From Awareness to Action: Combating Invasive Alien Plants in the Heart of Wayanad

Last updated on Jul 23, 2025

By Angel Abraham | School for Social Transformation – Edition 6 | Theme: Climate Change & Environment

Nestled in the pristine folds of the Western Ghats, Manikunn Mala in Wayanad, Kerala, stands as a fragile ecological treasure. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it boasts a rich biodiversity and serene natural landscapes. However, beneath its beauty lies a growing threat — the silent yet aggressive spread of invasive alien plant species (IAPs) like Eupatorium and Pteridium, which are rapidly replacing native flora and weakening ecosystem health.

During the annual pilgrimage to Manikunn Mala on April 11, 2025, Angel Abraham — a participant of the 6th edition of The Ignite Foundation’s School for Social Transformation — led a bold, community-centered intervention titled “From Awareness to Action: Community Participation in Invasive Species Control.”

🔍 The Problem

The unchecked spread of invasive alien plants is strangling native biodiversity in Manikunn Mala. These species monopolize light, nutrients, and space, especially in open canopy areas, outcompeting native seedlings and halting natural forest regeneration. With the Kerala Forest Department restricting access due to jurisdictional boundaries, conservation efforts can only happen during limited periods — like the annual pilgrimage — making timely action difficult but crucial.

🌱 The Solution

Angel's project combined scientific observation, community participation, and ecological documentation. With a focus on identifying and mapping invasive species during the pilgrimage window, her team used GPS tools, photography, and species identification protocols to create a baseline for future interventions. Physical removal attempts of accessible invasive patches were carried out, alongside awareness sessions for local participants.

🔧 Key Activities

Field Survey: Conducted during the April 11 pilgrimage, documenting invasive plant hotspots across altitudes averaging 778 meters.
Species Identification: Invasive plants like Eupatorium, Pteridium, and even Rubus niveus were recorded through expert-guided assessments.
Mapping & Photography: GPS-tagged photo records were created to build an ecological database for ongoing monitoring.
Community Engagement: Over 10 participants were educated about the ecological threat of IAPs and the role they could play in controlling them.

🌿 Outcomes and Next Steps

✅ Multiple patches of invasive plants successfully identified and documented
✅ Created a photographic and GPS baseline for future ecological interventions
✅ Requested extended access permissions from the Forest Department
✅ Plans to revisit sites to assess regrowth and evaluate effectiveness of removal
✅ Seeking funding support for scaling up efforts, labor, and transportation

👣 Broader Impact

Angel’s initiative isn’t just about removing harmful plants; it’s about cultivating a sense of shared ecological responsibility. By linking local knowledge with conservation science and facilitating public participation, she’s laying the groundwork for long-term biodiversity protection strategies in the Western Ghats. Her work is a powerful example of climate action rooted in community, guided by SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

“Human activities may have introduced these plants, but it's through collective human action that we can restore balance.”
— Angel Abraham

Connect with Angel:
📍 Wayanad, Kerala
📧 angelabrahamsmc@gmail.com

🟩 This project was undertaken as part of The Ignite Foundation’s transformative learning journey on climate change and environment. Read more stories like this at www.theigniteindia.com | impact.theigniteindia.com