IAS management toolbox for municipalities

What is it all about?

Finvasive (VieKas) LIFE, an invasive alien species (IAS) project coordinated by The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (2018–2023), compiled suggested useful measures into an “IAS toolbox” to support the prevention and control of invasive alien species in Finnish municipalities. The purpose of the toolbox is to help municipalities and cities launch or develop regional IAS activities, either independently or in collaboration with local citizens, associations, companies or neighbouring municipalities.

The main goal is to prevent the spreading of invasive alien species and to assist Finnish municipalities in developing cost-effective solutions for IAS control. The toolbox contains suggestions on, for example, how to collect and utilise IAS data, how to communicate about IAS, how to carry out IAS control and process IAS waste, how to find collaboration partners, and how to fund IAS activities.

Please note: A significant portion of the information cards are primarily suitable for invasive species activities in Finland, and a significant part of the links and additional information in the information cards only direct to Finnish-language websites or publications.

Link to the IAS toolbox in Swedish

Link to the IAS toolbox in Finnish

What is in the toolbox?

The toolbox for municipalities contains a total of 68 single-page pdf information cards that have been divided into 7 themes about IAS management. Each card describes what topic the suggested measure is related to and what the municipality should do (Do this), presents the benefits of the action for the municipality (Benefits of the action), and offers guidance on how to find additional details or a contact person (More information).

The information cards have been divided into these following themes:

1. Preventing the spread of invasive species
2. Collecting and utilising IAS observational data
3. Invasive species control
4. IAS communication
5. Handling IAS waste
6. Collaboration in IAS management
7. Funding IAS activities

The contents of the toolbox can be supplemented

The toolbox and its contents are intended to be updated and supplemented with new “tools” along with increasing knowledge and experience on IAS management. The information cards have been created on a modifiable PowerPoint (.pptx file format) template, which enables the drafting of a new set of cards for practically any party engaging in IAS management activities in Finland.

Has your municipality carried out any IAS-related project, trial or other idea that could be applicable to wider use? Could a toolbox information card be a good way of sharing this information forward?

Follow these instructions:

• Download the information card template and its filling instructions on your computer and open it with PowerPoint
• Choose the theme for your card and get to know the style of other cards within this theme
• Create a new information card by following the template filling instructions and the example of the other cards
• Save the completed card in two file formats: PowerPoint (.pptx) and a pdf version
• Suggest that the new information card be added to the toolbox by sending the files and your reasons by e-mail to vieraslajiportaali@luke.fi

Information cards in the toolbox

A pdf-file for the information card opens in a new tab

Theme 1: Preventing the spread of invasive species

Card 1: Marking and removing illegal piles of plant waste found in the municipality area

Card 2: Add to the municipal tenancy agreements an obligation to perform IAS management measures

Card 3: Map and identify the common IAS spreading pathways in the municipal area

Card 4: Advise boaters to clean their boats and gear prior to moving on to a different water body

Card 5: Integrate IAS management tasks as part of municipality’s other green area maintenance work

Card 6: Check the plant species list used in municipality’s green areas and replace alien plant species with less risky alternatives

Card 7: For landscaping and green area building, use only invasive species-free topsoil and other land masses

Card 8: Draft a strategy or policy for control of IAS in the municipality area

Card 9: Adopt IAS-related teaching materials for use in municipal schools

Card 10: Utilise the IAS course material package produced by The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

Theme 2: Collecting and utilising IAS observational data

Card 1: Inform the citizens how the municipality collects invasive species observations

Card 2: Organise an observation campaign for one or more invasive species

Card 3: Map the most common places where invasive species are found

Card 4: Review invasive species observations in town plan or construction sites during the planning stage

Card 5: Utilise confirmed IAS observations in municipal information systems

Card 6: Actively monitor sites where IAS control is being performed and collect key data

Card 7: Choose the main IAS sites of your municipality as Soolotalkoot control sites for volunteers

Card 8: Advise citizens to use iNaturalist for reporting IAS observations if no other means are available

Card 9: Always integrate IAS mapping as part of nature and other surveys by the municipality

Card 10: Utilise the Crowdsorsa application in collecting IAS observations

Card 11: Train the municipality’s staff and contractors to identify and report IAS observations

Card 12: Suggest an IAS mapping collaboration to a local association or sports club

Card 13: Report IAS control measures performed in your municipality to the laji.fi service

Card 14: Identify the most likely points of entry to Finland for new invasive species and organise surveillance in those areas

Theme 3: Invasive species control

Card 1: Draft species-specific management plans for all invasive alien species in the area

Card 2: Organise an IAS weeding challenge for local citizens

Card 3: Participate or improve the participation level of your municipality in the Soolotalkoot campaign

Card 4: Problems with slugs? Supply slug areas with the popular slug bins

Card 5: Consider establishing the position of an IAS coordinator, independently or with neighbouring municipalities

Card 6: Utilise rehabilitative work activities in combating invasive species

Card 7: Maximise the benefit to nature by steering control activities to nature conservation areas

Card 8: Utilise covering with mulch as a means to combat IAS on rarely visited control sites

Card 9: Plan next year’s IAS control work based on the situation in autumn

Card 10: Utilise the ”traffic light”model in prioritising and choosing control measures for target sites

Card 11: Consider sheep grazing as a control method for invasive alien plants on large, easily confined target sites

Card 12: Encourage private citizens to engage in IAS control or mapping for a fee

Card 13: Utilise summer workers in mapping and controlling IAS

Card 14: Organise an event for council members and colleagues to inform them on the municipality’s IAS situation

Card 15: Ensure that eradicated IAS control sites do not end up re-invaded by other invasive species

Theme 4: IAS communication

Card 1: Bring together and form a network of local IAS activists with an instant messaging group

Card 2: Publish annually a brief summary on the IAS situation for citizens, e.g. in connection with the planning review

Card 3: Communicate various target groups about IAS spreading pathways and how to avoid the risk of spread

Card 4: Combine control and communication measures – place IAS plant waste collection boxes on key target sites

Card 5: Make a plan for communicating IAS tips to the citizens extending from spring to autumn & repeat it annually

Card 6: Organise a communication campaign on IAS to educate locals and collect observations

Card 7: Remind people who own or have non-native pets as a hobby the risk and possible impact of spread

Card 8: Citizens’ observations of invasive species are part of citizen science, which the municipality can also support

Theme 5: Handling IAS waste

Card 1: Avoid unnecessary IAS waste transporting costs – handle risk-free plant waste at its place of origin

Card 2: Utilise the operational model of Natural Resources Institute Finlandfor reducing and handling IAS waste

Card 3: Place IAS waste collection points in the area that the municipality will empty 1–3 times during the summer

Card 4: Find out if it is possible to provide the citizens with a free-of-charge reception point for IAS plant waste

Card 5: Handle IAS-containing soil in its place of origin or transport it to the region’s official reception area

Card 6: Encourage, advise and help citizens to handle IAS waste on their own courtyards

Theme 6: Collaboration in IAS management

Card 1: Suggest a collaboration for IAS control on sites that are on several land owners’ properties

Card 2: Agree with a local association on a partnership in IAS management measures in the municipality

Card 3: Involve local associations and citizens in the municipal IAS management by organising coffee events for planning

Card 4: Expand IAS work to regional level by combining resources with neighbouring municipalities

Card 5: Organise open IAS control method demonstrations on residential areas with a high number of IAS sites

Card 6: Make sure the volunteer effort in IAS control is utilised efficiently

Card 7: Collaborate with local vocational schools that teach gardening or natural & environmental protection

Card 8: List and share information about local companies that offer IAS control services

Card 9: Consider whether citizen science could be utilized in the municipality's work with invasive species?

Theme 7: Funding IAS activities

Card 1: Identify and monitor financial costs incurred to the municipality due to invasive species

Card 2: Free up resources for IAS work by easing green area maintenance classifications

Card 3: Funding for IAS work as part of habitat rehabilitation can be applied from the Ministry of the Environment’s Helmi programme

Card 4: The Interreg programme supports collaboration across country borders – also in managing invasive species

Card 5: Leader funding has enabled many invasive species projects in Finland

Card 6: The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) can support the development of IAS-related business

More information on the IAS toolbox: IAS specialist Markus Seppälä (markus.seppala@sll.fi) (markusjseppala@gmail.com after 1.1.2024)

Finvasive 'VieKas' LIFE (2018–2023) is a project funded by the EU LIFE environmental programme and coordinated by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation that focuses on mapping, controlling and building awareness on invasive alien species (IAS). The project targeted home gardeners and municipalities, and its activities included different kinds of information events and trainings, widespread communication, and weeding of invasive alien plant species by volunteers and professionals. The project’s partners are the Finnish Nature Association, the Martha Association, the Finnish Museum of Natural History, Natural Resources Institute Finland, and the cities of Riihimäki and Jyväskylä.

LIFE is a funding mechanism of the European Union that aims to develop joint environmental policy and legislation by supporting nature conservation and environmental projects in various parts of Europe. 

The contents of this page and of the toolbox for municipalities represent the views of the Finvasive (VieKas) LIFE project only. CINEA/European Commission are in no way responsible for any use of the information provided on this website.