The plant was brought here from North America around 100 years ago and has been sold as an ornamental plant for, among other things, garden ponds. But after having spread out in nature in large parts of southern and central Sweden, it has been classified as invasive and a threat to other vegetation.
– It covers everything, no sunlight reaches the ground and the other plants, says Annika Knutsson, who is an affected landowner.
The county board is considering tougher measures
In Fylleån’s water system in Halland, the county administrative board has, via EU money, been able to finance work teams that during the spring make spot interventions against the skunk beetle. But the authority thinks that more people must help.
By law, it is the landowners’ responsibility to fight invasive species, but when the county government invited 65 affected landowners to a themed day at the beginning of May, only three people came. Now the authority is considering tougher measures.
– Now we have been here for 4-5 years in Fylleån informing landowners and carrying out campaigns. And we have it in mind to order that they be forced to fight, says Kent Lindqvist, nature conservation officer at the county board in Halland.
“Hole in the head”
But the threat upsets landowner Bo Torstensson, who has skunk calla on his land in Simlångsdalen but is not planning any extensive control.
– I don’t think it’s my business. I’m not the one who brought them into Sweden, he says.
Instead, he thinks that the responsibility should lie with the one or those who, once upon a time, approved the importation or trade of the plant. Or made money selling it. According to him, those who happen to have skunks on their land are only affected:
– And then they must restore this without any compensation whatsoever. It’s a hole in the head.
Kent Lindqvist at the County Administrative Board has some understanding of the objection, but points to the law:
– I can understand that if you have not contributed to it, why should you then have to do it. But we have this EU legislation, which is also included in Swedish law, that there is an obligation.