‘Ramp up policy action to fight forest invasive species'

The country would need to evolve a new policy framework and initiate purposeful action to deal effectively with forest invasive species.

In a growingly globalising world where man and material move to and from continents, it is a given that alien species would too keep track.

This movement is as unintentional as it is inadvertent, according to Dr K. V. Sankaran, Head Department of Plant Pathology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi.

ECONOMIC COSTS

Dr Sankaran presented a paper on ‘Impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity' in absentia at the 81st annual session of the National Academy of Sciences, India (Nasi) that got underway at the University of Kerala, Kariavattom, near here, on Thursday.

He referred to the latest instance of infestation of parts of suburban and rural Kerala by the Giant African Snail.

Such infestation is not without attendant economic costs. On a global average, it is known to inflict a loss of one per cent of the gross domestic product. In China, the losses are estimated to aggregate to $15 billion, while they are as high as $136 billion in the case of the US.

Forest invasive species can alter whole ecosystems, hydrology, productivity, process of decomposition, nutrient cycling, among others, and also brings about damage through broadcast of pesticides and herbicides.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Questions have been raised as to the impact of climate change on forest invasive species, and one cannot rule out an inter-connection here, Dr Sankaran said. This could happen as a result of habitat destruction or alteration of top soil structure.

“Apart from a new policy framework, we also need to raise the level of awareness on the matter through interactions with colleagues, students and NGOs. Dialogue through the mass media could also help.

At the local level, steps must be taken by allocating special funds to conserve biodiversity in a manner that suits the local lifestyle and tourism prospects.

A study of national initiatives by the Australian, US and Canadian Governments would help the uninitiated with a general outlook on model policy intervention in the matter.

DEPLETING SPECIES

Earlier, Prof J. S. Singh of the Banaras Hindu University presented a paper on ‘Biodiversity: An overview.'

Biodiversity has a role in developing science itself, Prof Singh said. The number of species range from seven million to 108 million.

In the Indian scenario, about 33 per cent of the flowering plants, 44 per cent of mammals, 55 per cent of birds, 187 reptiles and 110 amphibians are endemic to the country's ecosystem.

Prof Singh expressed grave concern in the drastic reduction in the number of international species from 1970 to 2003 by an estimated 31 per cent.

The temperate zone species did not see any change in the number while tropical species reduced by the extent of 55 per cent during this period.

FOREST COVER

Prof Singh attributed the rapidly decline in resource base to loss of primary forest cover. Primary forest cover was an absolute essential for sustaining biodiversity.

“Today, few truly undisturbed tropical forest cover exists. Biovalue is substantially lower in degraded forests. So prohibited forest area needs substantial expansion,” he added.

A 2009 assessment has reported that the country's forest cover has expanded by five per cent over the last decade.

But Prof Singh sought to discount this by saying that if one were to exclude the area brought under ‘plantation' cover, there has in fact been a reduction of five per cent in the country's native forest cover.

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