Rainforest Concern

India

A new use found for invasive species in the Western Ghats

The negative effects of invasive plant species on biodiversity and on the well being of human societies are well known. Lantana camara, a native weed of South America, was introduced to India at the National Botanical Gardens, Calcutta in 1807 as an ornamental plant by the British and, since then, the plant has successfully invaded virtually all parts of the country. Unfortunately efforts to manage the weed have not been successful. The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), in Bangalore, India has sought to promote the use of Lantana as a substitute for the rapidly decling bamboo resources among some of the poorest rural communities in south India. This innovative idea won the global Development Marketplace award in 2003.

Through recent support from Rainforest Concern, the use of Lantana has been extended to additional communities in south India. Work is underway to establish Lantana Craft Centres at these sites and specifically to train women artisans, and to help organise communities to develop their own administrative structures and formalise market linkages. Attempts are also being made to design and diversify the range of products to include handicrafts and toy making.

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