News
PROTE protects national aquatic ecosystems against invasive plants
31.08.2020
The PROTE company, as part of the contract signed with the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, has started a multi-stage task regarding invasive species of aquatic plants in terms of recognizing the degree of their invasiveness, range of spread, and developing methods of their control. The aim of the project is primarily to minimize the negative impact on the national aquatic ecosystems, including such invasive alien species as Cabomba caroliniana, Azolla filiculoides, or Elodea nuttallii, and it is part of a larger project no. POIS.02.04.00-00-0100 / 16 on The Development of rules for the control and eradication of invasive alien species along with pilot activities and social education. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the 2014-2020 Infrastructure and Environment Program, and its implementation is the implementation by Poland of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No. 1143/2014 of October 22, 2014 on preventive and remedial measures against the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Based on Regulation No 1143/2014, a list of 66 invasive alien species was established as posing a threat to the Union.
Thanks to such activities and the related information and education campaigns, the ecological awareness of the society and the knowledge about invasive alien species and the threats they cause increase. In Poland, apart from the already well-known Sosnowski's borscht (it is exactly a land plant), there is a lack of awareness and knowledge about the existence of other invasive alien species (plants and animals). Study entitled "Plants of foreign origin in Poland with particular emphasis on invasive plants", published in 2012 by the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, indicates that these species also cause economic damage, which in the European Union is estimated at EUR 12 billion a year.
The protection of domestic ecosystems against invasive species will have a positive impact not only on native species as it will allow them to recover, but can also bring real financial savings.
Thanks to such activities and the related information and education campaigns, the ecological awareness of the society and the knowledge about invasive alien species and the threats they cause increase. In Poland, apart from the already well-known Sosnowski's borscht (it is exactly a land plant), there is a lack of awareness and knowledge about the existence of other invasive alien species (plants and animals). Study entitled "Plants of foreign origin in Poland with particular emphasis on invasive plants", published in 2012 by the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, indicates that these species also cause economic damage, which in the European Union is estimated at EUR 12 billion a year.
The protection of domestic ecosystems against invasive species will have a positive impact not only on native species as it will allow them to recover, but can also bring real financial savings.