Lombardy initiates invasive plant eradication and urban tree replacement projects

The Parco delle Groane and the Brianzèe Moorland, in cooperation with the Lombardy Region, have launched a plan to eradicate the invasive species Asclepias syriaca, also known as “silkweed.” The program, funded with €60 000 in two phases, will run until 2026 and includes manual and mechanical removal, targeted mowing, selective herbicide use, and long‑term monitoring by an invasive‑species task‑force.

In San Donato Milanese, the municipal administration approved the removal of 31 unstable trees in a private garden on Via Europa after fitopathological inspections identified serious root deficiencies. To compensate, 69 new trees—41 Parrotia, 28 Tilia and Celtis—will be planted in the private plot and nearby public areas, improving urban green space and safety for pedestrians and a nearby school.