Fines for Fighting Giant Hogweed «for Show» Have Started 0 18

Every autumn, municipal police and representatives of services inspect territories, establishing that some landowners diligently continue the fight against the plant, while others allow it to grow freely. In the Aluksne region, there have been cases where owners merely imitate the fight, carelessly mowing and shredding the plants, which actually contributes to a wider spread of seeds. This year, several fines have been imposed in the region, with amounts potentially exceeding one thousand euros.

The municipal police inspect specific properties in Aluksne, which were reported last summer as having no action taken over a large area. In August, the hill was covered with giant hogweed, and if one looks at the situation superficially now, it might seem that the work has been done diligently, but law enforcement claims it has been done carelessly.

"The entire field is covered with seeds. There is a high probability that a new administrative process will be initiated. This is necessary to assess the situation and hold the relevant landowner accountable for the uncontrolled spread of giant hogweed, which is essentially only imitated," said Aluksne municipal police inspector Alexander Fin.

In the Aluksne region, 11 administrative processes were initiated last year for non-compliance with the requirements for fighting giant hogweed, and nine this year. For such violations, one can receive a warning or a monetary fine: up to 1500 euros for individuals and up to 3000 for legal entities.

Nevertheless, there are both individuals and legal entities that ignore the imposed fines.

In the Aluksne region, giant hogweed has taken over about 270 hectares of land. The management of the association shows a characteristic example — one owner is fighting giant hogweed, while a neighbor across the ditch does nothing.

"In the autumn, when the active season of giant hogweed ends, the municipality organizes inspections of all territories according to the giant hogweed control plan. During such inspections, it is recorded where giant hogweed has already bloomed. We take photographic evidence," said the representative of the Aluksne region's municipality management, Ingrid Sniede.

Giant hogweed has spread across the country to nearly 11,500 hectares, and reports of new outbreaks come in annually.

"If giant hogweed thickets are near water bodies — rivers or ditches — the seeds are carried away by the water flow, and giant hogweed appears in new locations. It is also observed that after forest clearings, giant hogweed often appears in these areas," said the director of the Plant Quarantine Department of the Plant Protection Service, Gunita Shkupеле.

The most effective means of combating the invasion are regular mowing and treatment with plant protection products. Over several years, giant hogweed can be completely eradicated from the territory; however, the use of chemicals is not allowed everywhere — it is prohibited on riverbanks and in other protected areas.