INSPECT – Invasive Species Eradication and Control
Invasive plants are plants that have been introduced by humans, either intentionally or unintentionally, into areas where they could not have spread naturally. The INSPECT project aims to carry out effective control work in Finland to eradicate one invasive species, Himalayan balsam.
Invasive plants are plants that have been introduced by humans, either intentionally or unintentionally, into areas where they could not have spread naturally. Invasive alien plant species thrive by reproducing and spreading efficiently, crowding out species that occur naturally in the area. They cause damage to nature, health and the economy, and the impacts are increasing due to climate change.
The INSPECT project aims to carry out effective control work in Finland to eradicate one invasive species, Himalayan balsam, from the Kurikka and Kauhajoki areas of South Ostrobothnia.
The aim of the project is to achieve sustainable results through systematic, planned and comprehensive control measures. Control in a single area is not enough, as the species will quickly spread back into the area. Coordination, facilitation and intensification of control are therefore vital. Planning control in cooperation with several actors and in different areas will also pave the way for broader cooperation in the future.
The project will result in a method for the control of invasive species, a species-specific action plan and a model for cooperation across regional borders. The project is funded by the Interreg Botnia-Atlantica programme and involves partners from Finland and Sweden.
