GIANT ALIEN: Giant hogweed (heracleum mantegazzianum ) a pernicious invasive weed - developing a sustainable strategy for alien invasive plant management in Europe

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0104-1

Key words (English)

Heracleum mantegazzianum; hogweed; weed; biological control; herbivorous insects; management;
Environmental Protection; Forecasting; Meteorology; Resources of the Sea; Fisheries

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: EVK2-2001-00128

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4a.2 Global change, climate and biodiversity

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Danish Forest and Landsc. Research Inst., Hörshol (DK)

Abstract (English)

Alien invasive plan such as Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) are havinga severe impact on biodiversity in Europe but no successful solutions to stopping their spread and preventing future invasions have been identified. A sound basis of knowledge of the taxonomy, genetics, biology and ecology of H.mantegazzianum is used to:
- Develop simple, practical and environmentally' safe management methods to reduce the abundance and prevent further spread of the invasive plant species, and to disseminate this knowledge to practitioners across Europe;
- Search for effective natural enemies with a view to establishing a sustainable method to control this species;
- Develop concepts for managing other similar alien invasive plant species.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0104-1