Wall Post Message from Aniket Anant Motale: With the arrival of rainy season, many Nature lovers (either groups or individuals) will carry out Plantation programs/activities. These are some guidelines which should be considered. I request you to please promote Native species for plantation; and please avoid suggesting Non-native /exotic species. Here are the reasons: 1. Exotic species are those plant species, which are not native to a particular area. These species have been introduced by human activities to a location where they do not naturally occur and so they are termed "exotic", "non-indigenous", "non-native" or simply "alien". The exotics threaten to alter the natural composition of forest; they restrict, prey on or compete with native populations and disrupt the integrity of site. They are major ecological threat. Some research suggests that the plant inhibits the growth of other plants in its vicinity. 2. Non-native trees may not adapt completely to local ecology and cannot support the local biodiversity which includes local birds, local insects, bacteria, fungi etc. E.g. Indian/local birds do not build their nests on trees like Gulmohr, rain tree, Nilgiri (Except crow). Nilgiri’s leaf litter takes major time to biodegrade as the required bacteria’s are not present in Indian soil. No other vegetation could grow beneath Nilgiri. Whereas Native plants always support other vegetation and biodiversity. 3. When these non-native species cause ecological problems, they are termed as "invasive" or "harmful exotic species". Many times they turn out into a weed. Such species primarily invades disturbed habitats, degraded forests / thickets and left out or fallow fields crowding out native vegetation of upland forests, forming single species stands. For Example: In India, once introduced, the species like Lantana camara (Tantani) becomes invasive and slowly suppresses the growth of original vegetation. Once it starts flowering and fruiting, the seeds spread over a large area and germinate very fast. Then it becomes very difficult to eradicate them. Some of them are prolific seed producers. One can observe many such examples like Australian Acacia, Gliricidia spp. and Leucaena leucophyla (Subabhul). They start growing easily from the cut stump. 4. We should consider whole ecology for conservation. Everything has a special role in ecosystem. Trees, shrubs, grasses, birds, bacteria, fungi - everything plays very important role in local ecology; even the leaf litter which we generally term “Kachara” and burn away, provides important nutrient to plants, after its decomposition and natural cover to the soil keeping moisture maintained. Human have not yet explored the co-relation in all the forms of life. However, Trees are the base of ecology, as they provide food and habitat to other biodiversity. We should not promote trees based on their aesthetic or fuel values but choice should be based on study of local-reference-natural ecosystem. If such study is not possible, we should/we can at least avoid planting non-native trees. 5. Most of the countries have very stringent rules about use of Native trees for plantation. We should/ we can also avoid monoculture of one particular specie – meaning - Diversity should be preferred. Different trees develops different ecosystem giving rise to overall biodiversity. Please note the following list of non-native trees which should not be promoted for plantation. 1. Gulmohr (Delonix Regia) 2. Rain tree (Albizia saman) (Mistakenly also called Shirish, Shirish perhaps is a local variety and best alternative to Rain tree) 3. Nilgiri (Eucalyptus) 4. Gliricidia 5. SUbabhul (Leucaena leucocephala) 6. Pink Cassia 7. Australian Acacia 8. Casurina 9. Silver oak 10. Spathodia 11. Cassia spp 12. Mahogany Please check the following alternatives for Non-native trees There are some common trees all over India which are easy to plant and can be made available in the market: 1. Satwin/saptparni (Alstonia scholaris) 2. Kadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba) 3. Phanas (Artocarpus hetrophyllus) 4. Wad (Ficus Benghalensis) 5. Sair/Kate Sawar (Bombax Ceiba or Bombax malabaricum) 6. Palas (Butea monosperma) 7. Bherli Maad (Caryota urens) 8. Bahava (Cassia Fistula) 9. Pangara (Indian Coral tree) 10. Umbar (Ficus recemosa) 11. Nandruk () 12. Pimpal 13. Bondara/Tamhan 14. Bhend 15. Amba 16. Sonchapha 17. Bakul 18. Chinch 19. Sitecha Ashok (Saraca asoca/saraca Indica – And not Polyalthia Longifolia which is mistakenly known as Ashoka) 20. Jambhul 21. KaduNimbm/ Neem tree
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:12:39 +0000
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