Wide spread invasive plants

 Wide spread invasive plants:

Invasive plant species are not native and introduced species from other region that harms it's  new environment. 

Invasive plant species are greatly adapted to their new environment and compete with local flora for resources in such a way that they might be considered as native species. But these are not native and introduced species from other regions by human or by addcidential release. 

Some of widespread invasive plant species in Pakistan and India are:

1:Eucalyptus

2:Parthenium

3:Lanatana 

4:Paper mulberry

Scientific name:Eucalyptus

Common name:Eucalyptus

Vernacular name:Safeda

Origin: Origin of eucalyptus is Australia. It is mainly found in that region. 

Introduced to Pakistan: It was imported to Pakistan during the era of General Ayub Khan to increase forest cover. It has been included in the forestry programme all over the country and planted in large number in nearly all provinces. 

Harmful Effects on Environment: Water consumer do not allow water to stand on earth surface and absorbed it in large amount with the help of their roots. The use of extensive water by eucalyptus render the soil unfertile leading to poor yeild of crops. If the eucalyptus is planted near fields. 

Moreover Eucalyptus mulch release chemicals that could be harmful to other plants and supress their growth. These plants are incompatible for biodiversity conservation and not a good source for plants shelter. They harm the environment in various way due to their allelopahtic behavior. 

Scientific name:Lantana camara

Common name:Lantana 

Vernacular name:Raimunyia

Origin: It's origin in mainly South America. Wide spread in that region. 

Introduced to Pakistan: Arrived in subcontinent as decorative shrub in British colonial period but spread quickly to all region due to vegetative reproduction. 

 Harmful Effects on Environment: In the past it is use to treat fever, cough and cold. 

It supressed the natural regeneration of plants species through its competitive superiority over seedlings of native species. Fire tolerance vegetation reproduction make it better adapted to local new environment as compared to native species. Which are not able to grow properly in the presence of this aggressive invasive species. 

Scientific name:Parthenium hysterophorus

Common name:Parthenium

Vernacular name:Gajar booti

Origin: it origin is mainly America. 

Introduced to Pakistan:It was first introduced to Australia from Mexico and later in India from India that beetle come to Pakistan. 

 Harmful Effects on Environment:It is most wide spread bettle in the country and most dangerous one. No beneficial use but highly allergic cause respiratory disorder to human and also toxic for animals. It's Aggressive dominance threats biodiversity. It is one of the major weed growing in the grassland. And dangerous for the animal's lack of awareness among the local community about its harmful effects are causing great loss to the local environment and biodiversity conservation. 

Scientific name:Broussonetia  paperifera

Common name:Paper mulberry

Vernacular name:Jangli toot

Origin:It's main origin is mainly central China, Taiwan and Japan. 

Introduced to Pakistan: It was densely planted to islamabad in 1970 as it was fast growing invasive species. Islamabad was classified as barren land no extensive greenry was present there's at that time. So, in order to make the islamabad green this invasive species was introduced by aerial dispersal of seeds. 

Harmful Effects on Environment: It is fast growing invasive species and widely spread to rular areas leading to increase in its population. But it is causing pollen allergy to the people and also competing for resources with native species as they grow at much faster rate than native species and harming the local environment. 

Way to Control the Harmful Effects of Invasive Plant  Species:

As all these wide spread invasive species are destroying local environment in various way and not providing as such benefits so these must be eliminated from local environment in order to conserve biodiversity and local climate. 

Burning in case of parthenium is not beneficial as alkaloids from its burning harm the soil leading to more loss. Chemical method can be use to eliminate it completely. Awareness among farmers about its negative impact can be beneficial. 

Similarly paper mulberry is causing pollen allergy cutting trees are not a solution as they grow back again as they are fast growing species. Other methods must be brought to control their population rate. 

Government should take some serious steps in order to protect the local environment from harmful effects of these invasive species.

Awareness among local community about the destruction caused by invasive species prove helpful in the eradication of harmful invasive species.