Colorful meadows and pastures were not always a given. Their emergence was linked to the development of agriculture in the Neolithic period. People needed to create areas without forests for raising livestock and growing crops.
In 2024, the LIFE DIVERSEED project was in full swing. The main objective was to collect seeds that the project partner Agrostis would grow to create the first regional seed mixture intended for the restoration of grassland habitats up to an altitude of 1,000 m.
We have started a new approach to tackling one of the most problematic invasive woody plants in the Danube Floodplains: the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). This time, however, we are not using chainsaws or chemicals. Instead, we are bringing in nature’s helper: a fungus from the genus Verticillium.
Team members from Plant Science and Biodversity Cente SAS have started monitoring vegetation in Čiližské močiare and Istragov. At both of these sites, we plan to bring in livestock in the near future to help with suppression of invasive plant species.
The product Ailantex, a biological agent for controlling the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), has been approved for use in Slovakia starting this year. This is a breakthrough in the fight against this aggressive invasive tree, which has spread to many areas of Slovakia in recent years and causes serious problems in natural habitats, urban edges, and protected areas.