Nawanshahr Kandi Prosopis Vilayati Kikar Ecology

The invasive Prosopis juliflora (vilayati kikar) has spread extensively in Nawanshahr's Kandi belt, displacing native Acacia and grass species on degraded land, but local communities have adapted by harvesting its pods for cattle fodder, cutting woody stems for fuelwood, and using flowers as an early-season bee forage source for beekeepers. Punjab's Forest Department manages vilayati kikar spread through selective clearing on restored watersheds while permitting controlled harvest by Kandi villages that depend on it as a free fuelwood and fodder source. Research stations at Ludhiana evaluate the ecological trade-offs of vilayati kikar management in Punjab's sub-montane belt.