Birds flee exotic shades

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">During the process of urbanisation, many native trees have been replaced by exotic ones. Unfortunately, this increase in exotic ornamental trees has been at the cost of local fruit tree species. It''s most commonly believed among scientists that birds use native trees more than exotic trees for varying purposes.<br /><br />Therefore, planting of exotic trees has been regarded as hazardous by many environmentalists and botanists.<br /><br />However, the Environmental status report of 2002-03 of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) tells us that among the varieties of trees planted in PMC gardens, about 50 per cent are indigenous and 50 per cent are exotic.<br /><br />About 330 species of birds have been listed in Pune city. But growth has had a significant impact on these species in terms of their composition as well as population. In fact this was one of the reasons why Kirti Amritkar, a student of Masters in Environmental Science of Pune University, decided to conduct a survey about the association between exotic trees and native birds.<br /><br />Her study revealed among other things that birds hardly inhabit areas with monoculture of exotic trees. A comparitively larger number of birds were known to visit habitats with both local and exotic trees. However, most prefer native trees. "At the end of my survey I concluded that during roadside plantations, indegenous varieties suitable for shade and beutification should be preferred over exotic ones," she says.<br /><br />According to Dr P K Ghanekar, Head of Botany Department, Garware College,<br /><br />"Pune''s plantation has no meaning. Anything is planted anywhere. Actually, there are laws and restrictions for planting exotic trees and plants. For example, before importing a plant, one has to inform a government official, the Botanical Survey of India has to observe that plant, grow it in various parts of the country and certify it." He goes on to say, "Exotic trees that are planted without observation cause stresses and strains to the local flora and fauna. They create an odd atmosphere in the environment, because they grow in quarantine.A classic example is eucalyptus,which cannot even be used by birds for nesting."<br /><br />Sanjeev Nalavade, professor at the Geography Department in Fergusson College, feels that exotic trees are planted in most cities because they grow faster. "An ideal situation would be if there was 100 per cent indigenous tree cover."<br /><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">anuradha.kher@timesgroup.com</span></div> </div>