LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus

The Public Institute of Krka National Park participates in the LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus project, funded through the LIFE Programme, as a project partner.

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the European Commission have signed an agreement for the LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus project, aimed at establishing effective measures for the control of the invasive tree species Ailanthus altissima. The total value of the project is HRK 19,4 million and it is co-funded by the European Union at a rate of 60%.

The project is funded through the LIFE Programme, the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation, and climate action. It is implemented by the Institute for Environmental and Nature protection of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development in cooperation with project partners: Public Institute of Krka National Park, Public Institute for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and Vrtlar d.o.o. The anticipated time frame for the project activities is four and a half years.

Pajasen (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) stablo je porijeklom iz istočne Azije, koje se od 18. stoljeća sadilo diljem svijeta za potrebe hortikulture, a danas se smatra jednom od najinvazivnijih biljnih vrsta u Europi. Pajasen istiskuje zavičajnu vegetaciju i smanjuje bioraznolikost, štetnik je u poljoprivredi, izaziva alergiju kod ljudi te uništava spomenike kulturne baštine i druge građevine izuzetno jakim korijenovim sustavom. Vrsta se zbog negativnih utjecaja na bioraznolikost, gospodarstvo i zdravlje ljudi nalazi i na popisu invazivnih stranih vrsta koje izazivaju zabrinutost u Europskoj uniji. U Hrvatskoj je pajasen široko rasprostranjen, a posebno ugrožava zaštićena staništa i vrste u mediteranskoj regiji.

The project aims to introduce measures for the control of the invasive tree of heaven species in the Mediterranean region in Croatia: in two Croatian ecological network areas (HR2000918 Wider area of the Krka National Park, and HR2001364 SEE part of the Pelješac Peninsula) and in cities with a historic urban core (Ston, Mali Ston, and Dubrovnik).

Improvement of the conservation status of Natura 2000 habitat types, preservation of cultural heritage, prevention of the further spread of the invasive alien species, and development of a national protocol are the main expected outcomes of the LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus project. In addition, the project also aims to enhance alien species management capacity and raise public awareness of the negative impact of invasive species at the national level.