Kanha Tiger Reserve

Why in news?

• The research paper has deciphered many negative impacts of multiple co-occurring alien plants on biodiversity and what it means for conservation in the era of global changes.
• India’s biodiverse ecosystems are threatened by a variety of alien plants like Lantana Camara, Parthenium hysterophorous, and Prosopis juliflora introduced during British colonisation.
• Co-occurring invasive plants like Ageratum conyzoides, and Pogostemon benghalensis cause ecological homogenisation in invaded regions.
• Multiple alien species together affected soil nutrients, which may have depleted the richness of diverse plants. 
• Invasions might slowly deplete the native plant populations and might lead to diseases in the herbivores.

Key facts about Kanha Tiger Reserve

• It is nestled in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India that forms the central Indian highlands.
• This Tiger Reserve stretches over an area of 940 square km in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
• Kanha is best known for its evergreen Sal forests.
• Fauna: Barasingha, Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Bear, Gaur and Indian Python etc.

 

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Q1) What is Project Tiger?

It is a tiger conservation programme launched in November 1973 by the Government of India. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of the Bengal tiger in its natural habitats, protecting it from extinction, and preserving areas of biological importance.

Source: Alien plants growing together threatening tiger habitats: Study