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The Western Ghats of India Loss of Natural Vegetation to Exotic, Monoculture Crops Eucalyptus (pictured) and pine plantations now cover large areas of the Western Ghats. Forestry programs have favored these exotic species of trees in the last half-century because they grow fast. While these plantations may look like a positive development, they are, in effect, "green deserts." The non-native species of plants, animals, and microbes destroy native biodiversity, posing a serious threat to ecological balance of the region. < Previous | Back to Thumbnails | Next >   Photos and captions courtesy of Ian Lockwood Up to Top