By Vandita Sariya :
CLIMATE change is projected to exacerbate the spread
of invasive alien
species like
N e l t u m a
j u l i f l o r a
(natively called
‘ V i l a y a t i
Babool’) in
India. But, it
has now
become an
integral part of
the ecosystem
it invaded, with
several sections
of society
dependent on it for affordable firewood, animal feed, medicine, timber, honey, and charcoal.
A new report found that under two climate change scenarios, the share of land under protected areas becoming
conducive for the spread of Neltuma juliflora will rise. Several
protected areas with a range of amphibians, reptiles, birds
and mammals are located in these areas. Spread of Neltuma
juliflora in such biodiversity rich areas would mean a habitat loss for these organisms and a disruption in the ecosystem.
Last year, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released their first-ever and
the most comprehensive Assessment Report on InvasiveAlien
Species, which said that they are one of the five major direct
drivers of biodiversity loss globally and are costing $423 billion annually.
While eradicating these species seems like the most obvious way forward, experts say it is more complicated. It is
not easy to reclaim land invaded by this alien species for
over a century. Neltuma juliflora has become quite an integral part of the ecosystem it has invaded providing locals
with resources and ways of earning livelihoods. When the
going gets tough due to climate-induced erratic weather
patterns like drought, the invasive species becomes a reliable ‘Plan B’ for those otherwise engaged in agricultural/dairy activities. Hence, experts recommend controlling
its spread rather than complete eradication.
(Read full story at
https://carboncopy.info/newsletters/vol-1-august-2024-
babool-in-a-china-shop/#big-story)