Santa Rutkovska, Head of the Invasive Species Department at the Nature Conservation Agency’s LatViaNature project: “The number of reports on invasive species observed in nature has increased significantly and has reached its highest level since the launch of the website www.invazivs.lv in 2021. The increase in the number of reports indicates that public awareness of invasive species, the damage they cause, and the threats they pose to native species and Latvia’s biodiversity is growing; however, unfortunately, invasive species are spreading and becoming increasingly easy to spot and more common across ever-wider areas in all regions of Latvia. This is most clearly seen with the Spanish slug, for which reports last year increased more than sixfold compared to 2024 – from 213 to 1,376 reports.”
Most of the reports received concerned invasive animal species – 5,377, or 55% – of which the most were about raccoon dogs (3,335 reports), Spanish slugs (1,376 reports), and American signal crayfish (202 reports). Sightings of all invasive animal species are available on the map HERE>>>
Meanwhile, 4,397 reports – or 45% – concerned invasive plant species last year. The most frequently reported species were Sosnovsky’s hogweed (1,686 reports), Canadian goldenrod (1,143 reports), and Himalayan balsam (309 reports). Observations of all invasive plant species are available on the map HERE>>>
The Invasive Species Management System receives reports of invasive species sightings made by nature experts while developing nature conservation plans or preparing expert opinions; these reports are also compiled from various nature conservation projects. A large portion of the reports are submitted by residents, who record invasive species observed in nature on the website www.invazivs.lv or using the Invasive Species Manager smartphone app. Reports from residents are also integrated from other reporting platforms, such as www.dabasdati.lv.
Reports have been received from all over Latvia. Each report is reviewed by scientists and nature experts who work at the Nature Conservation Agency, Daugavpils University, and the Latvian Institute of Hydroecology. The reports are then recorded on maps of invasive species distribution to enable early detection and mapping of the spread of invasive species, as well as to plan measures to control them.
Last year, improvements to the invasive species management system continued, with data on invasive species compiled by other agencies—such as data from the State Forest Service on huntable invasive species, including the raccoon dog—being gradually integrated into the website www.invazivs.lv.
The Nature Conservation Agency’s LatViaNature project invites everyone to visit www.invazivs.lv to learn about invasive species found in Latvia and how to control them, as well as to report sightings of these species in the wild. Residents can submit reports on invasive species observed in nature by filling out a short questionnaire on the website www.invazivs.lv, attaching a photo of the invasive species, and indicating the location of the sighting. Reports can also be submitted using a smartphone app.
