Strategic Plan for Invasive Species Mitigation

Summary Notes on the Kerala State Biodiversity Board's Strategic Plan

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Kerala

• The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has formulated a seven-point strategic plan to address the impact of IAS on biodiversity.
• Key Components of the Strategy:
  1. Prevention and monitoring of IAS spread.
  2. Public awareness and capacity building to manage IAS.
  3. Risk assessments and prioritization of research on IAS impacts.
  4. Management strategies focusing on prevention and community engagement.
  5. Scientific identification and taxonomic validation of IAS.
  6. Economic utilization of IAS where eradication is unfeasible.
  7. Strict quarantine measures to prevent further spread.

Documented Invasive Species

• A total of 32 alien species documented in Kerala's inland aquatic ecosystems:
  • Fish species: 28, including the Mozambique tilapia, prevalent in all rivers, reservoirs, and lakes.
  • Plant species: 4, including Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, and Mikania micrantha, which disrupt forest ecosystems and hinder native plant regeneration.

Pathways for Introduction of Invasive Species

• Intentional pathways:
  • Aquaculture
  • Ornamental trade
  • Agriculture
• Unintentional pathways:
  • Ballast water
  • Nursery trade
  • Natural disasters (e.g., floods).

Economic & Ecological Impact

• Invasive species are leading to significant ecological disruptions and biodiversity loss. They pose a major threat to agriculture by damaging crops.

Recommendations & Legal Framework

• A call for a unified legal framework to address IAS threats has been made by stakeholders, including former officials from Kerala Forest Research Institute.
• Recommendations for a dedicated government system to combat IAS have been proposed to the Union Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change.
• The need for comprehensive studies on the native species lost to IAS has been highlighted.

National Context

• A recommendation for a national policy on IAS was previously provided by the Zoological Survey of India during a national conference on invasive species.

Importance and Conclusions

• Invasive species can drastically alter ecosystems, leading to economic and biodiversity costs.
• The KSBB emphasizes the urgent need for strong, coordinated measures to combat the spread of IAS to protect Kerala’s indigenous biodiversity.