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The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Unabated Lantana camara invasion in Himachal needs swifter, more rigorous response
Lantana camara, an invasive alien species introduced decades ago as an ornamental plant, now infests approximately 3,25,282 hectares of forests in Himachal Pradesh, posing a threat to the State's native biodiversity. Even though the Forest Department has achieved significant progress by clearing 51,114.35 hectares of Lantana camara since 2009-10, ecologists are calling for faster, more rigorous action to curb the spread of the noxious weed. Lantana, a pantropical weed species, is native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Central and South America. In India, it was first introduced in the early 18th century, and since then, it has invaded almost all the tropical areas across the country, including Himachal Pradesh. According to the State Forest Department, a survey was carried out in 2010-11 and 2015-16 to asses the extent and level of invasion, which showed forest areas of around 2,35,491.93 hectares as being significantly infested with lantana, and varying intensity of infestation in seven territorial circles, namely, Dharamshala, Nahan, Hamirpur, Chamba, Bilaspur, Mandi, and Shimla. However, according to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the extent of Lantana camara infestation inside the recorded forest area in Himachal Pradesh is estimated to be around 3,252.82 sq. km. or 3,25,282 hectares. Kuldip Dogra, a noted taxonomist, acknowledged the progress made by the Forest Department in clearing lantana, which 'offers hope' in tackling the menace, but emphasised the need for an integrated, transdisciplinary, time-bound approach by involving stakeholders and members of civil society to create livelihood opportunities in the process of eradicating Lantana camara. 'There's no doubt that the area under alien invasive plant species, such as lantana, is on the rise, which is threatening the rich, native species diversity. To control the spread of lantana, it's important that stakeholders are involved — be it locals, industrialists, civil society organisations, etc. — and a mechanism evolved to enhance their livelihood options,' Mr. Dogra, Scientist at the Botanical Survey of India, High Altitude Western Himalayan Regional Centre in Solan district, told The Hindu. 'Lantana's management can be achieved by using its biomass for socioeconomic purposes — its timber for making furniture and also as fuelwood, etc. Its biomass can be used to produce organic compost and vermicompost, which will be better for organic farming and an alternative to inorganic manures available in the market,' he added. 'However, the cultivation of alien invasive plant species in home gardens, for landscaping, or for other economic purposes, and around the National and State Highways should be strictly avoided to prevent their further spread and establishment. Pharmaceutical companies should be encouraged to collect these species from the wild to extract potent alkaloids to be used for different industry purposes. Its management should be focused strongly on prevention, early detection and eradication strategies. Most importantly, the eradication programme should be carried out within stricter timelines by involving all the stakeholders, and increasing momentum to achieve optimal outcomes,' he added. The State Forest Department's policy document for managing Lantana camara points out that this noxious, exotic weed aggressively proliferates and forms a dense mesh of bushes. This happens excessively at the edges of forests having sparse canopies. Lantana camara is known to produce allelochemicals that restrict the growth of other species under its canopy. Hence, it replaces native flora, resulting in homogeneous vegetation, significantly contributing to decline in biodiversity. 'We have eradicated lantana in 51,114.35 hectares so far since 2009-10. The removal of lantana is being done through the 'cut root stock' method, and to ensure that lantana doesn't invade again, we are planting native species as well. We are making headway. On average, every year, we are expecting to eradicate lantana on 1,000 hectares of forest,' Girish Hosur, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh, said. 'The immediate focus should be to contain the speed of spread of lantana. It has been observed that it has been infesting from lower areas towards higher regions, which is worrying. The 'cut root stock' method is good, but the eradication should be tackled at the higher elevation first, so that the infestation could be restricted to the lower areas only, and then gradually rehabilitate all the areas with native species,' G.S. Goraya, researcher on floral diversity and former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Himachal Pradesh, said.
India.com
15-07-2025
- Science
- India.com
One Of World's Oldest Fossil Sites Is In India, Not In Northeast Or Rajasthan, It Is In...
photoDetails english 2931955 Updated:Jul 15, 2025, 07:58 AM IST Location Of Fossil Park 1 / 7 According to the website of District Sonbhadra, the fossil park is located 12 km from Robertsganj, near Salkhan village on state highway SH5A in Sonbhadra district. How Old Are Sonbhadra Park's Fossils? 2 / 7 The fossils in the Park are estimated to be nearly 1400 million years old and are algae and stromatolites, types of fossils. Area Of Park 3 / 7 The park is spread over an area of about 25 hectares in Kaimur Range, adjacent to Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary. Furthermore, it comes under the jurisdiction of the State Forest Department. Geologists In Park 4 / 7 The website further stated that the geologists have been aware of the fossils found in the present-day park area since the 1930s. People who have carried out research in the area include Mr. Auden (1933), Mr. Mathur (1958 and 1965), and Professor S. Kumar (1980–81). Canadian Geologist 5 / 7 Canadian geologist H.J. Hoffman was impressed by the fossils and remarked that he had not seen such beautiful and clear fossils anywhere else in the world. In 2004, Mukund Sharma also further explored the area. UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List 6 / 7 In a significant achievement for India, according to IANS, Salkhan Fossils Park, one of the world's oldest fossil sites, recently secured a place in UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites. The park would attain full World Heritage status within the next two years. The Tourism Department had been working towards this goal for the past year. Credits 7 / 7
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
High Court orders removal of apple orchards from encroached forest lands
In a judgment with far reaching effect, a division bench of Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the State Forest Department to 'immediately remove' all apple orchards from encroached forest lands across the state where evictions had already taken place, and recover the cost of felling, stump removal and plantation from the encroachers as arrears of land revenue. The directive came in continuation of judicial monitoring in two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) on which the high court took suo moto cognisance in 2014 and 2015. A division bench of Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Bipin C Negi Wednesday directed the officials concerned to take stern action against individuals obstructing the implementation and the issuance of bailable warrants. 'With respect to the submission of learned Advocate General qua persons/encroachers, who are obstructing the state machinery in implementing the judgment passed by this court, let bailable warrants each in the sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety each in the like amount be issued against the persons mentioned in the above referred documents, returnable for July 14, 2025 with a notice to explain as to why they should not be punished for obstructing the implementation of the orders/directions passed by this court. Insofar as the Revenue Village to which these individuals belong, cutting/removal of apple trees shall be done forthwith and progress reports be filed on or before the next date of hearing,' the order, brought to the public domain on Saturday, reads. The bench also took serious note of repeated and organised attempts by evicted encroachers to reoccupy forest lands. Advocate General (AG) Anup Rattan, appearing for the state, along with Additional Advocate General (AAG) Varun Chandel, informed the court that despite earlier evictions, individuals named in government communications on January 31, 2025 and GD Entry No. 31 recorded at the Kotkhai police station on July 1, 2025, continued to obstruct officials attempting to enforce the Court's earlier orders. The submissions, supported by a Joint Committee report dated July 1, 2025, which disclosed that 'evicted encroachers are placing hail nets and continuing to manage apple crops on forest lands, disrupting official access and enforcement efforts'. The AG submitted, 'The Forest Department is unable to micro-manage these orchards and that apple trees, being non-forest species, are to be replaced with indigenous forest vegetation.' Supporting the state's stand, senior advocate JL Bhardwaj, serving as amicus curiae, stressed 'the urgency of strong judicial intervention' to prevent recurrence of encroachments. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the Court ordered complete removal of apple trees and orchards from such forest lands, and directed that 'reforestation efforts be undertaken on a war footing, leveraging the ongoing monsoon season'. Bhardwaj told The Indian Express, 'In 2014, the high court received two letters, highlighting the encroachment menace on the forest lands, where encroachers cultivated orchards, especially apple orchards. The Court received another letter in 2015 and clubbed it with the earlier matter taken up. Thousands of bighas of forest land in Himachal Pradesh are under illegal encroachment. This order will be implemented across the state. The Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police have been directed to provide all necessary support to ensure compliance, including police protection to forest officials.' The Court directed that replantation with forest species be carried out either by the forest department or with the assistance of NGOs or private agencies engaged in afforestation. 'Crucially, the cost of felling, stump removal, and plantation is to be recovered from the encroachers as arrears of land revenue.' In addition, the Court took stern action against individuals obstructing implementation. For the villages from which these individuals hail, the Court directed immediate removal of all apple trees, with progress to be reported by the next hearing date fixed on July 14. The bench clarified that these directions were in addition to the orders passed earlier on January 8, 2025, in the same PILs. Meanwhile, the high court also acknowledged evidence that evicted encroachers are repeatedly attempting to reoccupy forest land, particularly areas where apple orchards were planted. The court stated in the order that photographs showed the use of hail nets to protect apple crops on these lands. The Court also accepted the forest department's stand that apple trees were noted as non-forest species, and the court recognised the state's intent to replace them with indigenous forest species. In an affidavit filed before the NGT in March 2025, Himachal Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Sameer Rastogi submitted that a total of 8,374 cases of encroachments, involving approximately 5,689 hectares of forest land, were detected between 2001 and 2023. Out of these, 9,903 cases covering an area of 3,097 hectares were successfully evicted, while remaining cases are under process, Rastogi had submitted.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- The Hindu
Kerala may soon have a butterfly sanctuary
Kerala hopes to dedicate a wildlife sanctuary to butterflies. The State Board for Wildlife, which is likely to meet this week, would consider a proposal from the State Forest Department to rename the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. If approved, this would be the first sanctuary dedicated to the winged insects. The State has a sanctuary dedicated to Pea Fowl, the Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary in Palakkad, and one for Neelakurinji, the Kurinjimala Sanctuary. Thettekad and Mangalavanam are the other two bird sanctuaries of the State. The natural environment of the Aralam sanctuary sets the stage for the annual mass migration of the Common Albatross butterflies. The migration of butterflies, which begins around the last week of December, continues up to February. Hundreds of butterflies migrate from the higher reaches of the sanctuary to the plains, following streams and rivers. The migration typically begins around 10 a.m. and continus till 3 p.m. on all days during the period. The highest concentration of butterflies was recorded this year at Ramachithodu, emanating from Ramachifalls, with over 5,000 Common Albatross butterflies counted within a five-minute span, said Muhamed Jafer Palot, a wildlife expert of the Zoological Survey of India. Butterfly enthusiasts have been tracking the mass migration of the species for the last 25 years. Volunteers located at strategic vantage points count the butterflies. It's estimated that around four lakh butterflies have thus hit the migration route this year, he said. Besides the Albatross species, the migration of mixed Danaine species has also been recorded from the sanctuary, according to the Forest department. Surveys had earlier recorded the presence of 81% of butterflies found in the State in the sanctuary. Of the 327 species of butterflies recorded in Kerala, 266 species have been documented within 55 sq km of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. Among them, 27 species are endemic to the Western Ghats with six species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, according to a document prepared by the department. The department hopes to recognise the exceptional butterfly diversity and the unique Albatross migration event by renaming the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. The renaming would also honour the efforts to protect the unique butterfly species and habitats apart from promoting butterfly-based niche ecotourism activities that would also benefit the local communities, according to the document.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre upholds Wildlife (Protection) Act; turns down Kerala's request for relaxation
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has once again rejected Kerala's request to relax the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for dealing with problematic wild animals and declare wild boars as vermin. In its response to a recent request from the State Forest Department, which also sought to shift the 'bonnet macaque' from Schedule I to Schedule II to enable targeted mitigation in a site-specific manner, the Centre emphasised strict adherence to the law and existing advisories for managing human-wildlife conflict. The Ministry reiterated that hunting permissions for critically endangered species listed in Schedule I must be granted selectively. 'The Act has judiciously empowered only the Chief Wildlife Warden to grant permit for (killing) such animals,' the Ministry stated in its letter. Under Section 11(1)(a) of the Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden is authorised to first attempt capturing, tranquilising and translocating (animals listed in Schedule I). Only if these measures are unfeasible may the official permit the animal to be killed. The Ministry also highlighted that the Section 11(1)(b) 'would serve the purpose of site specific management of the population of such animals as well as maintain a healthy ecosystem, instead of having generic provisions of declaring species vermins (sic)'. Moreover, the letter adds that the issuance of permits can be made easier by the State governments and Union Territories with the advent of advanced communication technologies. It also recommends effective implementation of an advisory that calls for coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hot spots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, and establishment of rapid response teams. It also advises steps to expedite relief to be paid within 24 hours to persons affected by human-wildlife conflicts.
