Let's visit some foreign guests we really should be worried about, like the Ailanthus altissima (the tree of heaven), who reached Bucharest from the jungles of Vietnam and Korea, and now call it home!
Brought over by people either on purpose or by mistake, invasive organisms often thrive in new environments far from their natural predators and parasites, multiplying beyond control. In this episode, we explore how species like the toxic-leafed Ailanthus and the notorious ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia found right on Unirii Boulevard) reshape urban ecosystems like Bucharest by crowding out native vegetation.
How should we manage them? While aggressive allergens like Ambrosia demand immediate and continuous removal, other invasive green covers require a thoughtful approach. Unless we have a solid plan to replace them with native flora first, removing them without caution risks leaving spaces to be overtaken by even worse invaders.

Short urban documentary by Andrei Nicoară.

Partners: Institute of Biology Bucharest, Faculty of Biology – University of Bucharest, 2Celsius, Projekt Atol, Zile și nopți

The Urban Green Blueprint is co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.
The project does not necessarily represent the position of The Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN). The Administration of the National Cultural Fund is not responsible for the content of the project or the manner in which the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding recipient.