Alarm on the North Sea: potato rose destroys coastal protection and ecosystem!

Alarm on the North Sea: potato rose destroys coastal protection and ecosystem!

Cuxhaven, Deutschland - A new ecological problem is concerned with the German coast: the plant known as potato rose, which is popularly known as Adolf Hitler-Rose, spreads rapidly on the coasts of the North and Baltic Sea. This plant is not only visually appealing, but also has an eventful story that goes back to World War II when it was used to hide military bunkers from enemy views. Today, however, the potato rose proves to be a serious threat to the ecosystem and coastal protection.

The potato rose is originally native to East Asia, but was introduced as an ornamental shrub in Europe. Their spread is now a serious problem because it displaces domestic plant species and endangers the stability of dikes. According to the statements of Fabian Buß, a press spokesman for the Lower Saxony State of Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN), the plant has steadily established itself in many parts of Lower Saxony, especially on the East Frisian Islands. Buß mentions that the plant can dominate large areas and thus has a significant impact on the landscape.

ecological threat from the potato rose

The spread of the potato rose not only reduces the biodiversity in the affected areas, but also weakens the resistance of the dunes towards storm surges. Initially, the rose was planted as a stabilizing plant for coastal protection systems, but now it has been shown that its roots do not offer the necessary stability required to protect against erosion. Instead of consolidating the dikes, the potato roses contribute to the weakening of the dunes, which makes the coastal region more susceptible to extreme weather.

"The roots of the potato roses do not ensure the upcoming stability, but endanger security against winding and vanity," explains Buß. The stocks of the potato rose also have a significantly lower biodiversity compared to the domestic forms of vegetation, which further deteriorates the biological conditions on coastal protection.

challenges in combating the invasive plant

The authorities are now actively trying to contain the spread of the potato rose. The NLWKN has taken measures to push the plant back on the coastal protection systems. After combating, local plants such as beach harbor or beach rye are set again. But fighting is extremely complicated. Buß emphasizes that the size of the stocks, the resistance and the rapid growth dynamics of the potato rose make it difficult to return.

"The challenges in combating are diverse and costly. Even after a successful control, the potato rose can quickly penetrate the areas," continued Buß. The effort and length of these measures require precise planning and a lot of patience.
In Lower Saxony, in addition to the potato rose, there are other interesting plant species, even if they are not so problematic. For example, there is the only witch tree avenue worldwide, as well as a thousand-year-old plant that is considered a landmark.

The situation around the spread of the potato rose illustrates how important it is to monitor invasive plant species and, if necessary, take measures to protect the local flora. In the next few years it will have to be shown how the authorities deal with this challenge to ensure the ecological state of the coastal regions. Further information on this topic provides Article by www.merkur.de .