On 1 May 2022, the canton issued a directive on the protection of agriculture, which makes the removal of invasive plants mandatory if their spread could spread to agricultural land and/or endanger health. Meanwhile, the municipality of Crans-Montana and the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park have already launched a comprehensive plan.

New cantonal directive
The canton of Valais has just tightened its measures to combat invasive plants. Although measures have been taken for years to eliminate them, these invasive neophytes continue to pose a worrying problem, particularly for agriculture. The municipalities have just been informed by the Office for Agriculture: Their task is to sensitize the population, but above all to order their removal.

Municipal census and contact with private individuals
Even before this new directive, the municipality of Crans-Montana had already launched an ambitious program: Every year, the employees of the public works department intervene in public spaces by combating invasive plants and inform residents through various communication measures.

What is new this year is that a person responsible for combating invasive plants has been appointed; he carries out an on-site inspection to record the plots affected by the invasive neophytes. He notes the various plants sighted. This is followed by extensive administrative work to locate the owner of each plot, write to them and inform them which plant(s) are growing on their property and give them appropriate advice on how to remove them. On May 10, 2022, 1,000 letters were sent out and 1,200 plots of land requiring intervention were recorded. In this month of May, the main species sighted was the smooth serrated celandine. The survey will continue depending on how far the flowering period of the various plants has progressed.

The Pfyn-Finges Nature Park, which is very active in communicating and advising on good practice, has published a brochure that you can put in your pocket. Using pictures, you can recognize the problematic plants and learn about good practices to eliminate them. It is available free of charge to anyone who requests it. It has been enclosed with the letter to the homeowners concerned.

Courses for private individuals and professionals
Invasive plants are often introduced through the transportation of soil during construction work. They are also planted deliberately because private individuals are not necessarily aware of the problem (e.g. the butterfly bush). It seemed important to offer a special course for the various professional groups that play a role: Landscape gardeners, farmers, building managers, construction companies, etc. All such companies in the municipality of Crans-Montana were contacted by the municipal administration and invited to participate in the course on May 14, 2022. The course will be run by Drosera, which has received a mandate from the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park. A course for private individuals will also be organized on Saturday, 27 August, where the theoretical part will be followed by a field activity.

"Nature missions"
The Nature Park also organizes nature missions aimed at the entire interested population of the canton. One of these volunteer days will take place on June 11 in the municipality of Crans-Montana. Participants will donate their time to uproot invasive plants.

THE PROGRAM TO COMBAT INVASIVE PLANTS IS PART OF THE INITIATIVE "CRANS-MONTANA IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY".