize their control. Here's yet another example from @MudumalaiTR
In a quiet corner in @MudumalaiTR lies a local solution to the #LPG crisis & helping stem the foxing issue of #Lantana an aggressive invasive weed chocking forests (occupies over 40% #tiger reserves) across #India.
So here is what @tnforestdeptis doing, with help of trained & employed local tribals:
Systematically remove the #lantana → reduce them to chips → transport to factory →pulverise to fine, uniform powder →solar dry →dry lantana compressed, binded w/o binders using only press & heat→cooled, cured, packaged. And voila, you have lantana #briquettes that provide highly efficient cooking fuel in grt demand in surrounding #teaestaes & schools.
Essentially invasive weed → cooking fuel replacing firewood & restored #forests.
The #Muddumalai mgt cannot keep up with the demand.
#Circulareconomy #TNForest #lpgसंकट #ecosystem
Bioinvasions India retweeted
पिछले कुछ दशकों में प्रोसोपिस जूलिफ्लोरा (विलायती बबूल) ने पश्चिमी भारत के रेगिस्तानी और घासभूमि क्षेत्रों के स्थानीय इकोसिस्टम को गंभीर नुकसान पहुंचाया है।
इस विदेशी प्रजाति ने स्थानीय वनस्पतियों को समाप्त कर जैव विविधता, चरागाहों और पर्यावरणीय संतुलन के सामने बड़ी चुनौती खड़ी कर दी है।
सरकारों द्वारा समय-समय पर इसे रोकने, नए पौधे नहीं लगाने एवं पूर्व में लगे पौधों को हटाने के निर्णय भी लिए गए, लेकिन जमीनी स्तर पर अपेक्षित परिणाम अभी तक दिखाई नहीं दे रहे हैं।
ऐसे में कच्छ में स्थापित भारत के पहले “ग्रीन मेथेनॉल प्लांट” की पहल एक सकारात्मक और दूरदर्शी कदम है, जहां इसी विलायती बबूल का उपयोग ग्रीन फ्यूल बनाने में किया जाएगा। यह मॉडल पर्यावरण संरक्षण, जैव विविधता बचाने और वैकल्पिक ऊर्जा उत्पादन तीनों क्षेत्रों में एक साथ समाधान प्रस्तुत करता है।
राजस्थान और विशेषकर पश्चिमी राजस्थान के क्षेत्रों में भी इस प्रकार के नवाचारों पर गंभीरता से कार्य करने की आवश्यकता है, ताकि एक ओर इस आक्रामक प्रजाति से मुक्ति मिले और दूसरी ओर ऊर्जा एवं रोजगार के नए अवसर भी विकसित हो सकें।
thehindu.com/news/national/i…
Case of deeply linked socioecological impacts of invasive species
Invasive mosquito species that thrives in cities threatens India’s 2030 malaria elimination goal
✍️@BShajan
thehindu.com/sci-tech/health…
Lantana elephant are becoming flagship model for repurposing invasive plant biomass and bolstering restoration
They are here again. They have arrived. From the misty mountains of Gudalur, Nilgiris to the shores of Chennai, the Lantana Elephants have travelled far. Crafted by local tribal artisans from lantana, an invasive weed choking our forests, these elephants now stand tall as symbols of ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation in Tamil Nadu. Catch them at the Blue Beach, Marina, during the Pongal holidays. Thanks to @chennaicorp & @kgbias for making this possible #lantanaelephants @therealeleco
Bioinvasions India retweeted
🌿 New publication!
India’s Protected Areas are under growing pressure from invasive plants. @wii_india new article ‘Plant invasion in protected areas: case studies and insights from India’ reports 41 major invasive plant species across 54 PAs in 09 Biogeographic Zones of India, and identifies invasion hotspots. We outline key knowledge gaps and research priorities for better invasion management in the country.
🌱 Read more: link.springer.com/article/10…
trebuchet.public.springernat…
@moefcc @wii_india @SACONCoimbatore @GobindsagarBha1 @RuchiBadola2 @tweetmegha @sipuwildlife @amitwii
Bioinvasions India retweeted
Briefing on our new paper: Invasive plants and global changes are degrading biodiverse habitats of tigers🐅, and threatening livelihoods of the marginalized and nature-dependent people. The scale of impacts far exceed the management scale, needing urgent and effective policies
Bioinvasions India retweeted
A successful story of #invasive #species removal and #ecosystemrestoration ;;
Worth replicating elsewhere
In one of India’s largest ecosystem restoration efforts, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is reclaiming forests from invasive species and reviving habitats for wildlife to flourish. Already 34,710 hectares have been restored , including 26,735 ha of Lantana camara, 4,685 ha of Prosopis juliflora, 1,327 ha of Wattle, and 1,963 ha of Senna spectabilis. This strengthens native vegetation restoring the right of wild animals to roam freely. With the full removal of Senna spectabilis targeted this year, Tamil Nadu is moving decisively toward ecological renewal. The entire operation is tracked through a dedicated geo-tagged restoration dashboard, ensuring scientific precision at scale #ecosystemrestoration #invasiveremoval @Krish_TNIE @IndianExpress @tnforestdept
Rare positive stories of invasive species management. Huge potential for India to upscale such efforts
When forests are freed from invasive species the biggest win is for the biodiversity and wildlife. TN Forest team has documented wildlife returning to areas cleared from invasives #invasives #TNForest #SatyamangalamTigerReserve
Bioinvasions India retweeted
When forests are freed from invasive species the biggest win is for the biodiversity and wildlife. TN Forest team has documented wildlife returning to areas cleared from invasives #invasives #TNForest #SatyamangalamTigerReserve
In one of India’s largest ecosystem restoration efforts, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is reclaiming forests from invasive species and reviving habitats for wildlife to flourish. Already 34,710 hectares have been restored , including 26,735 ha of Lantana camara, 4,685 ha of Prosopis juliflora, 1,327 ha of Wattle, and 1,963 ha of Senna spectabilis. This strengthens native vegetation restoring the right of wild animals to roam freely. With the full removal of Senna spectabilis targeted this year, Tamil Nadu is moving decisively toward ecological renewal. The entire operation is tracked through a dedicated geo-tagged restoration dashboard, ensuring scientific precision at scale #ecosystemrestoration #invasiveremoval @Krish_TNIE @IndianExpress @tnforestdept
Sustained efforts of invasive species management can result in positive changes. This model must be upscaled at national level @BioinvNet
In one of India’s largest ecosystem restoration efforts, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is reclaiming forests from invasive species and reviving habitats for wildlife to flourish. Already 34,710 hectares have been restored , including 26,735 ha of Lantana camara, 4,685 ha of Prosopis juliflora, 1,327 ha of Wattle, and 1,963 ha of Senna spectabilis. This strengthens native vegetation restoring the right of wild animals to roam freely. With the full removal of Senna spectabilis targeted this year, Tamil Nadu is moving decisively toward ecological renewal. The entire operation is tracked through a dedicated geo-tagged restoration dashboard, ensuring scientific precision at scale #ecosystemrestoration #invasiveremoval @Krish_TNIE @IndianExpress @tnforestdept
New study records globally unprecedented rates of plant invasions in India, driven by rapid changes in land-use, disturbances, and climate. It risks tiger food-chains and livelihoods of local communities. Study guides restoration
@ntca_india @EconovoAU @NCBS_Bangalore @wii_india
Our longitudinal study from India shows that 21st-century global changes have accelerated plant invasions; together affecting ecosystems, tiger habitats, and millions of people. We map risk hotspots to guide restoration for nature and people
Paper: 2cm.es/1fBlH
Bioinvasions India retweeted
Invasive alien plants are spreading across India at unprecedented speed — invading 15,500 km² of natural areas each year and putting millions at risk. New paper warns losses already top Rs 8,30,000 crore
shorturl.at/jLNec
🖋️ @himanshujourno
Bioinvasions India retweeted
Our longitudinal study from India shows that 21st-century global changes have accelerated plant invasions; together affecting ecosystems, tiger habitats, and millions of people. We map risk hotspots to guide restoration for nature and people
Paper: 2cm.es/1fBlH
More studies are recognising the importance of monitoring invasive species using multiple strategies, stakeholders, and surveillance @isro
@moefcc @BioinvNet
link.springer.com/article/10…
India’s invasive aliens problem complicates; can we wait to understand scope. Multi-pronged bottom-up, and inclusive approach is more effective and must be developed.
@BioinvNet
thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy…
