INVASIVE SPECIES OF FEDERAL CAPITAL AREA ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

Islamabad has a well-developed flora rich in abundance and variety. Due to high-quality city planning, the native flora is not much affected by the population. It has further been enriched by the introduction of a great number and variety of ornamentals, particularly trees. The tree plantation by CDA has reached the 11 million mark in 1982. Previously the invasion of new species in capital area was not noticed but when the harmful effects of some of these non native species occurred then the experts took it seriously and then much research work was carried out to find out the harmful effects of these species. This project deals with such exotic species of Islamabad capital area, which produced serious problems in various ways, while some plant species which are invaded through seed import or through seed disposal by air, water, animals from the nearby areas or other cities and countries. In the present work 9 species viz., Broussonetia papyrifera, Parthenium hysterophorus, Cannabis sativa, Lantana camara, Xanthium strumarium, Alternanthera pungens, Trianthema portulacastrum, Pistia stratiotes and Phragmites australis are dealt with which are the most aggressive weeds of the study area. These are examples of alien invasive plant species which not only reduce land value and cause great loss to agricultural communities but were detected as a source of allergy as well. Based on the indigenous botanical knowledge obtained from local communities a project is aimed to find out the list of invasive plant species, their impact on ecosystem and possible arrangement.