About Vilayati Kikar

• Vilayati Kikar:
  
  An Ecological Threat 30 May 2018 7 min read Reference
  For decades, tree lovers and environmentalists across the country have been campaigning against the Vilayati Kikar (Prosopis juliflora). It is believed to be preventing the growth of other species. The Delhi government has recently approved the removal of this non-indigenous tree from the Central Ridge. With the hope of restoring the native flora as well as fauna of the area, known as the lungs of the city.
• Ecological Threat from Vilayati Kikar
  
  It grows rapidly in dry conditions, does not allow any plant to grow and the groundwater level drops drastically where it occurs.
  
  The ecological threat posed by it has been documented by several scientists and activists in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
  
  In Tamil Nadu, it is called karuvelam and its wood is used as firewood.
  
  In 2016, the Madras High Court passed interim orders to remove the trees as they were further depleting groundwater levels in an already water-stressed area.
  
  In 2017, the court itself began monitoring the removal of the kikar trees.
  
  The campaign to remove the tree in Delhi began in the 1990s, with court cases, government representations and research papers building a groundswell of opposition.
  However, the transformation of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in Wazirabad gave the forest department confidence that the plan could work.
  
  The tree was planted in Delhi by the British in the early 1930s.
  
  By the end of the decade, it had spread all over the Central Ridge and started destroying native acacias, dhaaks, kadambas, amaltas, wild gulmohars, etc.
  
  Along with the trees, fauna such as birds, butterflies, leopards, porcupines and jackals disappeared.
• Removal of Vilayati Kikar
  
  Removal or felling of Vilayati Kikar and waiting for other plants to grow is a beneficial step for two reasons.
  
  Firstly, it will regenerate trees of other species and secondly leaving the ridge barren and waiting for native species to grow will encourage encroachment.
  
  The first step of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) is to cut the branches of the trees and reduce the vegetation cover so that sunlight can reach the ground.
  
  Thus felling destroys the fruit production capacity of the tree and it starts to wilt. At the same time, it provides sufficient sunlight and water for the plant to germinate.
  
  Another method used to speed up this process is parasitic planting.
• Replacement
  
  Replacement of Vilayati Kikar is an important part of the project and will require scientific training.
  
  30 tree communities have been identified such as Palash (Dhak), Sterculia and Babul etc. all of which are found in India. Some of these have canopies that are three storeys tall and can dwarf any kikar tree when fully grown.
  
  Where to get the plants from is also a challenge. Since many of these species have been eradicated in Delhi, the city is looking at Haryana and Gujarat.
• Yamuna Biodiversity Park
  
  Work on developing the Yamuna Biodiversity Park at Wazirabad began in 2002.
  
  Spread over 457 acres, the park is home to native tree, shrub and creeper species. It has several small water bodies and boating spots.
  
  Its most famous visitor was perhaps a young leopard that was spotted in November 2016.
  
  Leopards can stay in an area for long only if they find suitable habitat, adequate prey, water resources and some habitat.
  
  While the leopard was later relocated, the biodiversity is still intact. CEMDE hopes that the local ecosystem can be maintained.
• Problem and Solution
  
  Spread – Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
  
  Delhi – 7777 hectares, 80% of Kikar is found in the Ridge.
  
  Target of replacement project – 482 acres.
  
  In the first phase, 100 acres area will be covered on SP Marg between Dhaula Kuan and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
  
  In the first phase, 30 tree communities will work to remove Kikar trees.

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