India
NewIndianXpress. (2020, March 19). Flora at fight. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/mar/19/flora-at-fight-2118473.html
There is a large debate rising in India about what is considered an “invasive species”, mainly concerning the Eucalyptus tree or other ornamental plants that bear flowers. Some argue that plants like these are detrimental to the biodiversity of Indian ecosystems or areas, while others claim that these areas have adapted to the species and that the invasive species is actually benefiting the environment. Additionally, there has been debate on when such a species can be considered a functionable habitat for animals or insects, or when it has coexisted for a long enough time with a native species.
While there is a lot of debate on whether or not certain species are in fact detrimental to a given environment, there is a collected consensus in India regarding the importance of preserving native species over invasive ones, mainly because indigenous species help encourage a healthier ecosystem. Journalist Seetha Gopalakrishnan builds on this idea, saying that “Although there are environments that have adapted to invasive species, any ecosystem would be more productive with the presence of a native plant species”. I liked this article because it didn’t undercut the difficulty of removing invasive plants; instead, it explained realistic solutions to better the environment, something that should be a given for environmental science as a whole. While it’s difficult to dig up every invasive species, it’s more accessible to give urban planners indigenous plant species to use instead of invasive ones.
I like your point that it is extremely difficult to remove every invasive species, and that a more reasonable approach is to provide more access to indigenous plant species. You mentioned that there is debate over whether these plant species should be considered invasive; do you think they are harmful or beneficial to the ecosystem?
That’s a great question! Personally, I think that the indigenous species should typically be prioritized if the invasive species has not have time to truly build roots and become a functional part of the ecosystem. That being said, there is a line that must be drawn should this actually happen. For example, if an invasive tree goes unchallenged in an ecosystem, the immediate response shouldn’t be to remove it but, rather, to see how integral it is to the ecosystem now. If a bird species has settled in the tree, it makes sense to keep it. This will help the conservationists/scientists pay closer attention to that area in the future so that invasive species don’t have the chance to settle to that extent.