Ecological impact of rubber plantations: Tripura perspective

Due to agro-climatic suitability of Tripura, a north-eastern state of India, rubber plantation is being promoted. Till 2012, 5.2 per cent of its geographical area has come under rubber monoculture. In spite of socio-economic positive impacts, there are controversies on growing expansion of rubber monoculture among the populace of Tripura, mainly from the perspective of ecology. Based on the available literature of the studies carried out in different places of the globe as well as in Tripura, these aspects have been reviewed in this paper.