As the autumn approaches, invasive plant species are being removed!

As invasive alien species, being one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, cause major environmental, economic and health problems, the Sava TIES project is focused on finding successful methods of removing invasive plant species in the Sava River Basin.

According to the Sava TIES work plan, effectiveness and costs of different methods in invasive alien species eradication are being tested on the most invasive vascular plants in the region. Project partners have defined 7 Pilot areas in 4 countries to be test-plots for the eradication. The sample plots are located in conservation areas that being threatened: Nature Park Ljubljansko Barje (Slovenia), Protected Landscape Odransko polje (Croatia), Nature Park Lonjsko Polje (Croatia), National Park Una (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Tišina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Special Nature Reserve Zasavica (Serbia) and Special Nature Reserve Obedska Bara (Serbia).

In August and September 2019 staff members from the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, together with the sites’ managers visited Pilot areas to see the progress in monitoring and eradication of invasive species.

Having essential local knowledge of species which are posing the highest ecological and economic threat, site managers have marked the sample plots on which invasive plants are going to be eradicated and counted, and their number will be monitored in the coming years to show the success of the applied eradication method.

Some project partners have already started with the removal of invasive alien species; the Ljubljansko Barje Nature Park removed Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) by hand pulling, while Una National Park started cutting Bohemian Knotweed (Reynoutria x bohemica). False indigo (Amorpha fructicosa) has been marked and will be removed from the Odransko field protected area, the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, the Special Nature Reserve Obedska Bara and the Tisina pond. Within the Special Nature Reserve Zasavica the invasive species Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has been removed.

Invasive species can only be defeated if our efforts are well-directed, and more determined than the species themselves. Therefore, the only way to find effective solutions for removal of invasive species which are characteristic for the Sava River Basin is through collaboration and exchange of practical experiences among project partners - because we share a common goal.