Exotic degradation

The bid to reafforest the Himalayascould actually backfire on its ecology.Exotic plants which have the ability togrow rapidly and used for theprogramme are having ananis on the soil, water and airha paglon. Vir Singh, a noted ecolo G 8 Pant University ofkullara iand Technology, Garhwal inWiliradesh, in a published study sayst aw obnalayan mountains haven War -a great threat- because ofp al introduction of commercialdc: pleats replacing the indigenousvegetation.

No saidy explains that exotics likeellypeus, poplars, silver oak, subaboold chir pines are, by nature,bapedim and cause disruptions in thei rit. Such is their efficacy invast areas of fertile land intol-Wiggivii deserts' that natural regenerationtion of indigenous species is given thego by, The report concludes that theunique Himalayan ecosystem can berestored only by indigenous vegetationand warns against an 'environmentalcoup' by the exotics which could totallywipe out the indigenous species.

But the Uttar Pradesh forestdepartment and some governmentinstitutions have turned deaf earsto the criticism and are continuingthe process with the sole aim ofgreening the denuded hills, thoughby methods which are environmentallyunfriendly.