Dangerous decoration of the adjacent territory

One of the invasive plant species is Canadian goldenrod. It was introduced to the Republic of Belarus primarily for decorative landscaping and for growing fodder for livestock.

The danger of the spread of Canadian goldenrod lies in the fact that it completely alters the surrounding flora and fauna. The plant has no natural enemies among plants and insects. Each goldenrod bush produces up to one hundred thousand seeds with very high germination rates. Its seeds are quickly dispersed by wind, leading to the emergence of new growth areas. The rhizomes release substances into the soil that inhibit the growth of other plants, leading to the complete displacement of native plants from natural ecosystems.

Canadian goldenrod is most often found in cemeteries, private plots, flower beds, and decorative gardens in public areas of settlements, from where it actively penetrates forests, meadows, pastures, wastelands, and other lands. In meadow and floodplain ecosystems, goldenrod changes the composition and structure of hayfields, significantly reducing the quality of harvested fodder. In floodplain meadow communities, goldenrod poses a threat to populations of rare and endangered plant species. In agricultural lands, goldenrod disrupts the sowing structure, reducing crop yields.

Consequently, most meadow insects, birds, and small mammals disappear. Thus, by occupying any area, goldenrod completely transforms its animal and plant world.

Canadian goldenrod has a stem height of 80-140 cm, branching in the upper third, densely leafy along its entire length. The leaves are narrowed at both ends, pointed at the apex, the lower ones are short-petiolate, 5-12 cm long, the upper ones are sessile, 2-8 cm long with three longitudinal veins. The inflorescences are oblique-pyramidal panicles 12-40 cm long, consisting of baskets of bright yellow flowers. The flowers are gathered into baskets, in one-sided, arcuately curved racemes, which form a terminal, broadly paniculate inflorescence in the shape of a pyramid.

In the Vitebsk region (according to the 2025 inventory data), the area of Canadian goldenrod growth is 288.85 hectares. The most infested areas are the Orsha and Vitebsk districts.

To stop the spread of Canadian goldenrod, the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection requests that the use of this plant for landscaping and decorating yards, flowerbeds, cemeteries, gardening associations, and other areas be discontinued.

Canadian goldenrod must be mowed down before flowering and seed maturation, as the plant grows to 15-20 cm, at least twice per season, starting from spring until the beginning of plant flowering. More effective control methods include chemical treatment, digging up, or plowing.

Land users are obligated to take measures to combat invasive plants (paragraph 10 of part one of Article 9 of the Law "On the Plant World"). Violation of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus on the protection and use of the plant world entails administrative liability.

IMPORTANT:

From June 19, 2026, failure by users of land plots or water bodies to fulfill the obligation established by legislation on the protection and use of the plant world, related to carrying out work to regulate the spread and numbers of plant species whose spread and numbers are subject to regulation, shall result in a fine of up to ten basic units.