Assam: “Parthenium Free Campaign” at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in news ?

• A three-day special cleanliness drive “Parthenium Free Pobitora” has been launched at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam.
• The aim of the campaign was to protect biodiversity by eliminating the invasive weed from the ecology of the sanctuary and provide safe habitat for all wildlife including the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.

Introduction to Parthenium hysterophorus

• Known as carrot grass, white top or congress grass in India, it is a highly invasive, poisonous and allergenic weed.
• It is a member of the Asteraceae family and is a herbaceous, erect and annual plant.
• It is believed to have originated from Mexico, USA, Trinidad and Argentina.
• Its first entry in India was recorded in Pune (Maharashtra) in 1955, after which it spread rapidly throughout the country and today it occupies about 3.5 crore hectares of land.
• It spreads mainly through seeds and one plant produces 5,000 to 25,000 light and small seeds, which reach far and wide through wind and water.

Harmful effects

• Parthenium is a serious threat to humans, livestock and the environment.
• It causes dermatitis, asthma, nasal-cutaneous and nasal-bronchial diseases in humans, it is toxic to livestock and harms their health.
• In the environment, it attacks agricultural land, orchards and forests and reduces crop productivity. 
• Apart from this, it obstructs roads, railway tracks, industrial areas, wastelands, irrigation canals and drainage systems and reduces the beauty of parks, gardens and residential areas.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern part of Guwahati city in Assam and was established in 1998.
• Spread over 48.81 square kilometers, this area includes Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest.
• About 72% of its land is covered with wet savannah, in which grasses like Arundo donax, Erianthus ravenae, Phragmites karka, Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum are found.
• Water hyacinth is the major problem here, which forms a thick layer on the surface of water and poses a threat to water birds.
• Fauna
  • This sanctuary is famous for the highest density of the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
  • Apart from this, mammals like leopard, wild boar, barking deer and wild buffalo are found here.
  • Pobitora is also home to more than 2000 migratory birds, as well as a variety of reptiles.