Removal of Invasive Foreign Species in Reserved Forests
1. Identification & Inventory Framework
FSI's 45 Major Invasives Album: Forest Survey of India (FSI) has compiled a dedicated album identifying 45 major Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) to monitor their dense to scanty spread across India’s Reserved Forest Areas.
BSI-NBA State-Wise Inventory: Botanical Survey of India (BSI) submitted a state-wise inventory of invasive species spreading across forest and non-forest lands to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) to draft the upcoming National Management Plan of Invasive Species.
UPSC Focus: Prelims: Institutional roles (FSI vs. BSI vs. NBA) | Mains: GS 3 - Biodiversity Threats & Institutional Safeguards.
2. Implementation Jurisdiction & Local Working Plans
State-Led Removal Drives: Management, eradication, and native species replanting within Reserved Forests and Protected Areas fall under the direct executive domain of respective State Governments and UT Administrations.
Site-Specific Protocols: Removal strategies rely on local ecological requirements, avoiding blanket national approaches that could disrupt micro-habitats.
UPSC Focus: Prelims: Constitutional distribution of powers regarding forests (Concurrent List) | Mains: GS 2/3 - Decentralized Forest Management.
3. Regulatory & Policy Frameworks
National Working Plan Code, 2023: Mandates ecosystem-based forest management, explicitly integrating invasive species control, soil/moisture conservation, and mandatory preference for site-specific native flora in regeneration drives.
National Forest Policy, 1988: Guides environmental stability and ecological balance by encouraging afforestation using indigenous tree species over exotic plantations.
Ecological Benefits: Effective removal restores groundwater recharge, improves soil moisture retention, and boosts overall forest ecosystem resilience.
UPSC Focus: Prelims: Key provisions of National Working Plan Code 2023 & NFP 1988 | Mains: GS 3 - Forest Restoration & Ecosystem Services.
Source Reference
PIB Release: MoEFCC Lok Sabha Reply: Removal of Invasive Foreign Species in Reserved Forests (10 August 2026)
Comments