Upcoming events
Past events
5.12.2024
Closing webinar – Achievements and future plans
Over the past two years, our project has worked to enhance cross-border cooperation in controlling invasive alien species (IAS) across Finland, Sweden, and Norway. As the project nears its conclusion, we are excited to share the key outcomes, expert insights, and future opportunities in our upcoming closing webinar. This webinar is open for all invasive alien species professionals or anyone interested in the topic.
Barents IAS forum event – an overview of lessons learned and prospect for the future
Where: Teams meeting
Date: Thursday 5th of December 2024
Time: EEC/Finnish time 10:00-12:00 (SWE/NO 9:00-11:00)
What you can expect:
- Expert insights on the spread of invasive alien species in northern regions and the critical role of international cooperation in combating them.
- An overview of the project’s results, including the effectiveness of our actions, the materials we produced, and the lessons we learned.
- A look ahead: Discover upcoming initiatives aimed at continuing the fight against invasive species through the growing IAS network.
Programme:
10:00 Welcoming words, Johanna Niemivuo-Lahti (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland)
10:10 The Barents IAS project through the eyes of a coordinator, Heidi Blom (Luke)
10:30 Pink salmon in river Teno, Panu Orell (Luke)
10:50 Putting cooperation into practice, Susanna Winqvist (Rural Women’s Advisory Organization)
11:10 Developing materials to citizens, Vilja Tupola (WWF)
11:30 The importance of communication, Liisa Mayow (Kaskas Media)
11:50 Final discussion and finishing words
Hosted by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), WWF Finland, Rural Women’s Advisory Organization, and Kaskas Media.
26. – 27.6.2024
IAS Forum seminar with focus on invasive alien plants
We welcome you to discuss and learn more about invasive alien plants! This two-day event, organized by our project partner, Rural Women’s Advisory Organization in collaboration with Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), is targeted for everyone who finds invasive alien species or related environmental issues on their work desk. The aim of the event is to spread information about the importance of controlling invasive alien plants and to give hints and tips how to actually do the controlling work and advising with whom to partner with. For people who actively work with invasive alien plant species, this is a splendid opportunity to gain newest information, insight and knowledge. There will also be a networking event and an interesting field trip to see different work performances.
Barents IAS Forum event focusing on Invasive Alien Plants!
Where: Pilke Science Centre, Rovaniemi (Finland)
Date: 26th – 27th of June 2024
Time: 9.00 (Finnish time)
Program:
Wednesday the 26th of June 2024:
- 9-10 Possibility to familiarize with IAS projects and actors, and other
participants. - 10-10.10 Welcome words and introduction to Barents IAS project: Christell
Åström, Executive director at Rural Women’s Advisory Organization &
Ella Ahti, Project coordinator at Natural Resources Institute Finland - 10.10-10.30 Invasive alien species in the Barents Region – Need for strong collaboration: Johanna Niemivuo-Lahti, Senior Ministerial Adviser at Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland
- 10.30-11.00 Who, what and why? Differences and similarities in IAS management in Finland, Sweden and Norway: Marjaana Hassani, Expert in landscape and nature management at Rural Women’s Advisory Organization
- 11.00-11.20 Case study from Norway, Bodø municipality: Sveinung Bertnes Råheim, Advisor
- 11.20-11.40 Case study from Sweden, Skellefteå municipality: Johanna Engström, Ecologist
- 11.40-12.40 Lunch
- 12.40-13.00 Keeping off invasive alien species from the road sides: Claes Dahlgren, Project manager, Trafikverket
- 13.00-13.20 The importance of cooperation in the fight against invasive alien species: Ursula Karjalainen, Project manager at Keep Lapland Tidy
- 13.20-13.40 Saami traditional knowledge, climate change and Saami traditional use of nature: Klemetti Näkkäläjärvi, Chairman of the Sámi Climate Council
- 13.50-16 Workshops and coffee break
- Workshop 1: Bottlenecks in IAS work and best practises to overcome them
- Workshop 2: What IAS work do you have on your work desk at the moment – or what could you have?
- 19.00 Networking event
Thursday the 27th of June 2024
- 9.00-15.00 Field excursion to see interesting work performances and to
networking, including field lunch & coffee
There are several options for accommodation in Rovaniemi. You can find accommodation alternatives here.
Organized by Rural Women’s Advisory Organization & Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
25.4.2024
WWF Educational Series 4/4: Why should harmful alien plants be removed from the perspective of pollinators?
All the target plant species of the Barents IAS project attract pollinators: Bumblebees love lupins and Himalayan balsam. Many fly species are interested in hogweeds. Beekeepers recognize the Himalayan balsam as a good honey plant in late summer. However, invasive alien plants are harmful to pollinators as well – come to learn why! The online event is organized in Finnish and the recording will be translated into Swedish, Norwegian and Northern Sami. You can find the Teams-link below! No pre-registration is needed.
Basic information about invasive species to all interested citizens!
Where: Teams, click here to join.
Date: Thursday 25th of April 2024
Time: EEC/Finnish time 18:00-19:00
The Teams link will be provided later.
Organized by World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
18.4.2024
WWF Educational Series 3/4: The management of invasive alien species in Finland, Sweden and Norway
What is the current spreading situation of the target plant species of the Barents IAS project in Finland, Sweden and Norway? How do the regulations guide the IAS management? How can you report your observations and prevention work of invasive species in each country? Invasive alien species experts from Finland, Sweden and Norway will reveal the answers! This online event is organized in English and the recording will be translated to Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Northern Sami. You can find the Teams-link below! No pre-registration is needed.
Basic information about invasive species to all interested citizens!
Where: Teams, click here to join.
Date: Thursday 18th of April 2024
Time: EEC/Finnish time 18:00-19:00
Organized by World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
11.4.2024
WWF Educational Series 2/4: Barents IAS-project plant species – Garden lupin, nootka lupin, hogweeds and himalyan balsam
This webinar takes you through the target plant species of the Barents IAS project with the help of many pictures. We will also talk about their distribution and spreading routes, the harmfulness of each plant and effective prevention work technics for each species. The online event is organized in Finnish and the recording will be translated to Swedish, Norwegian and Northern Sami. You can find the Teams-link below! No pre-registration is needed.
Basic information about invasive species to all interested citizens!
Where: Teams, click here to join.
Date: Thursday 11th of April 2024
Time: EEC/Finnish time 18:00-19.00
Organized by World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
4.4.2024
WWF Educational Series 1/4: Invasive alien species are a significant threat to biodiversity
We welcome everyone interested to learn basic information about invasive alien species including their spreading routes and harmfulness. The focus is on Nordic nature, but you will hear examples of invasive alien species from around the world with successful prevention work stories. The online event is organized in Finnish and the recording will be translated to Swedish, Norwegian and Northern Sami. You can find the Teams-link below! No pre-registration is needed.
Basic information about invasive species to all interested citizens!
Where: Teams meeting, click here to join.
Date: Thursday 4th of April 2024
Time: EEC/Finnish time 18:00-19.00
Organized by World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
19.3.2024
Webinar: New partnerships
Presentation and panel discussion about collaboration between administration, NGOs, and businesses regarding invasive species work. We explore the topic through interesting case examples from startup-innovations to the travel and tourism sector and construction.
Barents IAS Forum event about cooperation, like business cooperation, and finding new partners!
Where: Teams meeting
Date: Tuesday 19th of March 2024
Time: EEC/Finnish time 14:00-16:00 (SWE/NO 13:00-15:00)
Organized by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
28.11.2023
Webinar: BEAUTY – BUT A BEAST: practical tools for municipalities and NGOs to prevent the impacts of invasive alien plants
This webinar focuses on how to prevent the impacts of invasive alien plant species in the Barents region of Finland, Sweden and Norway. However, information and the practical hints and tips given at the webinar are suitable also for municipalities and organizations outside the Barents region.
Barents IAS forum event organized by Rural Women's Advisory Organization!
Where: Teams meeting
Date: Tuesday November 28th, 2023
Time: EEC/Finnish time 9:30-11:40
Programme:
9:30 Welcoming words
9:35 Miia Jauni, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Invasive alien plant species: ecologic, economic, and social threat in the Barents region
10:00 Best practises / interesting experiments from Sweden, Norway and Finland
- Chatarina Karlsson, Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten: Sheep grazing – effective eradication method for Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
- Bo Eide, Tromsø Municipality: Winning battels but not the war against “Tromsø palm” (Persian Hogweed, Heracleum persicum)
- Marjaana Hassani, Rural Women’s Advisory Organization: How to handle IAS plant waste & its potential for bioenergy production
- Marika Turpeinen, Rural Women’s Advisory Organization: Finnish-Swedish collaboration: learnings from the INSPECT project
11:00 Coffee break
11:05 Ursula Karjalainen, Pidä Lappi Siistinä ry: Tackling IAS problem with collaboration: practical hints and tips for municipalities and NGOs
11:20-11:40
At your service: Barents Invasive Alien Species Project
Q&A
Ending words
Showcase presentations (pdf):
- Miia Jauni, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Invasive alien plant species ecologic, economic, and social threat in the Barents region
- Chatarina Karlsson, Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten: Sheep grazing – effective eradication method for Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
- Bo Eide, Tromsø Municipality: Winning battels but not the war against “Tromsø palm” (Persian Hogweed, Heracleum persicum
- Marjaana Hassani, Rural Women’s Advisory Organization: How to handle IAS plant waste & its potential for bioenergy production
- Marika Turpeinen, Rural Women’s Advisory Organization: Finnish-Swedish collaboration learnings from the INSPECT project
- Ursula Karjalainen, Pidä Lappi Siistinä ry: Tackling IAS problem with collaboration practical hints and tips
11.10.2023
Webinar: Value from Content
Compelling content is the key when we want to share information about invasive alien species and how to control them. But how do you actually create eye-catching content for in-person and online channels? How to reach target audiences and inspire action?
First webinar of Barents Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Forum!
Barents Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Forum brought together invasive species professionals in Northern Finland, Sweden and Norway. The first Forum meeting on Wednesday 11.10. at 9:30–11:30 (EET) focused on “Value from content” – sharing information about invasive alien species in an impactful way. Event was organised in English. See the materials below!
Programme:
9.30 Welcome
9.35 Key note speaker Kimmo Ohtonen: How can content inspire action?
9.50 Q&A
10.00 Showcase: Content creation in IAS projects
- Linda Backlund, Länsstyrelsen: How to increase engagement in the world of invasive species?
- Anita Eriksen, Sabima: In what creative ways has Sabima shared information about IAS?
- Markus Seppälä, The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation: How to create content beyond online channels?
10.30 Coffee break
10.40 Facilitated questions and discussion based on the case studies
11.10 Discussion summary
11.30 Event ends
Showcase presentations (pdf):
- Linda Backlund, Länsstyrelsen: How to increase engagement in the world of invasive species
- Anita Eriksen, Sabima: In what creative ways has Sabima shared information about IAS
- Markus Seppälä, The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation: How to create content beyond online channels