Sun Jan 05 13:27:04 UTC 2025: ## Invasive Vine Threatens Kanniyakumari Ecosystem
**Kanniyakumari, January 5, 2025** – An invasive vine, *Mucuna bracteata*, is threatening the biodiversity of Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India. Originally introduced as a weed control and nitrogen regulator in rubber plantations, the vine has spread aggressively, overtaking native trees and encroaching upon the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai tiger reserve’s buffer zone.
The Forest Department, in collaboration with the Kanniyakumari Nature Foundation, has launched a pilot project to clear the invasive creeper from the Kodayar region. Local communities are participating in the multi-year effort, which involves physically removing the vine and replanting native species like bamboo. Chemical methods are avoided to protect wildlife in the area.
Vinodh Sadhasivan of the Kanniyakumari Nature Foundation highlights the vine’s rapid spread, impacting large tracts of land and threatening native tree growth. He emphasizes the need for intervention to protect the biodiversity of this critical tiger habitat. District Forest Officer E. Prashanth notes the challenges in eradicating the vine completely, as no effective method for its complete removal is currently known. While other invasive plants are recognized threats, *Mucuna bracteata*’s damage to this thriving ecosystem is becoming increasingly apparent. The pilot project aims to find effective, environmentally sound solutions to combat this emerging ecological threat.
First Piper 