India, Sept. 6 -- Indian environmentalist, naturalist, and filmmaker Pradip Krishen on Friday delivered a lecture on Delhi's Central Ridge Reserve Forest, stressing that the removal of invasive tree species is key to restoring its ecology. The session was part of a workshop on ecological restoration organised by the Ecological Restoration Alliance (ERA) in collaboration with Mongabay and Narrative Hub.

Tracing the history of the ridge, Krishen noted its afforestation under colonial rule and recalled how it had nearly been chosen as the site for the government house during the tenure of Charles Hardinge, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, between 1910 and 1916.

Krishen explained that invasive trees "outcompete everything else." He sa...