Cooperation in the fight against invasive plants
Invasive plants such as garden lupin, giant balsam, giant hogweed and Japanese rose have spread over a wide area of North Ostrobothnia. In river valleys, rivers spread alien seeds over large areas, regardless of administrative boundaries. Last May, Rural Women’s Advisory Centre of Oulu started a EU project to combat invasive plants locally in the Kalajoki Valley in North Ostrobothnia, in cooperation with the municipalities in the area.
The project will create an operating model for the municipalities to control and contain invasive alien plant species and test the most effective ways to remove invasive alien plant species from areas where they have become widespread and problematic. In addition, the project will raise awareness among residents and operators of the threats posed by IAS and encourage them to take the initiative to control IAS on their land and, where agreed, on common or communal land.
Mobile game helping to report the presence of invasive plants
The project started by mapping the distribution of invasive alien plants in the project municipalities. Residents of municipalities were involved in the survey by utilizing a mobile game, Crowdsorsa, which allows local residents, especially youngsters, to report the presence of invasive plants through gamification. The goal of the game to collect 800 invasive plant sightings was achieved within two weeks. More than 100 people participated in the mapping exercise.
A giant hogweed control experiment was carried out in one project municipality, Nivala. The control methods tested were hot water treatment, natural pyrolysis liquid and plastic covering. The control trial will be continued and monitored throughout the project.
Cross-border cooperation
Invasive plants know no national boundaries, which is why cooperation between countries is important for their control.
During the summer, Rural Women’s Advisory Centre of Oulu networked with actors in Sweden, Umeå to learn about invasive plant control on the other side of the Gulf of Bothnia. New networks were also built in Rovaniemi in a Nordic IAS Forum seminar organized by the environmental experts of Rural Women’s Advisory Centre of Oulu as part of the Barents Invasive Alien Species Project. Materials of the seminar can be found at Barents website.