On the occasion of the European Mobility Week (from September 16th to 22nd, 2002), Renate Mayer from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein will design the topic “Mobility in the Plant Kingdom” on September 21st, 2022.

Project CSI PhenoBiota

It's about non-native plants that are spreading very rapidly here, so-called invasive neophytes as part of the talent regoonal cooperation project CSI PhenoBiota in the Liezen district. For several years now, we have been researching growth behavior and spread mechanisms with students in the region in an interdisciplinary and cross-institutional network. We test disposal measures at certain locations and discuss suitable disposal methods in specialist working groups together with public bodies.

Measures

We also discuss the economic damage and which measures need to be implemented urgently and create a practical handbook. Some plants that are already influential in our cultural landscape are being brought to the fore. These are the glandular balsam, the Japanese knotweed and the Canadian and giant goldenrod). We are partners in the regional talent project CSI PhänoBiota on the topic of “Research with plant newcomers from all over the world”, which is supported by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. In the CSI PhänoBiota project, students from the communities are researching the phenological development of the most important invasive neophyte species for our region under the influence of climate change.

Phenology

Phenology deals with the developmental phenomena in nature that recur over the course of the year. These manifestations, from seedling or bud to flower, to fruit, to seed formation, to leaf fall and the death of parts of the plant due to frost, are observed all year round. The participation of children and young people creates a citizen science information network that compares native plants and invasive neophytes. Measures for successful containment can be better timed. An important measure is prevention. We can all make an important contribution to reclaiming our native plant species in our gardens and the landscape.

Action days in the communities

There are already action days in many communities together with schools and the population. The HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein school is active every year in the last week of school in the communities of Irdning-Donnerbachtal and Stainach-Pürgg. The municipalities of Landl, Wildalpen, St. Gallen and Altenmarkt have already hired staff for neophyte management. The Liezen building district management is also taking action.