VieKas LIFE (EN)

FANC:s and Martha Organisations regional and local associations organise numerous open and free of charge invasive species events, such as invasive species walks, lectures or weeding events.

Although the project’s communication efforts will focus on three invasive plant species (Himalayan balsam, harmful Hogweeds and Yellow skunk cabbage), we aim to shed light into the invasive species discussion in Finland with examples from other species groups as well, including even agricultural pests and diseases.

Our project partner Nature League of Finland is offering Finnish schools (7–9 -graders) the possibility to order a trained invasive species school ambassador to give your student insight in invasive alien species and their harmful impact to biodiversity. The 90-minute lesson will inspire your class to conduct their own invasive species survey or to weed out an invasive species site in the schools vicinity. More information and ambassador order form (in Finnish only)

The project will train FANC’s and Martha organisations volunteers to organise invasive species weeding and information events in their local communities. Training events for other parties can also be when needed and possible. Please contact our friendly Finvasive LIFE staff for more information.

Abbreviations and websites:

FANC (Finnish Association for Nature Conservation) – Coordinating beneficiary

FMNH (Finnish Museum of Natural History)

Martat (The Martha organisation)

LL (Luonto-Liitto, The Nature League of Finland)

Luke (Natural Resources Institute Finland)

JKL (City of Jyväskylä)

RMK (City of Riihimäki)

A1 Developing a Citizen Science IAS Portal (CSIASP) and its services

Responsible beneficiaries: FMNH, FANC

Goals:

We are building a Citizen Science Invasive Alien Species Portal (CSIAP) as a public service focusing on the project, communication and participation. The portal will work as a citizen science participation tool for submitting observations and a gateway to data, map services and comprehensive information on IAS.

Milestones:

• IAS internet portal viekas.laji.fi COMPLETED, moved to Finlands national IAS portal12/2020
• Mobilephone-optimized reporting form (requires registration) COMPLETED
• IAS control efforts reporting service (FI only requires registration) COMPLETED
• IAS discussion forum COMPLETED
• Species identification tools COMPLETED

Deliverables:

Internet portal fully operational, COMPLETED

A2 Preparation of media, communication, education and training material 

Responsible beneficiaries: FANC, Martat

Goals:

Production of high quality information and educational material on invasive alien species used for IAS awareness raising efforts, training of citizen scientists, school visits and overall communication purposes.

Milestones:

No milestones for this action

Deliverables:

• General IAS info-package, deadline 1/2019 COMPLETED
• Core info material (presentations and links to essential websites)
• IAS guide for home gardeners (Martat and SLL collaboration)
• IAS material for school visits, deadline 04/2019 COMPLETED
• School visit material (FI, on L-L website)

A3 Training of regional coordinators and citizen scientists

Responsible beneficiary: FANC

Goals:

Raising the awareness about biodiversity issues and providing people good knowledge about IAS and possibilities for action is essential for good citizen activism. The project will train regional coordinators, who in turn will organise IAS information and citizen science training events in their area.

Milestones:

Training events for regional coordinators and citizen scientists organized, deadline 12/2020 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

Training material for project personnel, deadline 12/2018 COMPLETED 

A4 Developing stakeholder cooperation against IAS

Responsible beneficiaries: FANC, assisted by FMNH, L-L, Martat, RMK, JKL

Goals:

To ensure the success and continuation of the conservation actions and the availability of best available practices, the project will organise three workshops on stakeholder cooperation against IAS in 2021–2022. The workhops and the resulting ”toolbox of IAS solutions” will be targeted especially to municipalities. The workshops will focus on ways how to make citizen science and activity an integral part of solutions against IAS.

Outputs:

• 04.12.2019 IAS pathway analysis workshop (Workshop 1/3) in collaboration with City of Kuopio.
• 17.2.2021 IAS pathway blocking solutions workshop (Workshop 2/3) in collaboration with City of Kuopio
• 21.2.2022 Survey for Finnish municipalities on IAS situation and control, press release and report. (in Finnish)
• 5.10.2022 IAS action framework for municipalities, regional officials and active citizens (Workshop 3/3).

Milestones:

All three workshops organised, deadline 06/2022 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

Municipal framework report – marketed as IAS toolbox for municipalities – in Finnish, Swedish and English, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED

IAS toolbox in Finnish

IAS toolbox in English

IAS toolbox in Swedish

C1 citizen science against Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)

Responsible beneficiary: FANC

Goals:

Citizen scientists will be activated and motivated by the project’s IAS information and training events and communication efforts. Citizens will start reporting their IAS sightings and participate in weeding events organised locally by municipalities, NGO’s or other stakeholders. A growing community will promote citizen science and citizen participation as a key resource in local and regional management of spreading IAS.

Project outputs:

Flyer: How to eradicate Himalayan balsam in your garden (FI)

Milestones:

Eradication finished in 50 Himalayan balsam sites, deadline 08/2022 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

C2 Eradication of Giant Hogweeds (Heracleum persicum -group)

Responsible beneficiary: FANC

Goals:

Finvasive LIFE aims to eradicate Giant Hogweeds from at least 361 sites in Varsinais-Suomi region so that only monitoring and removal of few new seedlings emerging from existing seedbanks (seeds stay viable at least 5-8 years) is required after the project. Dedicated project personnel (2 teams of two workers) map and eradicate hogweed sites in cooperation with local municipalities.

Outputs:

Short guide/pamphlet to private landowners on how to identify and eradicate Giant Hogweed (in Finnish)

Milestones:

Final eradication done at hogweed sites, deadline 08/2023 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

C3 Developing a non-herbicide method to eradicate hogweed

Responsible beneficiary: Luke

Goals:

Herbicides are widely used in the management of invasive alien plants. However, need for reduction in environmental and human risks caused by the use of synthetic herbicides has been under continuous discussion. In this project action, the efficiency of  a novel biodegradable liquid mulching for controlling the giant hogweed will be tested in the field and pot experiments and compared with other controlling measures (plastic mulches and synthetic herbicides). A written report and a scientific literature survey on the results plus guide videos will be prepared and widely disseminated.

Milestones:

Field experiment completed, deadline 09/2022 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

C4 Eradication of American/Yellow skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)

Responsible beneficiary: FANC

Goals:

The eradication action of Yellow skunk cabbage serve as an example of the cost-effectiveness of early response action against IAS. During the project, all known sites (5 sites) of Yellow skunk cabbage found in the wild in Finland will be eradicated and long-term monitoring in eradicated sites will be organised. In addition, the project will raise awareness of the risks and negative impact the species has in wet habitats to prevent its further use as an ornamental species in Finland.

Milestones:

Final eradication done in all 5 locations, deadline 07/2023 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

C5 Demonstrative methods of IAS eradication by local authorities

Responsible beneficiaries: RMK, JKL

Goals:

The cities of Jyväskylä and Riihimäki have a long history in IAS management and are prime examples of municipalities that are motivated to develop novel methods and practices to combat the spread of IAS in their area.

City of Jyväskylä will establish a large sheep grazing area (8 hectares) in a public park nearby city centre invaded by Himalayan balsam to test grazing as an eradication method test. Sheep grazing will be repeated annually to test how many years does it take to fully eradicate Himalayan balsam in a specific area.

City of Riihimäki will combat the spread of Himalayan balsam by various means; forming eradication teams from the area’s long-term unemployed citizens as well as local volunteers. City officials will also eradicate Giant Hogweed from all known public locations.

Milestones:

• Sheep grazing started in Jyväskylä and continued annually, deadline 08/2019 COMPLETED
• The IAS eradication of Himalayan balsam in Riihimäki by group of long-term unemployed, deadline 09/2023 COMPLETED
• Eradication of Himalayan balsam and hogweed in Riihimäki by volunteers completed, deadline 07/2023 COMPLETED 

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

D1 Monitoring and impact assessment of citizen science demonstrative methods of IAS eradication by local authorities

Responsible beneficiaries: FANC, assisted by FMNH

Goals:

The project will assess its success and impact promoting IAS citizen science by recording annually the number of people participating in training and eradication events and the number of people logging and their data records to IAS database. Assessment will also be done by organising thank you & feedback -events and sending electronic questionnaires to active citizen scientists as well as interviewing municipalities and other key stakeholders.

Vegetation surveys will be done annually in select Himalayan balsam sites to monitor the impact of the citizens scientists efforts. Cost-effectiveness will be monitored  by recording the surface of eradicated area and the number of people and working hours put into eradication.

Milestones:

Electronic questionnaire and interviews done, deadline 09/2023 COMPLETED 

Deliverables:

• Annual monitoring reports (4 reports), deadline 12/2022 COMPLETED
• Citizen science and Himalayan balsam report for 2019 (in Finnish)
• Citizen science and Himalayan balsam report for 2020 (in Finnish)
• Citizen science and Himalayan balsam report for 2021 (in Finnish).
• Citizen science and Himalayan balsam report for 2022 (in Finnish).
• Final report on the results of citizen science finished, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED
• Final report on the results of citizen science (in English, Finnish and Swedish)

D2 Monitoring the eradication of Giant Hogweed and Yellow Skunk Cabbage

Responsible beneficiary: FANC

Goals:

Project will monitor the hogweed eradication sites in Varsinais-Suomi by recording the area covered by hogweed and the number of working hours (eradication effort). Vegetation surveys will be done in 20 select sites recording the change in the number and %-coverage of plant species present.

All known Yellow Skunk Cabbage sites will be monitored for number of plants and area covered, in addition to number of people and wokring hours needed for the eradication. Vegetation surveys will record the change in the number and %-coverage of plant species present.

Milestones:

No milestones for this action

Deliverables:

• Annual monitoring reports (4 reports), deadline 12/2022 COMPLETED
• Giant Hogweed, monitoring report for 2019 (in Finnish)
• Giant Hogweed, monitoring report for 2020 (in Finnish)
• Giant Hogweed, monitoring report for 2021 (in Finnish).
• Giant Hogweed, monitoring report for 2022 (FI).
• Final report on the eradication of Hogweed, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED
• Final report on the eradication of Skunk Cabbage, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED
• Final report on the eradication of Giant Hogweed and American skunk cabbage (in Finnish)

D3 Monitoring socio-economic and ecosystem function impact

Responsible beneficiary: FANC

Goals:

Project will monitor the concrete actions socio-economic impact by documenting the the number of participants and itemizing those who may become key actors in citizen science. Interviews and questionnaires will be used to gather qualitative information from the participants on the impact of citizen science and their experiences.

Project will use questionnaires to municipalities to quantify and compare the costs for municipalities if they recruited an unemployed person to eradicate IAS vs. the costs of unemployment.

Ecosystem impact will be monitored directly by comparing vegetation surveys results before, during and after the eradication. indirectly by measuring the total area of completed eradication actions carried out by project personnel vs. volunteers motivated by the project. We will also estimate the eradication effort carried out by the municipalities motivated by the project.

Project also aims to update the cost estimate for total eradication of invasive Hogweeds in Finland.

Milestones:

No milestones for this action

Deliverables:

Report on project’s socio-economic and ecosystem function impact, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED

Socio-economic and ecosystem impact assessment (in English)

E1 General media work

Responsible beneficiaries: FANC, Luke, Martat, RMK

Goals:

Project will raise IAS awareness in the general public by communicating their negative impact on biodiversity, human health and economy and the importance of immediate and preventive action to tackle their spread. To reach this goal, project personnel and partners will send press releases, contact journalists with article suggestions and organise mediaworthy events.

Measurable outputs of the action will be at least:

• 10 radio news reportages
• 15 press releases
• 15 regional news paper articles
• 5 local TV news reportages
• 5 national news paper/general magazine articles
• 5 specialized magazine articles

Outputs:

• Project logo design & logo t-shirt COMPLETED
• Project websites for all partners COMPLETED (Check top of page)
• Notice boards with Life and project logos on select eradication sites COMPLETED

Milestones:

• Webpage launched, deadline 12/2018 COMPLETED
• All media targets achieved, deadline 8/2023 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

• Layman’s report, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED
• Layman’s report (in English, Finnish and Swedish)

E2 Awareness raising in target groups

Responsible beneficiaries: All beneficiaries

Goals:

Finvasive LIFE -project’s main purpose is to share information to Finns on IAS in order to significantly decrease the rate of their unintentional and intentional spreading.

Social media campaigning and project newsletter

Project partners use their social media platforms to communicate on project progress and interesting IAS news. FANC upholds the project’s official Facebook-, Twitter- and Instagram -accounts. Project newsletter [FI] can be freely subscribed in the project site.

Communication targeting gardening hobbyists and private gardens (Martat)

The Martha Association organises trainings, interactive online lectures and chat consultation sessions targeting relevant gardening hobbyists and private gardeners.

National and regional training days will be organised for 250 active volunteer Gardener Marthas, who provide peer support to Martha members on gardening in their region and who in turn will act as IAS trainers to local Martha members. A total of 3250 members of the Martha organization will be trained.

Training package for schools teaching green infrastructure building (FANC)

The training is aimed at Universities of Applied Science and Universities which teach green infrastructure building and city green area planning. 10 two hour -lessons and a webinar will include training in selecting IAS responsibly for public areas, identifying IAS and information about the potential economical and biodiversity risks involved with IAS.

Exhibition in public libraries (FANC)

Exhibition will contain photos of most common and harmful IAS including plant and animal species, general information about the Finvasive LIFE project and its goals and information how general public can be involved and report IAS sightings.

Public information events in Riihimäki (RMK)

City of Riihimäki provides two public lectures of IAS a year. The lectures will be held in public places like library or city art museum. Once a year the city will arrange a photo exhibition in a local shopping center to raise awareness of IAS and reach out to the general public

Milestones:

• 5 training sessions for Gardening Marthas organised, deadline 05/2011 (Martat) COMPLETED
• 64 online consultations completed, deadline 8/2023 (Martat) COMPLETED
• Voluntary events organised by regional Martha associations, deadline 12/2021 (Martat) COMPLETED
• 6 online lessons organised by Martha association, deadline 07/2023 (Martat) COMPLETED
• 50 lectures for general public by regional Martha organisations, deadline 06/2022 COMPLETED
• Lectures for schools teaching green infrastructure building completed (2 hrs x 10), deadline 12/2022 (FANC) COMPLETED
• Exhibition in 20 public libraries organised, deadline 08/2023 (FANC) COMPLETED
• Public information events (10 events) and photo exhibition organised in Riihimäki, deadline 12/2023 (RMK) COMPLETED

Deliverables:

• Training package for home gardeners and citizen scientists, deadline 03/2019 COMPLETED
• Training package for home gardeners and citizen scientists
• YouTube videos available at MartatTV channel (6 videos), deadline 12/2023 (Martat) COMPLETED
• 6 YouTube videos (in Finnish)
• Training package for future professionals of green infrastructure builders, deadline 12/2021 (FANC) COMPLETED
• Training package for future professionals of green infrastructure builders (in Finnish)

E3 Transferability and replication of project results

Responsible beneficiaries: FANC, Luke

Goals:

Delivering a IAS framework model for Finnish municipalities (FANC)

Finvasive LIFE will produce a ”toolbox” of best available information, practices and methods to assist Finnish municipalities cost-effectively and successfully manage the spread and impact of IAS in their region.  The toolbox will be based on the results and experiences gained in action C1, C2 and C4, and compiled together in Finnish and Swedish in action A4.

Non-herbicide management practices report and tutorial videos on (Luke)

The best non-herbicide management practices of terrestrial invasive alien plant species will be collected and published as illustrative internet material, guidance videos for eradicating terrestrial plant IAS and a comprehensive report. All of the material produced will be made available for everyone as downloadable content.

Milestones:

Municipal framework delivered to all Finnish municipalities, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

• Final report on citizen science, deadline 10/2023 COMPLETED
• Final report on citizen science (in English, Finnish and Swedish)
• Scientific publication on study results, deadline 12/2023 (Luke) COMPLETED, PUBLISHED 11/2022
• LINK TO ARTICLE
• Non-herbicide control methods, summary report (in Finnish, deadline 12/2023 (Luke) COMPLETED, PUBLISHED 9/2023
• LINK TO ARTICLE
• Tutorial videos on IAS in FINNISH, deadline 12/2021 (Luke) COMPLETED, LINKS BELOW:
• Giant Hogweed: How to identify – Harmful effects & control methods – Cover materials and their use in Hogweed control – Finvasive LIFE Hogweed control team in action – How to safely remove and handle Hogweeds
• Himalayan Balsam: A year in the life of Himalayan balsam – How to identify species and preferred habitats – Pathways of spread and control methods – Sheep grazing as a control method – How to organise Balsam or Lupin volunteer event ”Soolotalkoot”-style
• Other: How to report IAS control efforts in Finland – How to report IAS sightings in Finland

E4 Networking with other LIFE and non-LIFE projects

Responsible beneficiaries: FANC, Luke

Goals:

FANC and Luke actively network with LIFE and non-LIFE IAS projects that have similar goals and methods than Finvasive LIFE. Project personnel will attend LIFE Platform Meetings targeting IAS during the project and relevant seminars inside EU.

Networking and co-operation partners and contacts: CoastNet LIFE, DIAS, LIFE ASAP, COST AlienCSI (COST 17122), Inspect (Interreg), Vieraskasvit hallintaan, The Finnish Advisory Board for invasive alien species among others.

Attended meetings and seminars:

10.–12.9.2019 – Nordic Baltic InterLIFE 2019, Tonder, Denmark

23.–24.9.2019 – COST 17122 MC and Working group meeting, Ljubljana, Slovenia (travel report FI)

25.–28.9.2019 – LIFE Artemis international conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia (travel report FI)

18.8.2020 – Best practices in IAS control methods seminar with CoastNet LIFE (in english, presentations here)

14.4.2021 – LIFE Nordic Platform meeting (webinar)

21.9.2021 – Nordic virtual networking event ”Talks and workshops to prevent the spread of IAS”

2021–2022 – Several online meetings/seminars/workshops hosted by following projects: LIFE Celtic Rainforests, Inspect, LIFE MICA & LIFE Riparias

September 2022 – Hosting IAS meeting in FANC office for a delegation from Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

25.–26.10.2022 – Co-hosting Croatian Ministry of environment and Development delegation visit & IAS seminar in Helsinki.

12.9.2023 – Attending LIFE Platform meeting in Noux, Espoo in Finland.

Milestones:

All networking and scientific seminars attended, deadline 08/2023 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

E5 IAS school ambassadors

Responsible beneficiary: L-L

Goals:

Luonto-Liitto (LL) will arrange school visits that are aimed to students of elementary schools from 7th to 9th grades (12 to 16 year-olds) and secondary level vocational education and training in fields of gardening and nature (16 years and older).

The IAS ambassadors are mainly higher education students from different fields and especially from biology, environmental studies and teaching. Prior to visits, ambassadors receive training on the signifigance, biology and ecology of invasive alien species and the use of material prepared for the visits.

Milestones:

330 school visits done, deadline 12/2023 COMPLETED

Deliverables:

No deliverables for this action

Ajankohtaista 21.12.: Uusi vieraslajien hallinnan työkalupakki tukee kuntien vieraslajityötä

Ajankohtaista 27.9.: Suomen luonnonsuojeluliiton vieraslajikurssi auttaa viheralan ammattilaisia tukkimaan vieraslajien leviämisväyliä

Tiedote 9.5.: Suomen luonnonsuojeluliiton viimeinen jättiputkien torjuntakesä käynnistyy Varsinais-Suomessa

Blogi 2.2.: Vieraslajit ovat luontokadon merkittävimpiä taustatekijöitä – parhaiten haittoja ehkäistään ennakoinnilla

Tiedote 4.10: Luonnonsuojeluliiton vieraslajityöllä ehkäistiin jälleen luontokatoa ympäri Suomea

Tiedote 27.5: Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto jatkaa jättiputkien torjuntayhteistyötä Varsinais-Suomessa neljättä kesää

Tiedote 21.2.: Luonnonsuojeluliiton kysely: kunnat tarvitsevat lisää resursseja haitallisten vieraslajien hallintaan

Tiedote 20.10: Luonnonsuojeluliiton vieraslajityö löi ennätyksiä kesällä 2021 – Torjuntaa tehtiin lähes 50 hehtaarilla

Artikkeli 1.9.: Vaikeatkin vieraslajit torjutaan maanomistajan tahdolla ja oikeilla keinoilla

Tiedote 28.8.: Soolotalkoot-kesäkampanja innosti torjumaan haitallisia vieraslajeja

Blogi 16.6.: Kurtturuusun levinneisyyttä selvitettiin Espoon rannoilla ja saaristossa (opinnäytetyö)

Tiedote 28.5.: Luonnonsuojeluliiton vieraslajitalkootoiminta laajenee – kesällä voi osallistua kitkentätalkoisiin myös kotipihalla tai kuntien soolotalkoot-kohteilla

Tiedote 27.5.: Soolotalkoot-kesäkampanja tuo kaikille suomalaisille helpon tavan osallistua haitallisten vieraslajien pysäyttämiseen

Tiedote 24.5.: Jättiputkitiimit taas liikkeellä – haitallisen vieraskasvin torjunta jatkuu Varsinais-Suomessa

Ajankohtaista 29.4.: Mikä iNaturalist ja miten sitä voi hyödyntää vieraslajityössä?

Ajankohtaista 9.4.: Luonnonsuojeluliitto on mukana #Kutsumatonvieras -vieraslajiviestintäkampanjassa

Ajankohtaista 6.11: Jättiputken torjuntavoitto Varsinais-Suomessa: lähes kahdeksan jalkapallokentällistä

Ajankohtaista 22.9: Jättiputkien kimppuun koivutisleellä (VieKas LIFE)

Vieraslajitorjunnan parhaat käytänteet -etäseminaari 18.8.2020 (VieKas LIFE ja Rannikko LIFE)

Lausunto 31.8: Lausunto haitallisten vieraslajien hallintasuunnitelmasta

Ajankohtaista 14.8: Jättipalsamin torjunta kotipihalla ja suuremmissa talkoissa

Ajankohtaista 31.7: Ota haitalliset vieraslajit haltuun Luonnonsuojeluliiton ja Marttojen ilmaisilla verkko-opinnoilla

Tiedote 13.5: Kurtturuusu ja muut haitalliset vieraskasvilajit tutuiksi ilmaisilla verkko-opinnoilla

Haastattelu 5.3: Vuoden luontovapaaehtoinen Tiina Tikkanen on kokenut vieraslajitorjuja

Ajankohtaista 17.1: Kuopio kartoitti keinoja tukkia haitallisten vieraslajien leviämisväyliä

Blogi 2.10: VieKas LIFE -matkaraportti Slovenia 23.–28.9.2019: vieraslajitutkijoiden konferenssin tuliaiset Suomeen

Ajankohtaista 16.7: Haitalliset vieraslajit ja vieraslajilaki – miten suomalaisten olisi hyvä toimia ja miksi?

Vastine 14.6: VieKas LIFE -hankkeen ja Suomen ympäristökeskuksen vastine HS:n 13.6.2019 mielipidekirjoitukseen

Tiedote 28.5: Haitallisia vieraskasveja torjuva hanke kannustaa suomalaisia luonnonsuojelutekoihin

Luonnonsuojelija -lehti 20.5: Viekkaat valloittajat

Luonnonsuojelija -lehti 20.5: Ryhdy VieKas-aktiiviksi!

Lausunto 6.4: Ehdotus haitallisten vieraslajien hallintasuunnitelmaksi

Luonnonsuojelija -lehti 26.11.2018: Yhdessä vieraslajeja vastaan