Citizen Science and Traditional Knowledge Synergy for Invasive Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray management in Mizoram, North East India: A landscape of Indo Burma biodiversity hotspot

ABSTRACT In the Anthropocene, an abrupt spread of invasive alien plants perturb the environment, socio-economy, ecosystem services, and human well-being. In ‘Indian Himalayan Region’, especially, an Indo Burma hotspot landscape, the risk of plants invasion is particularly high, exacerbated by ‘disturbances-climate change’ interactions. To this end, Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray-driven native biodiversity erosion caused potential disruptions in ecosystem functioning and socio-economic services. However, despite invasive spread of T. diversifolia in this global biodiversity hotspots, there exist a knowledge gap pertaining to Citizen Science and Societal perception on T. diversifolia spread mechanisms, impacts, and management. These voids are attributed to non-inclusion of citizen science, that may act as conduit for ‘Traditional Ecological Knowledge’ (TEK), and ‘Indigenous Traditional Knowledge’ (ITK) in sustainable environmental management. Therefore, present study attempts to fill these gaps by using ‘Participatory Rural Appraisal’ (PRA) in several districts of Mizoram, North-East (N.E.) India. The survey data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods, with manual coding, and descriptive statistical or thematic analysis tools. The results revealed that the respondents were united in terms of familiarity with invasive spread of T. diversifolia in the study area, however, they have divided opinions on plant invasion ecology, impacts, and management . In the sense of invasive plant trait, the majority of the people considered anemophily as the primary dispersal method, ascribed to high seed output. Notably, the societal perception and TEK recorded more biases towards harmful effects. These results of PRA-based survey underscore the importance of systematic ecological monitoring of T. diversifolia for sustainable management. In concert with pragmatic ecological studies, raising awareness on harmful effects of T. diversifolia through synergy between citizen science and ITK is warranted to formulate policy measures for biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship in Mizoram. In conclusion, this study unequivocally prioritize the need of including awareness programmes to buttress citizen science, community participation, and TEK to facilitate the deployment of sustainable management practices in controlling invasive alien plants.