A species of prickly pear (Opuntia), that is an exotic, invasive species spreading over many parts of the arid scrub forests of the Sigur plateau in the Nilgiris could be declared as “minor forest produce” so that indigenous communities can harvest the plant, which is consumed in many parts of the world, a well-known conservationist has suggested.
Ecologists state that the cactus, which is not consumed by any of the large mammals inhabiting the Sigur pleateau, except by macaques and a few species of birds, are said to be threatening native biodiversity due to spreading into areas that are inhabited by native grasses and shrubs.
