Invasive alien species in district udhampur, jammu and kashmir, india

A wide spectrum of plants has been introduced to India through international trade and travel. About 40 percent of the total species recorded in India are identified as alien but a very few of them tend to become invasive. Biological invasions are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Some invasive alien species have successfully colonized in most of the area. Of all the recorded species Lantana camara is widely distributed in the study area covering hills in the lower elevations. Invasive alien species are posing a serious threat to the biodiversity of the fragile Himalayan region and also proving to be a hindrance to the conservation efforts. The effective management of invasive alien species requires a scientific knowledge of the species and an estimation of the extent of infestation followed by appropriate control and eradication measures.