Trinational Actionday

On July 9, 2024, the Three Countries Park organized a tri-national action day to combat Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) near the German-Belgian border crossing at Bildchen. This initiative was led by the NABU Nature Conservation Station Aachen in collaboration with the Contrat de Rivière Meuse-Aval.

Approximately 15 participants from Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands took part in the event. For four hours, in temperatures reaching around 30 °C, they worked together to clear extensive stands of Himalayan balsam. A television crew from WDR (Lokalzeit Aachen) covered the event, and the report (in German) can beviewed at the beginning of the program in the media library.

As many invasive species proliferate along river systems, cross-border cooperation is essential in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, where several river catchment areas span across political boundaries. Himalayan balsam can easily spread across these borders, particularly along the Tüljebach, which flows from Germany to Belgium and eventually reaches the Netherlands via the Göhl. Therefore, addressing the issue of Himalayan balsam directly 'at the source' in the upper reaches of the Tüljebach on the German side is a strategic approach that will ultimately benefit Belgium and the Netherlands as well.

Himalayan balsam is listed among the invasive species requiring management in Europe due to its rapid spread in spring areas and along riverbanks. Its shallow root system fails to stabilize the soil effectively, making riverbanks particularly susceptible to erosion. With the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall, this poses significant challenges for flood protection.

The concept for this action day emerged from the cross-border Invasive Species Working Group, which has been coordinated by the Three Countries Park annually since 2015, targeting experts from the three countries on the topic of invasive species. The last major tri-national event occurred in 2016 along the Iterbach in Marienthal, Belgium. After several years of consistent cross-border management, the Iter, which flows from Belgium to Germany, has been completely cleared of Himalayan balsam.

Recognizing that the fight against Himalayan balsam and other invasive species is a long-term commitment, the Three Countries Park plans to invite participants to further tri-national action days in the coming years.