Environmentalist launches pilot project to clear Mikania in community forest

Chanda Rana, an environmental activist, founder of 'Save the Environment Foundation', has launched a pilot project at a community forest in Mukundapur VDC, Nawalparasi, to study the possibility of manual method adoption to control infestation of Mikania [Mile a Minute].

As part of the pilot project, which was launched marking the 'Earth Day', her team has turned a plantation of Sisau trees and surrounding areas of the community forest free of the weed which is threatening the growth of the community forest.

The area where the pilot project was launched was severely infested by Mikania with 99% of the vegetation blanketed by the weed and completely destroying other vegetations.

"Sites have been cleared by uprooting Mikania and clearing trees as well. A single mikania produces 40000 seeds so it was necessary to clear the weed from tress as well to see the result, she said, adding "Purpose of the project is to see whether 'Manual Method Adoption' can control the spread of infestation."

Rana and her team had worked for a decade in the Chitwan National Park, clearing Mikania infestation in a large area. nepalnews.com