Senna Spectablis
Another invader
A different approach
When it comes to invasives, Lantana gets most of the attention — at a global level at least. Senna spectabilis is more range-restricted invasive, but in the forests of South India it is in some ways even more stubborn and difficult to get rid of. Unlike Lantana, Senna is a tree, and its wood has significant market value in the paper industry. We are working on two fronts: more effective removal strategies, and creating awareness through high-end products made from the wood.
What We’re Doing
Removal experiment — Wayanad and Bandipur
We are running a controlled experiment across four quarter-hectare plots in Wayanad, and will be replicating it in Bandipur, Karnataka. Each plot is cleared using a different method — cutting high and covering with mud, cutting at ground level and covering with mud, cutting at ground level and covering with a sack, and full uprooting. We are monitoring regeneration across all four plots to find out what actually works.
Senna crafts — livelihood and awareness
We are working with local communities to make small animal figurines from Senna wood. Every piece sold is a piece of Senna no longer in the forest, and a source of income for the people who removed it.