TN launches drive to remove Senna spectabilis from forests by Mar '26

State's forests host 1,77,363 ha of invasive species, with 34,710 ha having been cleared so far

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA @ Chennai

THE Tamil Nadu Forest Department has set an ambitious target to eradicate Senna spectabilis from all forest divisions by March 2026, marking one of India's largest state-led invasive species removal drives.

Official data show the yellow-flowering invasive has spread across 2,446 hectares, of which 1,963 hectares have already been cleared, leaving 483 hectares to be tackled in the next phase.

Senna spectabilis, which has overrun forest floors in the Nilgiris, Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam, is among the most disruptive invasives in the Western Ghats. Its dense monoculture suppresses native understorey vegetation, intensifies forest fire risk, and reduces fodder for herbivores including elephants and deer.