Dear Sidhu ji, Eradication of Lantana is must and lot of work is going on in this direction throughout the Globe as it is among the world's ten most worst invasive species harming native flora.
But we have to keep several points in mind before eradicating it. On the basis of my studies on birds on Abu Hills, I found that many birds had adapted Lanatan bushes as there nesting/ roosting/ resting place. Before eradicating the bushes, we have to provide alternative or past habitat conditions to such fauna. I will quote one example in this direction: Every year Forest Department starts campaign to clean the area from Lantana on Abu Hills. When I was there, I found one endemic subtaxa of bird (Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra abuensis) was habituated to live in the bushes at that site and could be easily seen. In the program of cleaning the sites, the bushes were burnt and area was made clear. Now, think what happened to the bird which is important for the birders to come and sight....... This was the sight which was accessible to every persons. We use to take youngsters to sight this species but now we have to go somewhat deep inside the forest treks to sight the species. Similalry, Grey Jungle Fowl has made this plant species a very good hiding place. It is not possible for poachers to access inside these bushes easily. If the areas are cleared rampantly what will happen to the species hide..... One of the Globally Threatened bird species is well adapted to Lanatana bushes. Our suggestion is to plant or provide space for the native bushes to come up before cleaning or opening the surface from Lanatana bushes so that many faunal species which adapted to find their place in these bushes could not be harmed. Regards Satya Prakash Mehra Rajputana Society of Natural History (RSNH) Rajasthan, India --- On Mon, 2/8/10, Sid <sidd...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Sid <sidd...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:43181] Any research on this among the group? To: "indiantreepix" <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com> Date: Monday, 2 August, 2010, 1:56 PM Climate change or not, I really want this Lanata eradicated from our forests. As Rashida ji pointed out, not all can agree there is a climate change now. But if we keep on polluting the earth at this pace, we would face a "climate" change sooner than later. So it is better to create an awareness among people. Regarding Lantana, our government must do something seriously, like spending money on manpower to cut them periodically. We can invent special tools to easily and selectively cut this weed. They should also educate children / villagers about this invasive weed so that they can do everything in their ability to control this abnoxious weed. To look for a biological control solution will take lots and lots of research input, though its not impossible. Anyway, its great that Marianne ji is thinking of popularizing the problem caused by Lantana. regards, Siddhu. On 2 August 2010 16:10, Rashida Atthar <atthar.rash...@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Marianne, Marianne ji if I understood correctly you want to know if there is spread of Lantana due to climate change.? Commensensically, I would think such a research would at a minimum take two to five years with intensive observations pre and post Lantana plantations, carried out by an expert team. Only than would some conclusions, that too relevant for that particular climate zone be possible.( All scientists have not even agreed that there is climate change !!) If I was in your place, I would attempt a compilation of all the studies done so far by researchers and highlight the methods used and their findings, and also their implementation if any. This would probably give some direction for further studies and what needs to be done and how. Perhaps take local observations of farmers and those who are knowledgeable about nature to make it more representative. regards,Rashida. On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 9:46 AM, Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com> wrote: Thank you so much for this. The second example will help me a lot. However I still have the question to answer, is there a connection with the spread of Lantana due to Climate Change? regds, Marianne On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 6:47 PM, Satya Prakash <spme...@yahoo.com> wrote: Hi, Though research studies are needed at large on the impacts of invasive species on local/ native flora but here you could find few examples to carry out work on this aspect. First, Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India We all know about the world heritage site wher Prosopis juliflora was dominant invasive species along with Water Hyacinth. In 2007, KNP Forest Department started uprooting of this invasive species. The earlier species are well documented in the work of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai. Today one could see the revival of native flora specially Salvadora & Acacia spp. You can compare the flora before invasion of Prosopis juliflora, at the time of P. juliflora and after its removal. Research work could be referenced in your work which is readily available with KNP Forest Department &/or BNHS. Second, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirohi, Rajasthan, India Here you could find the well documented literature on plantation of exotic species specially Eucalyptus and Lantana. Though studies on impact of plantation of these species are lacking but on the basis of the availability of the herbs (which are mainly collected by local people from very past) could be assessed. Will give you one example of the impact - Species of Carrissa, Rosa and many aquatic species of medicinal value were now no more to see on the table land of the Abu Hills which were once common on this part of hills. Human settlements are mainly on this table land. Further, expansion of the Lantana is taking place through out the hills. Seeds of Lantana are dispersed by the droppings of Bulbul (very common bird) and Sloth Bear (common mammal) in core areas of hills. The aquatic bodies (pictures from archives) which were once full of local vegetation are now either dried or even lost their existence. One could easily see monoculture Eucalyptus in those aquatic bodies. Regards Satya Prakash Mehra Advisor - RSNH & Manger - Project Boond Rajasthan, India --- On Sun, 1/8/10, Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com> Subject: [efloraofindia:43083] Any research on this among the group? To: "indiantreepix" <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com> Date: Sunday, 1 August, 2010, 5:18 PM Dear all, "Invasive plants can affect community structure and ecosystem processes in various ways. One of the ways in which an invasive plant can impact ecosystem functioning is by disrupting native plant-pollinator interactions,." says a researcher from Bangalore. Recently I have seen a massive growth of an invasive plant Lantana camara in Hoskote on the outskirts of Bangalore. Does any one in the group have any research findings that can bind this explosion of the Lantana to Climate Change. I am interested in working a story on this but I do not have scientific proof to support this phenomenon. regds, Marianne -- Fellow with UNFCCC, UNEP & Robert Bosch Stiftung Former Asst Editor- The Deccan Herald Freelance Journalist Adjunct faculty St. Joseph's College & COMMITS http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/ -- Fellow with UNFCCC, UNEP & Robert Bosch Stiftung Former Asst Editor- The Deccan Herald Freelance Journalist Adjunct faculty St. Joseph's College & COMMITS http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/
