Project News

Miechów, 13 May 2026

As part of Task T.6.1 “Implementation of remedial actions”, we visited the Miechów Forest District, where we met with representatives of the Forest District and the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków. After a short introduction to the project “Strengthening biodiversity through prevention, early warning and control of invasive alien plant species” (LIFE24-NAT-PL-Control IAS for LIFE), we travelled to the “Opalonki” Nature Reserve (PLH120071 – Opalonki), where conservation measures have been planned to protect the population of the lady’s slipper orchid Cypripedium calceolus. These activities involve the removal of black locust Robinia pseudoacacia.

In previous years, the staff of the Miechów Forest District had already initiated measures aimed at controlling black locust by girdling older trees and removing root suckers, and we had the opportunity to observe the results of these efforts during the field visit. We were greatly impressed by the numerous flowering orchids representing several species, including the lady’s slipper orchid, as well as other interesting and, for us, rather “exotic” plant species characteristic of this habitat, such as pheasant’s eye Adonis vernalis and bastard balm Melittis melissophyllum.

Representatives of the Miechów Forest District also showed us two sites that are particularly interesting from our perspective due to problems related to the spread of invasive or expansive plant species. The first site was an area formerly used as an illegal landfill, now overgrown with black locust and two goldenrod species: Canadian goldenrod Solidago canadensis and giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea. The second site was a thermophilous oak forest with a large population of globeflower Trollius europaeus, threatened by the expansion of young small-leaved lime and hornbeam trees. At the former landfill site, black locust is being controlled through girdling and removal of root suckers, while in the oak forest, lime and hornbeam saplings are managed through grazing by livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats.

The very friendly meeting concluded with detailed arrangements for cooperation concerning the protection of the lady’s slipper orchid population in the “Opalonki” Nature Reserve. It appears that the activities planned within our project may significantly contribute to the conservation of the lady’s slipper orchid and many other valuable plant species.

Lech Krzysztofiak, President of the “Man and Nature” Association, in front of the Miechów Forest District headquarters

Girdling older black locust trees is an effective method of removing them from the environment

After cutting, younger black locust trees produce large numbers of root suckers

The lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) – the main target of conservation measures in the “Opalonki” Nature Reserve

We took the opportunity to exchange experiences with our very welcoming hosts

The area of the former illegal landfill was quickly colonised by invasive alien species, including black locust and both giant and Canadian goldenrod.

Not only species originating from other parts of the world pose a threat to native flora. Here, in a thermophilous oak forest, an unexpected expansion of young small-leaved lime and hornbeam trees threatens a large population of globeflower (Trollius europaeus).

Wrocław – meetings on April 17

Our project “Strengthening biodiversity through the prevention of introduction, early warning and control of invasive alien plant species” (LIFE24-NAT-PL-Control IAS for LIFE) is gaining momentum.

On April 17, we visited Wrocław to meet with city authorities and a team of specialists involved in the project implementation.

Both meetings were related to Action T.2.2: Development of procedures to limit the introduction of alien plant species into urban areas, including allotment gardens, as planned in the project. This action includes: collecting existing data on invasive alien plant species (IAS) identified within the city, conducting field inventories across different habitat types, assessing the availability of IAS in horticultural trade in Wrocław and its surrounding areas, and analysing pathways of IAS introduction into the city.

The results obtained will be used to prepare a final report, which will include, among others, procedures and regulations limiting the introduction of IAS, a distribution map of invasive plant species, and recommendations (action plans) addressing priority pathways of IAS spread within the city.

The meeting with representatives of the Environmental Protection Department of the Wrocław City Office was held in a very positive atmosphere. The scope of responsibilities for both the project team and the City was agreed upon. Both parties look forward to fruitful cooperation and to developing outcomes that will support the city authorities in managing urban greenery while addressing the issue of invasive alien species.

We also met with a team of specialists at the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Wrocław, located next to the picturesque Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław. During the meeting, the principles of cooperation for activities in Wrocław were discussed, in particular the scope of work for individual team members (a team of 21 people), methods for recording IAS occurrences, and approaches to collecting and organising data on invasive plant species in the city.

Control IAS for LIFE Project Presented at an International Webinar on Invasive Species

The Control IAS for LIFE project was presented during the two-day webinar “Webinar on Invasive Alien Species, Regulation 1143/2014”, held on April 8–9, 2026. The event was organized by the Austrian Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) as part of the EU4Green Recovery East programme.

On behalf of the project consortium, the presentation was delivered by Prof. Barbara Tokarska-Guzik from the University of Silesia in Katowice. In her talk titled “Replication and use of LIFE project results in Ukraine: planned scope of activities”, she outlined the main objectives and tasks of the project “Strengthening biodiversity by the prevention of introduction, early warning and control of invasive alien plant species” (2026–2033).

Particular emphasis was placed on the potential for transferring the project’s results to Ukraine, thereby supporting local efforts in biodiversity conservation.

More information about the webinar and its summary can be found on the organizer’s website:
https://www.eu4greenrecoveryeast.eu/index.php/news-opportunities-eu4greenrecoveryeast/79-advancing-ukraines-alignment-with-eu-regulation-on-invasive-species