Effective control and prevention of the introduction of invasive alien species need to be conducted systematically, but responsibility also lies with each of us as individuals. We can contribute to tackling this issue by observing, preventing, and educating.

What can we do ourselves?

• Be responsible pet owners. Never release animals bought or received as gifts into nature. Instead, find new responsible owners or take them to a shelter.

• Check the plants we grow in our gardens. If any are identified as (potentially) invasive, replace them with native species as soon as possible.

• Dispose of weeds and plant waste (green waste) responsibly. Never discard them in nature; always compost them in the garden or use designated containers for industrial composting.

• Observe the surroundings of your garden. If you notice certain plants spreading beyond the garden, pull them out immediately, including their roots.

• Never plant or sow non-native species in nature.

• When clearing natural vegetation for construction or earthworks, reseed the area with native grass mixtures to restore it as quickly as possible.

• Avoid moving soil and sand from areas with invasive alien species to other locations.

• Monitor areas where sand or new soil has been delivered. If you see non-native species starting to grow, pull them out immediately.

• After floods, be vigilant for invasive alien plants and follow recommendations to prevent their spread.

• Educate friends and neighbours about invasive alien species.

• Report sightings of invasive alien species in nature.