NEWS

Plans afoot to uproot lantana bushes from BRT reserve, Bandipur in Karnataka

About Invasive Lantana Bushes

Lantana camara

• Species of flowering plant
• Native to the American tropics.
• Out-compete native species that leading to a reduction in biodiversity and can greatly reduce the productivity of farmland.
• Survive in a wide range of climatic conditions, including drought, different soil types, heat, humidity and salt.
• First introduced in 1807
• Spread to wildlife reserves, river banks and the Project Tiger areas where it had obliterated native grass and reduced biodiversity.
• In some regions, the plant has made inroads into pastures and shrunk the cattle grazing areas, affecting the livelihood of villagers.
• Natural grass has started growing in the Sajjangarh sanctuary and the spotted deer and other herbivores can be seen foraging on the vegetation.