As rewilding and land restoration achieve momentum throughout India, conservationists are flagging a vital however typically missed issue: the selection of timber being planted. Whereas large-scale plantation drives are steadily projected as local weather and biodiversity options, specialists warn that planting the flawed species — particularly non-native timber — can undermine ecological restoration.
Highlighting this concern, Zerodha Founder and CEO Nithin Kamath lately shared a private reflection on X, underscoring why native timber are important for significant rewilding.
“After we talk about rewilding and land restoration, guaranteeing that native timber are used is equally vital,” Kamath wrote, admitting that he had unknowingly planted Conocarpus, a non-native species, at his residence practically a decade in the past. “No birds or animals have ever come to the tree,” he famous, pointing to the ecological disconnect such species create.
Kamath’s expertise mirrors a broader situation in India’s afforestation efforts, the place fast-growing, non-native species like eucalyptus, conocarpus and silver oak are sometimes favoured for comfort, aesthetics or speedy inexperienced cowl. Nonetheless, ecologists argue that these timber steadily fail to help native biodiversity and, in some instances, actively hurt ecosystems.
When inexperienced cowl isn’t sufficient
Native timber co-evolved with native birds, bugs, mammals and microorganisms, forming advanced meals webs that maintain ecosystems. Non-native species, against this, typically act as ecological useless ends — offering little meals, shelter or nesting worth for native fauna.
Kamath noticed that regardless of years of development, his Conocarpus timber attracted no wildlife. “I additionally realised a lot later that these timber aren’t good for people both. They trigger allergic reactions in many individuals,” he wrote, including that the choice to take away them now feels troublesome due to the time invested, even when it could be needed.
Environmental researchers say this dilemma is frequent. As soon as planted at scale, non-native timber are exhausting to take away with out social or emotional resistance, even when scientific proof factors to long-term hurt.
Ecological & human prices
Past biodiversity loss, non-native timber can pressure water assets, alter soil chemistry and improve well being dangers. Eucalyptus, as an example, is thought for top water consumption, whereas Conocarpus pollen has been linked to respiratory allergy symptoms in city areas.
“Planting timber isn’t the identical as restoring ecosystems,” says a conservation scientist acquainted with restoration tasks within the Western Ghats. “Rewilding is about bringing again pure processes, not simply greenery.”
Kamath echoed this sentiment, urging folks to intervene after they see non-native species being planted. “Subsequent time you see somebody planting eucalyptus, conocarpus, or comparable non-native species, make sure that to cease them,” he wrote.
Selecting the best tree
To bridge the data hole, Kamath highlighted Plantwise-India, a digital instrument developed by a bunch of organisations together with the Nature Conservation Basis (NCF) and ERA, a Rainmatter-supported companion. The platform permits customers to enter their latitude and longitude to obtain suggestions on native plant species suited to their particular location.
At present operational within the Western Ghats, one of many world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, Plantwise-India goals to forestall well-intentioned however ecologically damaging planting selections. Kamath expressed hope that the instrument would develop nationwide, enabling folks throughout India to confirm what is actually native earlier than planting.
