REMOVING NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PLANTS

Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF) is NGO dedicated to nature conservation. Its mission is to preserve endangered species and their habitats, natural landscapes and natural associations typical of Estonia. ELF has organized yearly nature conservation holidays where volunteers, participants and group managers work together in order to improve the living conditions of a certain species (i.e. natterjack toad, black stork) or maintain semi-natural communities. You can read on http://elfond.ee/en and see photos from volunteering camps of 2019: http://www.talgud.ee/galerii/2019 The aim of this camp is removing non-native invasive plant species of the Himalayan balsam. Karula National Park in South-Estonia is famous for its vast forests and a hilly landscape. This region is also an important habitat for the black stork which is a rare bird species in Estonia. The Estonian traditions and the old way of life are still alive in Karula. Historical farmhouses, old wagon trails, local dialect and smoke saunas are still here. OtepäàNature Park, the largest protected landscape in Estonia, is located on hilly uplands. One of the country’s most picturesque lakes – Pühajärv, or Sacred Lake in translation – is situated in the heart of the nature park. The small town of Otepäànext to the lake has given its name to the protected area and is a popular skiing destination. The diverse landscapes in the nature park are shaped by both human activity and natural processes. The Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant species that has spread to Estonian nature from the gardens. It spreads quickly and competes with the local flora for habitats, forcing the latter to disappear. Luckily, the Himalayan balsam can be easily removed by plucking and this method has been proved effective over the last two years. The worksite is next to a lake: bring your swimwear! ELF’s volunteers have plucked up the Himalayan balsam in Karula since 2017 and in Otepäàsince 2021. The results have been promising so far and we will continue the work in these locations for several years. See pictures of previous camps here https://www.talgud.ee/talgud/tehtavad-tood/verev-lemmmalts