Eminent scientists today stressed that the country should draw an effective strategy in the next three year to control menace of Invasive Alien Species (IAS), a potential threat to biodiversity.
The view emerged at a two-day conference to assess the current status of IAS and their affect on biodiversity attented by Scientists and experts from across the country.
The national conference inaugurated by Joint Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Manju Pandey is jointly organised by Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
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The meet aims at delving in detail the impact of IAS on biodiversity, impact of biological invasion on ecosystem besides, to develop a national strategy on IAS management.
Participants would also discuss its impact on food-web by altering the prey and predator ratio.
"By 2020 we (India) have to come out with a strategy on how to control IAS. Some are dangerous and some are not dangerous. But the looming threat of invasive species is there not only for India but for the entire world," Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Additional Director PV Prasanna said.
Incidentally, India had signed an agreement giving its nod to implement the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to be achieved by the end of this decade.
"The agreement says that by 2020, all invasive alien species and their pathways are to be identified and priority species are to be controlled and eradicated and measures are to be in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment," ZSI director Kailash Chandra said.
"IAS are second largest threat to the biodiversity in the world. We have to control the invasive species and prevent them entering the country. This will cause havoc if not controlled. Science along with management coupled with legal backing can help in controlling the IAS. The entire world is looking into it and India has to take the lead," he said.
"There are four biodiversity hotspots in India with around 47,000 species of plants and more than 1.6 lakh species of animals. Invasive alien species is second most serious problem after global warming. There are many species of which we have no idea about their transportation and transmission. Some exotic species are also transported from one country to another country," Chandra said.
When asked whether globalisation was another reason behind Invasive Alien Species, the ZSI director told PTI on the sidelines "It's one of the major reason behind invasive alien species. E-commerce has advanced in a big way. Even these days insects are transported from one continent to another through courier services."
Around 157 invasive alien species of fauna had been recorded and out of which 99 per cent were from the marine area, Changra said adding that the coral reef ecosystem in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa and Karnataka are under threat.
Pointing out significance of taxonomy in identifying and managing the IAS which include 90 per cent of species complexes, CR Babu, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi, stressed on the utilisation and sustainable use of the present resources and how they are impacting on climate.
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