Invasive Species Expansion in India

A major study published in December 2025 warned that invasive alien plant species are spreading across India’s natural areas at an alarming rate of ~15,500 sq km every year, reshaping ecosystems, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

Key Findings of the Study

  • Scale of Spread: Around 266,954 sq km of India’s natural ecosystems are already invaded.
  • Human & Livestock Exposure: Nearly 144 million people, 2.79 million livestock, and 200,000 sq km of smallholder farmland have been exposed to new invasions.
  • Dominant Invaders: Species such as Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata, and Prosopis juliflora now dominate nearly two-thirds of India’s natural ecosystems.
  • Fastest Spreader: Chromolaena odorata is ....
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Ecology & Environment