Role of Eupatorium adenophorum Inforest Fires

Anthropogenic fires are inextricable part of our ecosystem. Since the arrival of hominids, there are enough evidences of forest fires playing an important role in shaping the forest ecosystems. Increasing population and global climate change are constant sources of disturbances in the forests, increasing the risk of invasion by non-native species. Though, these plants serve a great purpose in local medicinal and ethno botanical purposes, this cause a great loss to natural biodiversity, some of them playing an important role in the spread of forest fires. Eupatorium adenophorum is one such noxious weed and is one of the very few found at higher altitudes. The blowout of Eupatorium adenophorum in Western Himalayas in last four decades has been unforeseen. Attributing to its prolific growth ability and enhanced use of resources this shrub now forms a major plant community in oak forests (Quercus). Under the increasing risks of fire in these regions, the role of Eupatorium in increasing the severity and also acting as a pyrophyte is discussed in the given article