Parthenium hysterophorus

The highly invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus, commonly known as “Congress grass,” has emerged as a significant threat to the grasslands of Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to the world’s highest density of one-horned rhinos.

The Threat to Pobitora’s Ecosystem

• Origin and Spread: Believed to have entered India as a contaminant in wheat shipments from the US more than 70 years ago, Parthenium has aggressively spread across an estimated 1 million hectares nationwide.
• Ecological Impact: The weed is a major threat to native biodiversity. It crowds out the 11 types of grasses that the rhinos in Pobitora depend on for food. The invasion has been a growing concern over the last two to three years, with its growth being particularly significant in years with fewer floods.
• Health Hazards: Parthenium poses serious health risks not only to humans, causing skin allergies, fever, and respiratory issues like asthma, but also to livestock and wildlife. Its allelopathic properties, which inhibit the growth of nearby plants, further damage the ecosystem.

Conservation Efforts and Eradication Measures

In response to this growing threat, forest authorities and local communities have launched a concerted effort to eradicate the weed.

• A three-day “Parthenium-Free Pobitora” campaign was recently conducted, during which forest staff and members of local Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) cleared approximately 7 hectares of the sanctuary.

(Source: TOI)