TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS

Environment

Prosopis juliflora 

  • Context: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for the removal of Prosopis juliflora (Seemai Karuvelam), the Madurai Bench of the High Court has constituted a special committee—comprising retired High Court Judges A. Selvam and V. Bharathidasan—to monitor the tree removal operations.

Prosopis juliflora (Seemai Karuvelam)

  • The Prosopis juliflora is a rapidly growing, invasive plant species that poses a grave threat to water sources, soil fertility, and biodiversity.
  • It is a shrub or a small tree (of the Mesquite variety) belonging to the Fabaceae family.
  • It is native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean islands.
  • It is considered one of the most detrimental invasive plant species affecting arid and semi-arid regions.