Ecological Restoration of Lantana-Invaded Landscapes in Corbett Tiger Reserve, India
S. Babu, Amit Love, C. Babu
Dec 1, 2009
Citations
46
Citations
Journal
Ecological Restoration
Full text
Semantic Scholar
Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: Lantana eradication and restoration in Corbett Tiger Reserve, India, successfully prevents secondary invasions and enhances habitat quality for herbivores, benefiting tigers and other wildlife.
Abstract
Lantana (Lantana camara), one of the world's most troublesome invasive weeds, has become a menace in most of the protected areas located in tropical and subtropical belt of India. The lantana-infested landscapes not only are impoverished as habitats of wildlife but also contribute to human-wildlife conflicts owing to diminished ecosystem services. This paper is a case study of successful eradication and restoration of two lantana-invaded sites in Corbett Tiger Reserve, India. A method for eradicating lantana was developed using knowledge about its ecology, and, subsequently, weed-free landscapes were restored to productive grasslands and mixed woodlands using native species. The restoration of these areas to grassland communities has successfully prevented secondary invasions by lantana and other weeds and has enhanced the habitat quality for herbivores whose populations are vital for the survival of top carnivores such as tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti).