Cosmos Sulphureus is harming our biodiversity
Cosmos Sulphureus is a non Indian species posing harm to the natural habitat of our hills. The recently held initiative at Taljai hills, ‘Movement Against Biological Invasion’ (MABI) was to spread awareness among people to remove such species from our forests, hills, ghat sections, etc.
On October 21, an initiative to remove this Cosmos Sulphureus was held along with various NGO’s from Pune city.
Pune based Biosphere who led this initiative has been taking up various movements against a variety of weeds which are causing harm to our nature. Dr Sachin Punekar, who heads this NGO said, “Such weeds are a great risk for the biodiversity of the local area. This is a Mexican weed now widely found in India, mainly in the western Maharashtra, moreover in Mulshi, Haveli, Bhor, Velha, Tamhini area. It has now been identified in various hills in and around Pune city. We must remove them from its roots as it is not allowing the local weeds to grow on which the cattles graze. “
The recently held drive was supported by Adventure Foundation Pune, Environment and garden department, Pune Municipal Corporation, Area Sabha Association – Pune, Sardar Haibatrao Shilimkar Pratishthan, Vivek Deshpande, Dattatray Gaikwad, Ganesh Mankar, Sathya Natarajan, Atul Bibve, Parag Shilimkar, Milind Deshpande, Abhijit Bhasale, Shahu Sawant and Ganpat Salunkhe.
