Kerala State Biodiversity Board submits policy document to mitigate threats due to invasive species

Lantana camara, an invasive alien species found in forest ecosystems in Keralam.

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has come up with a seven-point strategic plan to mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) on the State’s biodiversity.

The policy document drawn up by the board, which was recently submitted to the State government, has suggested laying emphasise on prevention and monitoring of the spread of invasive alien species and generating public awareness and capacity-building to handle the menace.

The document calls for strict quarantine measures; public awareness and capacity building; conducting risk assessments and prioritising research on invasive alien species impacts; managing of invasive alien species, which prioritises prevention, engaging local communities; and scientific identification and taxonomic validation, which lays thrust on developing methods to verify species’ invasiveness. The document also suggests economic utilisation of invasive species in instances where eradication is not feasible.

Invasive fish