ABSTRACT
The problem of biological invasion has been recognized by the Scientific Committee on the Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) as a central problem in the conservation of biological communities. Invasive alien plants have serious ecological implications for the conservation of native biodiversity, maintenance of plant community structure, plant succession, and ecosystem processes in the areas invaded by them. The problem of plant invasion has engaged the attention of ecologists, conservationists, and environmentalists all over the world over the past 3 or 4 decades, especially after the launch of the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) by SCOPE. However, in India, so far the problem of plant invasion has not been addressed as adequately as it should have been, although in India too, several exotic plants have invaded the high-value biodiversity areas and have adversely affected the natural and seminatural ecosystems.
