Coimbatore: While the debate to deal with invasive plants species interesting many a folk within and outside the environment conservation circle, a regaling session of nature trail on the subject imparted imperative knowledge to the participants at Singanallur Lake on Sunday.
Coimbatore: While the debate to deal with invasive plants species interesting many a folk within and outside the environment conservation circle, a regaling session of nature trail on the subject imparted imperative knowledge to the participants at Singanallur Lake on Sunday.
The participants hailing various walks of life, who trod the one km nature trail on the bunds of the lake, were treated with a refreshing walk and beautiful insights into the world of invasive plants by A. Rajasekaran, Scientist with the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB).
This was the 14th Nature Trail jointly organised by Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation and Centre for Urban Biodiversity Conservation and Education (CUBE), as a part of the Nature Education activity at Singanallur Lake.
Rajasekaran, who gave a short introduction about invasive species in general, touched upon some common invasive plants, explaining their uses and harms.
Plants like prosopis juliflora and lantana camara, were discussed by the scientist in detail, wherein he explained how the plants were actually helping birds, despite posing threats to native plants.
“Invasive plants are those that grow in undesirable landscape. These plants can spread rapidly at a very short time and suppress the growth of local plants,” he said.
He informed that while plants like prosopis are good for fuelwood, birds were thriving on lantana camara. However, he added that the plants were eating up important habitat.
“The lantana camara is indirectly causing human elephant conflict as the plant is eating up vast area of grass in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Bandipur, which are important elephant habitat,” he said.
Claiming that it would be difficult to completely eradicate invasive species as their ability to survive was stronger, Rajasekaran advised participants to control the growth of invasive plants by removing them from unnecessary areas.
At the end of the trail, the participants also asked questions, which were answered by Rajasekaran.
The next nature trail would be on the 2nd of June.
The participants hailing various walks of life, who trod the one km nature trail on the bunds of the lake, were treated with a refreshing walk and beautiful insights into the world of invasive plants by A. Rajasekaran, Scientist with the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB).
This was the 14th Nature Trail jointly organised by Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation and Centre for Urban Biodiversity Conservation and Education (CUBE), as a part of the Nature Education activity at Singanallur Lake.
Rajasekaran, who gave a short introduction about invasive species in general, touched upon some common invasive plants, explaining their uses and harms.
Plants like prosopis juliflora and lantana camara, were discussed by the scientist in detail, wherein he explained how the plants were actually helping birds, despite posing threats to native plants.
“Invasive plants are those that grow in undesirable landscape. These plants can spread rapidly at a very short time and suppress the growth of local plants,” he said.
He informed that while plants like prosopis are good for fuelwood, birds were thriving on lantana camara. However, he added that the plants were eating up important habitat.
“The lantana camara is indirectly causing human elephant conflict as the plant is eating up vast area of grass in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Bandipur, which are important elephant habitat,” he said.
Claiming that it would be difficult to completely eradicate invasive species as their ability to survive was stronger, Rajasekaran advised participants to control the growth of invasive plants by removing them from unnecessary areas.
At the end of the trail, the participants also asked questions, which were answered by Rajasekaran.
The next nature trail would be on the 2nd of June.