ENVIRONMENT AND RESEARCH

Invasive species

The number of invasive species is on the increase all over Europe. Some species do so well in their new environment that they can proliferate and damage local biological diversity or cultural environments – and in the worst case displace indigenous plants. Such vegetation also comes with high socio-economic costs.
Many of these species are on the EU's blacklist, and strategies are being drawn up for controlling them in Europe. The list includes well-known plants like Giant Hogweed, Persian Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Lupins, all of which are now common in Norway.

HOW IS HEATWEED HELPING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

Conventional weed control is time-consuming, expensive and frequently ineffective. Examples include digging plants up, cutting the flowers, mowing, ploughing, grazing, spot spraying and applying liquid nitrogen. What is more, new regulations severely limit the use of chemicals.

The Heatweed Method: Heatweed is an innovator and prioritises research and documentation of everything we do. We have developed equipment and a method for controlling Giant Hogweed,  Persian Hogweed (Heracleum persicum), Sosnowsky’s Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi), Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and various Crassula species. We have also developed a training programme that guides the user through the entire control process.