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Market Swabia: Indian balsam almost defeated - but the fight remains!
The invasive Indian balsam is being successfully combated in Markt Schwaben. Volunteers have been working to protect species for over ten years.
Market Swabia: Indian balsam almost defeated - but the fight remains!
A remarkable success in the fight against invasive neophytes is currently being celebrated in Markt Schwaben. Indian balsam, a plant species known for its aggressive spread, was almost completely eliminated. This pleasing result is the result of years of effort by a dedicated group of volunteers, especially Manfred Drescher and Wilhelm Lehnert, who have tirelessly removed plants over the last ten years and have thus contributed a lot to the preservation of the local flora. How Mercury reports, the initiative was launched by the “Environmental Group of Active Circles”, which was formed in 2011.
The invasive species is spreading not only along the Hennigbach, but also in peripheral areas. Typical features of the Indian balsam are its man-high stems and the eye-catching pink-red flowers. A single plant can produce up to 1,000 seeds, which spread by touch and allow young plants to grow up to two meters tall in just a few weeks. Despite this impressive resilience, volunteers have achieved massive success through regular inspections and plant removal from July to September. A member of the active group commented on this: “After an hour of work, the area is free of jewelweed.” This persistent care is essential because without continuous intervention there is a risk that the unwanted plants will spread again. BR points out that the control of jewelweed is not only an important environmental issue, but also actively contributes to the preservation of biodiversity.
Challenges and new perspectives
Despite the successes so far, the future of the initiative represents a challenge. Currently only Willi Lehnert (82) is active because Manfred Drescher can no longer help due to an operation. Urgent support from younger people and a stronger political community is sought for the coming year 2026. Fortunately, there is hope that private property owners will also take responsibility and get involved in the fight against neophytes, as Susanne May, another active member of the group, notes. Mercury also reports that there is some negligence in dealing with neophytes in the neighboring communities of Forstinning and Herdweg, while the community of Poing is proactively addressing the issue.
Given the future challenges and the decline in volunteers, it is crucial that the community and citizens work together so as not to jeopardize the success of recent years. This is the only way to ensure that native plant species receive the attention they deserve and that biodiversity in the region is protected in the long term.