Neophyte Management Protocol 2012

The multi-year control of neophytes in the Gesäuse National Park led to a reduction in invasive plants. In the Lettmairau, for example, they are practically no longer perceptible to the visitor. However, there are some hot spots that still cause problems. In addition, some new occurrences appear. At the Kummerbach estuary, Canadian and giant gold rods have spread massively and there is a risk of high hiking due to a fresh snow in the new woodcut above. It is thus the most dangerous place in the National Park At the railway and AHP grounds, gold rod is also pushing hard. Fighting is very complex, the success of the contaminated environment is questionable. The situation at the sewage treatment plant in Johnsbach is of concern. Although located outside the national park, the area has influence over the same through the riverbank of Johnsbach. The danger here arises from Großer Springkraut, which grows at the newly created wood storage site as well as on the river bank, and whose seeds are flooded into the Johnsbach and thus enter the national park. Furthermore, spring herb seeds can be carried away by transporting wood and the existing Japanese perennial köterich by transporting the stones stored in between. The mowing of the gold rod using motorsense shows first successes: A second maid was only necessary in a few places this year. This method leads to a weakening of the plants, so that they can grow smaller and lower, and sometimes even with the rhizomes by hand. The stocks right next to the forest road in the avalanche troughs of the Kalktal and Brettwald are still dense, whereas individually standing gold rods decline. The multi-year processing weakened the Japanese perennial knots at all locations. They no longer grow into giant specimens, but are subservient in the vegetation and thus, so to speak, under control. There is little danger of spreading. Further control and regular editing is still necessary, but the effort is low. The plant is of concern at the Johnsbach sewage treatment plant. If the stones between which it grows are transported away, it can easily be carried away. Everywhere, the Great Springkraut could be contained, but new places appear again and again. Here, a quick and thorough elimination shows the greatest and fastest successes. The continuation of the measures on the Fritz-Proksch-Weg could not be handed over to Naturfreunde Weng, as the further support of the path by the association is questionable. This Natura2000 site will probably be processed by the Gesäuse National Park in the future. Support came from the Steiermärk Landesforste by means of a mowing of the meadow strip along the wild fence, which prevents the Great Springkraut from pushing from above. The railway route represents a permanent danger of immigration and the spread of various neophytes due to the lack of combat by the ÖBB. In particular, the seeds of the gold rod, which can be easily spread by wind, can easily and quickly colonise the ground that is torn up nearby, as it arises from construction sites or measures along (forest) roads. Structural measures near large neophyte deposits should therefore be avoided during seeding in late summer and autumn.