A three-day conference on ‘Plant Invasion and Forest Ecology: Concerns and Solutions’ began at the Panjab University today. The conference was organised by the Botany department of the university in association with the International Union of Forest Research Organisation (IUFRO), Dayanand National Academy of Environment Sciences (DNAES), Society of Environmentalist (SES) and APFISN.

The conference was inaugurated by co-ordinator of IUFRO-SPDC, Dr Michael Kline.

Vice-Chancellor Prof R C Sobti, said, “There is a need of better environment management.” He further advocated the plantation of native plant species.

Chairman of the conference Prof R K Kohli said scientists from 12 countries are participating in the event. Prof R S Tripathi discussed the population dynamics of three invasive alien species of Eupatorium in northeast India in an ecological perspective. Prof R K Kohli discussed the ecological implications of invasive aliens in Shivalik Range of the Himachal Himalayas with special reference to Ageratum conyzoides.

Prof Shibu Jose, from Florida (USA) delivered his talk on the role of species diversity and species identity in community resistance to invasion by citing the example of imperata cylinderica in south-eastern United States. Conservator of Forest and Director of Environment, UT Chandigarh, Ishwar Singh, shared his experience of controlling the spread of Lantana in the reserve forests of Chandigarh.