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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Grassland invaders stifle Assam's island-like national park
GUWAHATI A new study has identified at least two native plants that have joined invasive species to alter the riverine ecosystem of eastern Assam's Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (DSNP), the only habitat of feral horses in India. These species have added to the changes in the grassland-dominated DSNP landscape, largely attributed to the recurring Brahmaputra River floods and increasing anthropogenic pressures from forest villages located within its boundaries, the study said. The native 'grassland invaders' are Bombax ceiba and Lagerstroemia speciosa, flowering trees known as Simalu and Ajar in Assamese. Their impact on the local vegetation has been as worrying as that of the invasive species, which include shrubs Chromolaena odorata and Ageratum conyzoides, herb Parthenium hysterophorous and climber Mikania micrantha. The study titled Grasslands in Flux, analysing the land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Dibru-Saikhowa from its designation as a national park in 1999 through 2024, was published in the latest issue of Earth, an international, peer-reviewed journal on earth science. The authors of the study are Imon Abedin, Sanjib Baruah, Pralip Kumar Narzary, and Hilloljyoti Singha from Bodoland University, Tanoy Mukherjee from Zoological Survey of India, Shantanu Kundu from South Korea's Pukyong National University, and Joynal Abedin from Women's College, Tinsukia. The researchers used remote sensing and geographic information systems to analyse the LULC changes in DSNP, an island-like formation between the Brahmaputra to the north and the Dibru River to the south. According to their study, grasslands covered 28.78% of the 425 sq. km DSNP in 2000, followed by semi-evergreen forests (25.58%). By 2013, shrubland became the most prominent class (81.31 sq. km), and degraded forest expanded to 75.56 sq. km. 'During this period, substantial areas of grassland (29.94 sq. km), degraded forest (10.87 sq. km), semi-evergreen forest (12.33 sq. km), and bare land (10.50 sq. km) were converted to shrubland. In 2024, degraded forest further increased, covering 80.52 sq. km (23.47%),' the study said. This change was the outcome of the conversion of 11.46 sq. km of shrubland and 27.48 sq. km of semi-evergreen forest into degraded forest, indicating a substantial and consistent decline in grassland, the study noted. Forest degradation, even without a decrease in forest area, can lead to loss of biodiversity, threaten the survival of local fauna, and reduce carbon storage, potentially intensifying climate change. Grassland recovery sought Dibru-Saikhowa, straddling the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, was named after the Dibru Reserve Forest and Saikhowa Reserve Forest that were amalgamated to create a wildlife sanctuary in 1995. UNESCO declared the area a Biosphere Reserve in 1997, two years before it became a national park. The study stated that the changes in the 'natural structure and function' of the DSNP landscape pose a serious threat to the survival of grassland-obligate faunal species, many of which are already globally threatened due to ongoing habitat loss. 'The concern is heightened by the fact that numerous species are endemic to the grasslands found in the floodplains of this region. Notable species which are rapidly decreasing include the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), hog deer (Axis porcinus), and swamp grass babbler (Prinia cinerascens),' the study said. The national park is also home to some 200 feral horses, which are descendants of military horses abandoned during World War 2. The study recommended a targeted grassland recovery project that would encompass the control of invasive species, improved surveillance, increased staffing, and the relocation of forest villages to reduce human impact and support community-based conservation efforts. 'Protecting the landscape through informed LULC-based management can help maintain critical habitat patches, mitigate anthropogenic degradation, and enhance the survival prospects of native floral and faunal assemblages in DSNP,' it concluded.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi floats tender for 12K plantations to beautify SP Marg
New Delhi Around 12,000 flowering trees and shrubs, including amaltas and bougainvillaea, will be planted along the Sardar Patel Marg to beautify it and a tender has been floated for the same, officials of the Delhi forest and wildlife department said on Wednesday. A similar drive in June 2023—wherein Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena asked the forest department for a five-layered plantation of around six flowering species at the ridge, including chinar and cherry blossoms, in the run-up to the G20 Summit—did not yield desired results, a senior forest department official said on condition of anonymity. The drive focused on the side facing SP Marg as it provided access to visitors and dignitaries commuting between central Delhi and the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The forest department official said the plantation drive is likely to commence in monsoon season, and fully grown saplings—around 10 to 12 feet high—will be planted. 'The aim is to beautify the initial part of the stretch adjacent to the forest with flowering trees and shrubs. This will make the approach aesthetically pleasing and we are focusing on native species,' the official said. They said over 1,000 each of amaltas, Lagerstroemia speciosa (Queen's crepe myrtle), and Tabebuia rosea (rosy trumpet tree) will be planted, and around 8,400 bougainvillea will be planted, according to the tender. The last date for submitting bids is June 2, as per the tender dated May 26. The forest official said that while the species are not expected to flower this year, there is a possibility some species may flower by next year. Experts, however, questioned the choice of species selected. Environmentalist Pradip Krishen said that barring amaltas, the remaining three species were not native to the ridge. 'Even bougainvillaea may survive in the ridge, but that does not mean it is a good reason to plant it there. Just because a species is able to grow on thin rocky soils, you cannot let ornamental exotic plants be introduced there. On one hand, the forest department says is ecologically restoring the ridge, but at the same time, it is opting for such species which are not native at all,' he said. Delhi has four prominent ridge areas, with a total area of around 7,784 hectares. The largest—the Southern Ridge—is spread over 6,200 hectares. Central Ridge is the next largest, with an area of 864 hectares. The South-Central Ridge in Mehrauli is spread across 626 hectares and the Northern Ridge is spread across 87 hectares. The Nanakpura south-central ridge is spread across seven hectares.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
12k flowering saplings to be planted at central Ridge
New Delhi: Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department plans to beautify the forest stretch along Sardar Patel Marg by planting 12,000 flowering trees and shrubs. Around the Central Ridge near the Sardar Patel Marg boundary, 1,200 each of Amaltas, Queen's Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa), and Rosy Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea) will be planted, along with approximately 8,400 bougainvillea shrubs. Saplings, 10–12 feet tall, will be planted during the upcoming monsoon, with flowers expected from next year. A senior forest official said, "We aim to enhance the forest area along Sardar Patel Marg with native flowering species to improve its visual appeal. A tender has been floated, and plantation will begin in the monsoon." Earlier attempts to grow Chinar and Cherry blossom trees here failed. These were planted near SP Marg ahead of the G20 summit, anticipating the route would be used by delegates and VIPs, but both species did not survive. Delhi's ridges include northern, central, south-central, and southern ridge, spanning a total of around 7,777 hectares. The southern ridge is the largest at 6,200 hectares, followed by central ridge (864 ha), south-central ridge (626 ha), and northern ridge (87 ha). TNN
