As part of the LatViaNature project, the Nature Conservation Agency (the agency) has produced a series of short films entitled “Alarm in nature. Invasive species are taking over Latvia”, which uses examples of various invasive species to explain the threat they pose to Latvia’s natural diversity. In doing so, the agency encourages everyone to pay attention to the invasive species around them in nature and on their own land, to recognise them and to control them using methods recommended by nature experts.

 

This year’s growing season has begun, and the agency is therefore calling for invasive species to be brought under control. To illustrate the threat posed by invasive species and how widespread they are, the series of short films features six invasive species that are scientifically proven to have a negative impact on Latvian nature and that spread aggressively – the Spanish slug, Canadian goldenrod, Himalayan balsam, Japanese rose, ash-leaved maple and juneberry. The films explain how to recognise the species, where they are most often found, and offer advice from invasive species experts on how to combat them. Six short films have been produced in all, each two minutes long – the series is freely available for educational purposes on the website.

 

“The golden rule in controlling invasive species is to stop them spreading, because control at an early stage will be more effective and more successful. If we spot them in nature or on our own land, we limit their spread as quickly as possible. Invasive species can be controlled at any time, but it is particularly effective before they begin to spread further – before they flower and ripen their seeds or produce offspring. For example, ash-leaved maple and juneberry as early as May, the Spanish slug in June before it starts laying eggs, Himalayan balsam at the end of June, and the Japanese rose and Canadian goldenrod in July before their seeds ripen,” explains Santa Rutkovska, invasive species expert for the agency’s LatViaNature project.

 

 

The agency also invites schools and children’s summer camps to watch the engaging short films together with pupils, and to play the Kahoot quizzes on invasive species specially prepared by nature experts – for years 1–6 and for years 7–12 – and then head out into the countryside and help limit the spread of invasive species in Latvia’s natural environment.

 

Distribution maps of invasive species, along with descriptions of the invasive species found in Latvian nature and the methods used to control them, are available on the agency’s website www.invazivs.lv

 

The short films were produced in cooperation with the agency WKND as part of the project “Optimising the governance and management of Natura 2000 protected areas” (LIFE19 IPE/LV/000010 LIFE-IP LatViaNature), which is being implemented with financial support from the European Union LIFE programme and VARAM.