Bundesrealgymnasium Reutte in the service of nature protection - containment of the knapweed
In 2019, just over 100 students from classes 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b and 4c of the Bundesrealgymnasium Reutte with their teachers as well as volunteers and employees of the association Naturpark Tiroler Lech were once again active in keeping the glandular touch-me-not in check.
The glandular touch-me-not(Impatiens glandulifera) originates from the Himalayas and was introduced to us as an ornamental plant. Since one plant produces around 4000 seeds, it quickly "conquers" ground and soil for itself. As a result, it displaces native plants and reduces biodiversity. In Austria, this plant now belongs to the invasive ("problematic") neophytes. Neophytes are alien plants that were introduced to Europe after the discovery of America in 1492. Usually kept in gardens as ornamental plants, the seeds often reach us unintentionally through material transport (excavated material, garden waste, etc.) from one place to another, and this is also the case in the Tyrolean Lech Nature Park and its nature park communities. Therefore, 'wild' composting should be avoided at all costs! Whoever wants to get rid of the 'problem plants' must have great stamina. The control must be carried out constantly over several years, since the seeds can remain germinable for up to 5 years.
Therefore, at the end of June, as in previous years, we went to the same environmental construction sites in the communities of Wängle, Pflach and Ehenbichl to pull out the touch-me-not by hand - the small root system made this possible without any problems. In this way, seed formation and thus spreading can be prevented. It is clear from the areas worked on that the stands of touch-me-not have become increasingly less dense over the years. Through further actions in the following years, they should be contained further and further - our native nature with its special biodiversity will thank us!
A big THANK YOU to the communities of Ehenbichl, Wängle and Pflach for supporting the campaign!
