What happened: Aaranyak’s invasive-plant habitat management in Assam
Aaranyak is implementing a habitat-management programme in Assam to reduce invasive alien plant species that crowd out native vegetation and reduce forage for herbivores, including elephants. The programme is carried out with support from the International Elephant Foundation.
The programme focuses on the Khalingduar Reserve Forest in Udalguri district in the Bodoland Territorial Region, near the border with Bhutan.
Aaranyak’s interventions are planned for an area of roughly two hectares, where invasive plants form dense stands. Project staff state that vegetation will be monitored so that re-emerging invasive plants can be removed and native recovery can continue.
Invasive alien species targeted in the reserve forest
Aaranyak targets three invasive alien plant species in the Khalingduar Reserve Forest:
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