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Project objectives

The specific objectives of the project are to assess the prevalence, genetic and biochemical diversity, as well as to control and monitor invasive populations of Sosnowski’s hogweed on the border of Poland and Ukraine. The project covers the Lviv Oblast in Ukraine and Lubelskie, Podlaskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships in Poland. The practical aims of the project are to test and implement effective measures to combat invasive hogweed, prevent its spread and restore habitats in the context of biodiversity in the cross-border territories of Ukraine and Poland. So far, no detailed information on the spatial occurrence of hogweed and its impact on biodiversity exists. The project by implementing various remote sensing research methods (satellite and airborne imagining) allows to fill up this research gap. Furthermore, by using the WebMap technology to share the project results, the project provides open access to biodiversity and invasive alien species knowledge, thus strengthening educational purposes and cross-border cooperation.

Expected changes

• Reducing the hogweed population and its harmful impact;
• Restoration of grasslands and agro-ecosystems;
• Improving the safety of residents’ life;
• Increasing the tourist attractiveness of rural areas;
• Development of agricultural production;
• Shaping environmental awareness through the public education system, based on the protection of local biodiversity against threats from invasive species.

Project products list

• A joint action plan to overcome the problem of invasive hogweed;
• UA-PL cross-border map of hogweed population distribution in different habitats;
• Electronic database collected during the project implementation;
• Reduction of hogweed population (1,000 ha) and renaturalization of grasslands, mainly pastures (12 ha);
• Action plan for project sustainability and recommendations for ecological restoration of areas after hogweed control treatments;
• Project information materials;
• Training programs and information materials for local communities, utilities and the public, including students and pupils.

The target groups:

• External partners: territorial communities of Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, and Lubelskie Voivodeship, the Republic of Poland: the project is aimed at improving the ecological state of the territory, eradicating invasive hogweed species and restoring natural biodiversity, which will contribute to sustainable development and improve the quality of life of the local population. Agricultural entities: the project aimed to reduce the damage caused to agriculture by invasive plant species, in particular Sosnovsky’s hogweed.
• Local governments and local authorities: the project will help to improve the environmental situation and preserve natural resources in the areas of its activities.
• Tourists: Improving the environmental condition of the area will make it more attractive for tourist trips and excursions.

The project partners will be supportive by:

• External partners: Local authorities and governments of both countries, which will facilitate the initiation and implementation of the project (Department of Agricultural Development of the Lviv Regional Military
• Administration, Department of Ecology of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Lviv Regional Council, Lubelskie Province Governor’s Office in Lublin, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Voivodeship Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service in Lublin, Lublin Agricultural Advisory Center in Końskowola).
• Higher education institutions and research institutions engaged in the development of effective methods of hogweed population control and ecosystem restoration (Lviv National University of Environmental Management, National Forestry University of Ukraine, Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, University of Life Sciences in Lublin).
• NGOs involved in nature conservation can provide financial, technical, and expert support to the project.
• Forest management and state forestry, including their organizational units.

In Ukraine, the project will cover 9 communes (hromadas) located in three raions of Lviv oblast: Stryi raion: Koziova, Skole, Slavske communes; Sambir raion: Borynia, Staryi Sambir, Strilky, Turka and Khyriv communes; Drohobych raion: Skhidnytsia commune. In Poland, the project will cover 30 communes (gminas) located in three voivodeships: Lublin Voivodeship: Tyszowce, Bełżec, Jarczów, Krynice, Lubycza Królewska, Łaszczów, Rachanie, Susiec, Tarnawatka, Telatyn, Tomaszów Lubelski, Ulhówek, Dołhobyczów, Horodło, Hrubieszów, Mircze, Trzeszczany, Uchanie, Werbkowice, Zamość, Łabunie, Miączyn, Końskowola, Lublin and Fajsławice communes; Podkarpackie Voivodeship: Ustrzyki Dolne, Bircza and Bukowsko communes; Podlaskie Voivodeship: Piątnica and Rutki communes. Throughout the project, we will refer to these communes collectively as the 9 target communes in Ukraine and 30 target communes in Poland.

Project recipients: pupils, students, farmers, private landowners, residents of the study areas: development of environmental awareness, respect for the environment and protection of biodiversity. To raise awareness of the dangers of the spread of invasive species, with particular emphasis on Sosnovsky’s hogweed and other Caucasian hogweeds, to urban, agricultural and natural habitats and to human health. Educating young people is part of developing the right attitudes for the future.