News: Assam is restoring elephant habitat by removing Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPs) and promoting native vegetationà Project implemented in Khalingduar Reserve Forest, Udalguri district, bordering Bhutan.

Major Invasive Species:

• Lantana camara
• Chromolaena odorata
• Mikania micrantha

Problem:

• IAPs → compete with native plants for light, space, moisture & nutrients.
• → Reduce native vegetation and elephant forage availability.

Biochar Approach:

• Removed invasive biomass → converted into biochar.
• Biochar → charcoal-like material produced by heating biomass with little/no oxygen.
• → Improves soil water & nutrient retention, aggregation and microbial habitat.
• Thus: Remove weeds → Biochar → Improve soil → Restore native vegetation → Better elephant habitat.