Strategies planned to halt spread of invasive species over 800 hectares of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve buffer zone
- An invasive species, Senna spectabilis has taken over a thousand hectares of the buffer zones of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Nilgiris hill district.
About the Species
- An exotic tree
- Introduced as an ornamental species and for use as firewood from South and Central America
Native species hit
- Has a negative effect on local biodiversity
- Crowds out native species and limits food availability for wildlife.
- Among 5 major invasive weeds that had taken over vast swathes of the Nilgiris.
- Eucalyptus and pine, though exotic, do not spread as quickly as the other species and are easier to manage.
Prelims Takeaway
- Invasive species in India