Online plant trade fuels invasive species spread in India

A new study by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) found that over 70% of ornamental plants sold online in India are alien species. Of 1,856 species listed by three major retailers, 57 are already declared invasive in India, including Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus.

The study, published in Environmental Conservation, warns that e-commerce bypasses biosecurity checks, as domestic plant shipments face no quarantine inspections. Lead author Kesang Bhutia said invasive species outcompete native ones at enormous cost. Co-author Aravind N.A. noted that known harmful species remain easily purchasable with no barriers.

Researchers call for stronger regulations, risk-assessment protocols and public awareness. Globally, nearly three-fifths of seed-plant species are traded online daily, making internet retail a key but underexamined pathway for biological invasions.