The final conference of the LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus project, which aims to establish control over the invasive alien species Ailanthus altissima (pajasen) in Croatia, was held today at the Krka Eco Campus in Puljane
The project has been implemented by the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, in cooperation with the following partners: the Public Institute of Krka National Park, the Public Institute for the Management of Protected Areas of Nature in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and the company Vrtlar d.o.o. from Dubrovnik.
The conference presented the main results of a five-year project aimed at establishing control over the invasive species of tree-of-heaven in four Natura 2000 areas of the ecological network of the Republic of Croatia in the Mediterranean region (Krka NP and SE Pelješac), and in the historic centers of Dubrovnik, Ston, and Mali Ston. Participants had the opportunity to learn about methods of removing tree-of-heaven and the various activities carried out for the purpose of sthe uccessful control of this invasive species.
„"Removing the tree-of-heaven has proven to be a very challenging task, but we have tested different methods to find the most effective ones, depending on the ecological conditions in which it grows. We will continue to develop these methods, and through the tree-of-heaven removal protocol we will transfer our knowledge and experience to all involved who will deal with this problematic species in the future",emphasized Dr. Aljoša Duplić, Director of the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection.
In addition to biodiversity, invasive alien species also negatively affect human health and the economy, so their removal directly contributes to the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage.
„The data that the Public Institute of Krka National Park received before the start of this project, thanks to the test plot in the Park, speak directly in favor of long-term sustainable management of macrovegetation. The achievement of the project goals is the basis for the future dedicated fight against the invasive species of tree-of-heaven, where education and prevention will play a key role",emphasized the director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park, Nella Slavica.
In addition to protected areas, the tree-of-heaven was also removed in the old city centers of Ston, Mali Ston, and Dubrovnik.
„In the immediate area of the city of Dubrovnik, approximately twenty-one thousand individuals plants of tree-of-heaven were removed. Thanks to demanding field work, namely systematic monitoring and removal of tree-of-heaven, we achieved results that we can be extremely proud of, and we also provided expert guidance during the implementation of the project. We successfully fulfilled the main objectives of the project: preserving the cultural heritage and reducing the unintentional spread of this invasive species. Equally important was the informational campaign with which we educated the public about the importance of its early recognition and removal. Although the project is officially coming to an end, our work does not stop here. The intention of the Vrtlar Society (Gardener Society) is to establish permanent control over the spread of tree-of-heaven, especially in the vicinity of the monumental heritage, which will also enable the revitalization of native vegetation",stated Alma Majstorović, director of the Gardener Society from Dubrovnik.
The results of capacity-increasing activities for the management of invasive alien species were also presented, as well as activities undertaken to raise public awareness about the tree-of-heaven, but also about other invasive alien species in Croatia, which has resulted in a better understanding of the problem and the need for a systematic approach to the control of the tree-of-heaven.
„The experience of working on removing the tree-of-heaven in the ecological network of the SE part of Pelješac and in the area of Ston and Mali Ston has shown how, due to the specifics of our karst terrain, this is a demanding and long-term process, in which the participation of the local population is crucial for achieving lasting results",added Marijana Miljas Đuračić, director of the Public Institute for the Management of Protected Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
The project LIFE CONTRA AILANTHUS was financed from the LIFE Program of the European Union, and ends on the 31th of December 2025.
LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus
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