We commenced our operations in 2010, with the first in Poland pilot project for controlling Sosnowsky’s hogweed.

On 4 March, 2011, the Foundation began its close cooperation with the Santok commune in the Lubuskie Province, during a conference dedicated to the risks of Giant hogweed expansion. The conference was attended by representatives of the Institute for Plant Protection- National Research Institute in Poznań and the Laboratory of Applied Plant Ecology at the University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw. This marked the beginning of a continuing cooperation with these scientific institutions.

The Foundation has at its disposal a modern apparatus and method for the eradication of invasive species of hogweed designed by Jan Pastwa and protected by a Polish patent. Plants are destroyed selectively. During treatment, we do not inhale vapours from herbicides (as is the case with sprayers). Since we do not interfere with the natural environment, the inventor believes that the apparatus should be used in nature conservation areas (such as national parks, reserves, forests, and Natura 2000 sites).

The Foundation is working on a possible new application of an existing organic product in the control of hogweed and other invasive plants (e.g. knotweeds).

The effectiveness of the innovative PASTWA apparatus and method was tested in 2012 – 2016, when hogweed was eradicated from many hectares of land in the Santok commune and the territory of the Napiwodzko-Ramucka Primeval Forest and the Natura 2000-PLB 280007 site. After the completion of works, commissioning had place.

History of the Foundation

2010

• establishment of the "Palący Problem - Heracleum" Foundation

2011

• entering into cooperation with the Santok commune
• conference in Santok dedicated to risks caused by hogweed expansion
• interpellation by Witold Pahl, MP on behalf of the Foundation
• inventory and valorisation of giant hogweed in the Santok commune

2012

• at the request of the Foundation, the Laboratory of Applied Plant Ecology at the University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw prepares a map of giant hogweed stands
• “National Census of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed and Giant Hogweed 2012” conducted by the Foundation in consultation with the University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw
• establishment of the Commune Environmental Protection Initiative in Czechów, Santok commune and training of participants
• control of hogweed in the village of Czechów, Santok commune(4.4 ha), commissioned by the Commune Council in Santok
• entry into the register of entrepreneurs conducting plant protection training, under the number 08/01/3123

2013

• meeting of Jan Pastwa with the Secretary of State, Stanisław Gawłowski on 4 - 6 February, at the Ministry of Environment in Warsaw on the country-wide pilot program for eradicating hogweed
• training in Santok on 22 – 23 March (for the inhabitants of the commune, local government employees, interventional services and volunteers) - "Safety and Hygiene at Work and Method of Controlling Sosnowsky’s Hogweed" and appointing members of the Commune Environmental Protection Initiative
• continued eradication of hogweed in Czechów, Gralewo and Górki, Santok commune, over an area of 3.8 ha, commissioned by the Commune Council in Santok

• training in Strzelce Krajeńskie on 26-27 July (for the inhabitants of the commune, local government employees, interventional services and volunteers) on the use of plant protection products applied by sprayers, Safety and Hygiene at Work, and appointing members of the Commune Environmental Protection Initiative
• continued work on the “National Census of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed and Giant Hogweed 2012” by the Foundation and University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw

2014

• warning and information actions in schools (commune of Strzelce Krajeńskie - Tuczno, Bobrówko - 29 April)
• training in Santok (for the inhabitants of thecommune, local government employees, interventional services and volunteers) on “Methods and Techniques for Controlling Sosnowsky’s Hogweed" (10 May)
• continued work on the “National Census of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed and Giant Hogweed 2012” by the Foundation and University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw
• monitoring of hogweed control in the Kłodawa Forest District using the digging method (a very difficult and labour-intensive method)
• monitoring of hogweed control in the Strzelce Krajeńskie commune (Bobrówko, Tuczno) using the mowing and spraying methods
• monitoring of hogweed control in the Santok commune using the mowing method (a completely ineffective method – all the plants grow back)
• monitoring of hogweed control in the Santok commune by grazing (goats, sheep, ponies, fallow deer) carried out by owner over an area of 4 ha
• monitoring of hogweed control in the Santok commune by deep ploughing of wasteland over an area of 13.2 ha ending in cultivation
• eradication of hogweed in Górki (private land) in the Santok commune over an area of 2 ha, using the PASTWA method and technique
• completion of the order for the General Directorate for Environmental Protection from the funds provided by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management involving the preparation by the "Palący Problem – Heracleum” Foundation of "Guidelines for the Control of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) in Poland”; authors: Eryk Kłossowski, Piotr Mędrzycki, Jan Pastwa, Izabela Sachajdakiewicz, Marcelina Wójcik

www.gdos.gov.pl/files/aktualnosci/29914/Wytyczne

2015

• expert opinions for communes concerning the identification of invasive species of hogweed
• continued work on the “National Census of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed and Giant Hogweed 2012” by the Foundation and University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw
• control of hogweed in the Santok commune (Górki, Gralewo and Janczewo) over an area of 3 ha
• “Hogweed Invasion – Species Management and Control in the Lubuskie Province" conference on 10 June - Gorzów Wlkp.
• participation in a conference organised by the “Man and Nature” Association in Suwałki - "Invasive alien species -inventory, spread and control methods " - 1 - 2 September - Gawrych Ruda – presentation on "Methods of eradicating hogweed on the example of the Santok commune in Lubuskie Province. Possibilities, methods and techniques of the PASTWA device" -publication in the book, "Control of invasive alien plant species– good and bad experience " edited by Lech Krzysztofiak and Anna Krzysztofiak" published by the “Man and Nature” Association Krzywe 2015 - Jan Pastwa, Izabela Sachajdakiewicz - "Control of Caucasian hogweeds in the Santok commune (Lubuskie Province)
• training and workshops on the practical methods of controlling invasive hogweed species addressed to communes, companies and private individuals
• patronage over the country-wide competition,"How to Stop Hogweed Invasion" organised by the Ministry of Environment
• interventional eradication of hogweed in Tuczno, Strzelecko – Drezdenecki county
• helping communes applying for funds from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management calculate the costs of hogweed eradication
• management of plants destroyed in Tuczno

2016

• supervision over the eradication of hogweed in the Natura 2000-PLB 280007 sites of the Napiwodzko-Ramucka Primeval Forest, using the PASTWA Method and Technique (in Omulewo, ca. 1 ha)
• eradication of hogweed in Natura 2000 network sites using the PASTWA Method and Technique, Santok commune
• eradication of hogweed in the Strzelecko-Drezdenecki county, in Tuczno
• monitoring, identification and control of hogweed in the Kłodawa commune, using the PASTWA Method and Technique
• supervision over the eradication of hogweed in the Baranów commune (Wielkopolskie Province)