Exotic plants, imported and planted for beautification and other purposes, had cognisable implications on local plant species. Some exotic species had serious health implications while others rapidly extincted the traditional indigenous plants species over the time.
These plants also carried with them certain tendencies that were not acclimatised to local atmosphere and certain genetically modified plants also had effects on the neighbourhood agricultural plants as well as changed the birds behaviour.
In Karachi and Balochistan, wilayati keeker and beli were planted for their quality to grow fast, but these restricted proper growth of native trees and plants.
Exotic or foreign plants like Eucalyptus, Protofus Keonicora and Paper Mulberry, draw more nutrients from soil and extract more ground water.
The botanist have also observed depletion of beautiful local orchids, tulips and colchicum flowers due to domination of a foreign species termed 'leaf leeter.' Another species 'Lentara Samara' decimated local shrubs.
"Indigenous trees and flora of Pakistan are slowly becoming memories of the past and will never return in physical form if not protected properly," said Shahida Kausar Farooq, a Karachi based environmentalist.
"Simply sitting back and accepting the norms of better resource extraction and ornamental decoration with foreign species, may extinct indigenous breed and damage our ecosystem," she feared.
Existence of forests and green cover is vital as it ensures wide range of benefits in terms of food and fodder, protection from land erosion, producing oxygen and keep alive the watershed areas.
But, insufficient protective measures to save indigenous species and forests that protect the soil and form a vital watershed for rivers, had endangered these species.
"Intricate interdependence of ecosystems makes grass and woodlands important for conservation of flora and fauna by averting dangers of soil erosion, floods and groundwater evaporation," Shahida said.
Local varieties are less harmful and most often used to serve as food fodder and medicines.
It is common observation that other shrubs and herbs do not grow in the shade of exotic trees and these plants have outstripped the lands meant for local varieties.
Moreover, a plant brought from a different location carries with it, its own microbiology coupled with allopathic effects.
The exotic plants sometimes are Genetically Modified and carry certain germs with them that harm the local species.
Director General Pak-EPA, Asif Shuja Khan views the serious effects of some of the Genetically Modified plants, they may have on other neighbourhood species in agriculture sector.
"Genetically modified plants transfer their pollen properties to other plants that can have serious affects on the agriculture," he said.
For example, he said, "some genetically modified plants are pests resistant and if these plants are planted near to other plants that are not pests resistant, so those plants adopt certain habits and pesticides do not have proper affect on them."
"This way the pests destroy the crop," he added.
Ministry of Environment has recently notified guidelines for import and development of Genetically Modified Plants. But, there is need for environmentalists, botanists, government departments and other stakeholders to sensitise the issue.
Exotic plants also created serious imbalances of natural mechanisms - the infamous paper mulberry is an example.
It was brought to Islamabad in the 1950s for making the city green but it produced pollen allergy that assumed epidemic proportions with count rising to 40,000 to 50,000 and thousands suffering from it every year.
Doctors and practitioners are also opposed to such species. "Sometimes, the pollen has too serious effects on the respiratory system," said, Dr Zaheer Ahmed.
"If the choking is severe, a patient can suffer from asthma and cardio-respiratory arrest that may result in death of a patient," he said.
National Institute of Health has also declared Paper Mulberry a major pollen producer plant and had recommended its elimination.
Allergic symptoms start at 10,000 to 15,000 and high count results in serious health problems.
Exotic species had also decreased substantially the population of our beautiful birds as they are very rare accustomed to these plants.
Local species that are well adapted to our environment and us, should effectively replace the harmful exotic plants and become the focus of future afforestation and plantation drives.
A prudent process must be adopted for replacement of exotic plants with ecologically favourable local species like Shirin, Sumbul, Sheesham, Banyan, Peepal, Acacia Senegal (Jandi), Acacia Nilotica (Kandi), Pine, Sukh Chain, and Kachnar.
These trees will effectively protect our ecosystem, benefit the people economically as well as keep alive our centuries old memories.
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