Conocarpus Tree : Recommend to Ban
The government-appointed expert panel on environment has recommended the Supreme Court to ban a fast-growing exotic tree species called Conocarpus tree.
- Conocarpus Tree is a flowering plant belonging to the family of Combretaceae.
- It is an invasive mangrove species.
- The plant species has two types, one which is native to the coastal areas of tropical America, ranging from Bermuda and the Bahamas to Brazil, and extending along the Pacific coasts and parts of West Africa;
- Others are found in arid coastal zones of Somalia and Yemen and across eastern and northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
- In India, the growth of the tree was found prevalent in Gujarat’s coastal and arid districts such as Kachchh.
- This tree is famous for its dark green leaves color throughout the year and withstands harsh environmental conditions such as high and low temperatures.
- It is very adaptive and could grow even in areas with extreme salinity.
- It absorbs more water from soil than other species and is a threat to groundwater.
- This species goes deep into the ground and grows too much to damage the communication cables, drainage lines and drinking water pipelines.
- During flowering seasons, the tree releases pollen, which may aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma, rhinitis, and other allergic reactions, particularly in children and the elderly.
- It also poses a safety risk as its dry, brittle wood is highly flammable during the summer months.
