Concerned by the invasion of wild climber weed called Mikania micrantha or banmara lahara, the Save the Environment Foundation (SEF) has drawn attention of local authorities and international conservationists “to act immediately towards elimination of this killer weed.”
Speaking at a press meet, Sunday, organised on the eve of World Environment Day, executive chairperson of SEF Chanda Rana said that the wild weed has been invading the flora community of the Chitwan National Park.
She said that SEF team recently visited the national park and observed the situation of infestation.
“This weed which is scientifically known as Mikania micrantha. It is an extremely fast growing, sprawling, perennial vine and one of the world’s most notorious invaders. Mikania micrantha rapidly colonises disturbs habitats, retarding the growth of crops or natural vegetation by competing and producing plant inhibitors,” Rana said.
Mikania climbs up other plants to reach the canopy for better sunlight. At the same time, its leaves cover up the host plants and reduce the sunlight reaching the host plant for photosynthesis. Mikania sprawls out rapidly in the spring and summer which is the reason for its name ‘mile-a-minute weed’.
Rana quotes buffer zone chief, wildlife resort owner and the villagers as saying that in Chitwan National Park, this wild climber is witnessed to have been expanding at a very alarming rate since 1994.
“Its present infestation is estimated to have affected over 20% of the entire national park area. The invasion is showing severely damaging effects on young trees, shrubs, grasses in mostly mixed and reverine forests and grass lands. It smothers shrubs and small trees which are important source of food and bedding for most of wild animals in the park. It is now gradually spreading out towards buffer zone area as well. Since it has been one of common weed in agro-forestry, this wild climber is going to threaten the livelihoods of the local people in buffer zone,” she added.
She expressed alarm that one of the world’s worst weed is risking the whole ecosystem of the Chitwan National Park area endangering the very survival of entire floral and faunal community. “If immediate action is not taken to control this weed or climber, Chitwan National Park which stands today as a successful testimony of nature conservation in South Asia may collapse tomorrow,” Rana warned. This national park is home to the rare one-horned rhinoceros, apart from Bengal tigers and many more flora and fauna.
At the press meet, Rana said that in order to save the ecosystem of Chitwan National Park, a long-term and short term actions are required. She called for detail study of the situation, raising of public awareness, media coverage, and development of long-term project with viable control measures and ways for complete elimination of this climber vine.
The SEF is an NGO entirely run by women. Established in 1994, the SEF has been celebrating the World Environment Day each year focusing on the theme “from confrontation to co-existence with nature for future generations”.
The SEF has been involved in various environmental campaigns including garbage management, afforestation, case study on air pollution, greenery promotion, hospital waste management, white draft preparation, green belt movement in Kathmandu and so on and can be contacted at [email protected].