Invasive Sosnovsky’s hogweed spreads near Vilnius homes as landowner fails to act

Dangerous Sosnovsky’s hogweed is growing near residential buildings in Vilnius, but the landowner has not removed the invasive plants despite repeated requests from residents, LRT reports.

The municipality states it cannot intervene because the land is privately owned. Officials have ordered the owner to clear the plot within two weeks, with a follow-up inspection planned. If the land remains untreated, the owner will face a fine—typically between €100 and €200, according to Inutė Neverovskienė, head of Vilnius Municipality’s Green Space Maintenance Division.

Residents, including local mother Erika Jankaitienė, express concern over the rapid spread of the toxic plant, which can cause severe burns. She notes that the hogweed has multiplied from a single plant last year to a large cluster, posing risks to children playing nearby.

Vilnius Municipality has sent around 1,000 letters to landowners seeking permission to clear private plots, but only about 30% have responded. The city has also developed a plan to combat invasive species, though progress remains slow.

Experts suggest stricter measures, such as increasing land taxes for neglected plots, to encourage action. Edmundas Skardžius, head of the Vilnius branch of disinfection service Dezinfa, highlights that the problem is widespread, particularly in newly developed areas and less fertile regions like Molėtai, Ignalina, and Zarasai.

Ričardas Skorupskas, a docent at Vilnius University’s Institute of Geosciences, proposes community-driven initiatives and better public information to address the issue more effectively.