SC Panel Urges Ban on Invasive Conocarpus Trees

SC Panel Recommends Ban on Conocarpus Plantations

Why in the News ?

The Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended a ban on Conocarpus tree plantations across India. Widely planted for quick greenery and landscaping, the species poses serious threats to biodiversity, ecosystems, groundwater, and public health, prompting calls for a uniform nationwide prohibition.

SC Panel Urges Ban on Invasive Conocarpus Trees

Findings of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC):

  • Report submitted (Aug 21, 2025) to Supreme Court.
  • Key Observations:
    • Alters local ecosystems and damages native biodiversity.
    • Groundwater depletion due to high water consumption.
    • Public health risk from allergenic pollen.
    • Aesthetic value limited to dense canopy and urban greenery, but ecologically harmful.
  • Advisory to Centre:

    • Issue directions to all States and Union Territories to stop planting and propagating Conocarpus.
    • Include it in the list of invasive alien species.

Significance and Way Forward

  • Why ban is needed:

    • Prevents further spread of invasive species that threaten India’s ecological balance.
    • Avoids urban ecological damage under the guise of landscaping.
  • Policy Recommendation:

    • Form a legal framework dedicated to invasive species regulation (plants, animals, microbes, fungi).
    • Incorporate monitoring and management in National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024–30).
  • Wider Implication:

    • The case highlights India’s urgent need to balance urban development with ecological sustainability.

About Invasive Alien Species :

●     Conocarpus species: Also called buttonwood or damas, introduced as an ornamental plant for urban landscaping.

●     Why invasive?

○      Consumes excessive groundwater.

○      Produces allergenic pollen, harmful to public health.

○      Provides little sustenance to native insects, birds, and mammals → called a “green desert”.

●     Status in India:

○      Already banned in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

○      Yet widely planted in Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.