Exotic degradation

The bid to reafforest the Himalayas could actually backfire on its ecology. Exotic plants which have the ability to grow rapidly and used for the programme are having an anis on the soil, water and air ha paglon. Vir Singh, a noted ecolo G 8 Pant University of kullara iand Technology, Garhwal in Wiliradesh, in a published study says t aw obnalayan mountains have n War -a great threat- because of p al introduction of commercial dc: pleats replacing the indigenous vegetation.

No saidy explains that exotics like ellypeus, poplars, silver oak, subabool d chir pines are, by nature, bapedim and cause disruptions in the i rit. Such is their efficacy in vast areas of fertile land into l-Wiggivii deserts' that natural regeneration tion of indigenous species is given the go by, The report concludes that the unique Himalayan ecosystem can be restored only by indigenous vegetation and warns against an 'environmental coup' by the exotics which could totally wipe out the indigenous species.

But the Uttar Pradesh forest department and some government institutions have turned deaf ears to the criticism and are continuing the process with the sole aim of greening the denuded hills, though by methods which are environmentallyunfriendly.