The City of Imatra is combating the spread of invasive species through many means

– Combating invasive alien species requires long-term and targeted work. The city is responsible for combating invasive alien species, especially in sensitive areas, and we invest both personnel and financial resources in it annually, says the City of Imatra City Gardener.Erika Luhtanen open. 

Invasive alien species to control

Spanish cirueta 

The city is combating the Spanish snail in cooperation with residents. An iron phosphate-based pesticide is available from Kipa for residents to use on city land. The city's control efforts pay special attention to the locations and routes of spread from which the species easily spreads to the surrounding nature. The aim is to prevent the spread of the Spanish snail, especially with seedlings, garden waste and soil movements, which is why plants and soil should not be moved from the area where the Spanish snail is found to areas where the snail is not known to be present / to new areas. 

– We encourage residents to remove Spanish hornworms when they are spotted in yards, gardens and public areas, and to participate in joint control efforts, Luhtanen encourages. 

Giant balm and giant tube 

Giant balsam is mowed and poisoned. It is controlled in a targeted manner in the most sensitive and naturally valuable areas. Giant balsam control is particularly focused on protected areas and their vicinity, as well as various coastal areas, such as coastal groves and along streams and rivers. Special attention is paid to areas where giant balsam is still present in small numbers, so that its spread can be effectively prevented at an early stage. 

The city primarily uses poisoning to control the Caucasian giant pipefish and other giant pipefish species. Control is particularly targeted at residential areas, recreation areas and nature reserves, where giant pipes cause significant harm to both biodiversity and human health. 

Lupine 

The city is combating the spread of lupine in many ways. Kipa carries out roadside mowing before the lupine blooms in May–June to prevent seed formation. In addition, the EKHVA's repair team carries out control work around the city stream before flowering; the activities are partly financed by employment funding. 

– The city also uses the Crowdsorsa application, which allows residents to participate in the fight against lupine using a mobile application. We will provide more information about this at the beginning of June, Luhtanen says. 

The control of the common lupine is particularly focused on nature reserves and in the vicinity of endangered and sensitive species. Valuable small meadows along roadsides, where a diverse range of grassland species occur, are also priority areas for control. 

The city is also involved in the Invasive Species Veks project. The project aims to combat invasive species throughout the province, develop a provincial invasive species program, and implement pilot sites, webinars, and volunteer activities to support invasive species work. More information about the project here. 

Buckwheat and other occurrences 

The city also aims to mow and poison sedges and other vegetation. 

Rowan-Edge and Rosehip 

Rowan eelgrass and rosehip are controlled by removing the growths by digging them up. 

– Kipa is responsible for the prevention work, and an appropriation has been reserved for city infrastructure for prevention for 2026, Luhtanen says. 

The species are most urgently eradicated from the most valuable areas in terms of biodiversity and their immediate vicinity. In addition, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of wild rose bushes, especially along roadsides and in yards and gardens, from where the species can easily spread into the wild. 

Read more about invasive species and their control from the city's website. 

For more information: 

city ​​gardener Erika Luhtanen, city of Imatra, erika.luhtanenimatra.fi (erika[dot]luhtanen[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 020 617 4704