During 2007 and 2008 attempts were made to eradicate the mesquite " Prosopis juliflora " and specimens of the asteraceous genus " Cineraria " to prevent the park being overrun with these invasive species and to assist natural vegetation in recovering.
22.
The aquatic areas of the park appeared to be smaller than during the 1980s; however, at least one positive observation is that park managers have enlisted local villagers to remove the invasive mesquite plant, " Prosopis juliflora ", within upland savanna habitats.
23.
Seeds of " Paspalum distichum " occurred in the dung of nilgai most of the year; " Acacia nilotica " and " Prosopis juliflora " seeds were discovered in the dry season and those of " Echinochloa crusgalli " during the monsoon.
24.
The UNDP study has also listed threats to avifauna as deterioration of the habitat, overgrazing, quarrying ( which causes noise pollution and dust ), damage to ground vegetation by the invasive " Prosopis juliflora ", scarcity of water, hunting, and anthropogenic pressure resulting in habitat destruction.
25.
As a result, forest areas are reported only in patches . " Prosopis juliflora " called locally as " gando baval " has become the dominant vegetation affecting spread of local species, growth of goat and cattle population and forest fires; about 40 per cent of the green cover in the lower areas and 20 per cent in hilly regions are covered by this weed.
26.
According to the Agust�n Codazzi Geographic Institute ( Instituto Geogr�fico Agust�n Codazzi ), Barranquilla has a dry tropical forest vegetation ( according to the Holdridge life zones ), which includes species like cacti, mangroves, " Opuntia elatior ", " Acanthocereus ", " Prosopis juliflora ", Divi-divi, " Tabebuia rosea ", " Cordia alba " and varieties of acacia like Flamboyant or flame tree and " Leucaena leucacephala ".
27.
Thorny bushes or small trees commonly found in this area include " Capparis deciduas, Capparis sepiaria, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia senegal, A . nilotica, A . leucophloea, Prosopis juliflora, Butea monosperma, Maytenus emarginata, Tamarix sp ., Salvadora persica, S . oleoides, Crotalaria medicaginea, C . burhia, Clerodendrum phlomidis, Calotropis procera, Xanthium indicum " and " Leptadenia pyrotechnica " associated with climbers such as " Maerua oblongifolia, Pergularia daemia, Ceropegia bulbosa ", herbs e . g ., " Argemone mexicana, Farsetia hamiltonii, Tephrosia purpurea, Cleome viscosa, Tribulus terrestris, Glinus lotoides, Sericostoma pauciflorum, Rivea sp ., Ipomoea sp ., Pedalium murex, Sesamum mulayanum, Lepidagathis sp, Boerhavia diffusa, Chrozophora sp . ", and grasses like " Cyprus sp ., Fimbristylis sp ., Brachiaria sp ., Cenchrus sp ., Dichanthium sp . ", etc.
