Lantana camara 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.
About Lantana camara:
It is an invasive alien species.
It is a pantropical weed species, is native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Central and South America.
It is an exotic weed that aggressively proliferates and forms a dense mesh of bushes.
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.
It has been observed that it has been infesting from lower areas towards higher regions.
Ecological Impact: It 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.
Its 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.
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