Karnataka Forestry Directorate Mandates Removal of Non-Native Flora in Bengaluru

The municipal administration in Bengaluru has received strict instructions to eradicate invasive eucalyptus and acacia plantations from designated green zones and research plots. These non-native species, introduced decades ago for rapid timber yield, have long faced criticism from ecologists for depleting local water tables and suppressing indigenous flora. The ministerial directive marks a definitive shift toward ecological restoration in urban forestry management. The decision reflects growing friction between utilitarian forestry policies of the past and contemporary ecological science prioritizing biodiversity. Urban planners have struggled with the side effects of foreign monocultures, which fail to support local fauna and exacerbate dry-season water scarcity. However, timber lobbies and paper pulp industries often resist wholesale clearance programs due to potential economic disruptions in raw material supply chains. The immediate consequence is the restructuring of urban green spaces across Bengaluru, with replanting initiatives set to favor indigenous species capable of sustaining local bird and insect populations. City residents will experience altered urban landscapes as authorities replace fast-growing timber plots with native canopy trees. The policy serves as a template for other metropolitan centers seeking to reverse ecological degradation through targeted botanical interventions.