Restoration of areas infested by Ailanthus altissima in the Alta Murgia National Park: experience within a LIFE Project

The spread of invasive alien species threatens the conservation of natural ecosystems, being the second leading cause of biodiversity loss. Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (tree of heaven) is one of the most damaging invasive alien plant species, and the most important one within the Alta Murgia National Park, the second largest park in Europe, containing a great wealth of biodiversity. The species is highly present throughout the park, both in anthropic places such as antique manors and sheepfolds, where farmers intentionally planted A. altissima trees for shade, and in natural habitats such as grasslands and rocky soils, fi elds, woods edges, dry stone walls and roadsides, where they spontaneously grew. The "LIFE Alta Murgia" project, started in 2013, was funded within the European LIFE+ Framework. Its main objective is to eradicate A. altissima from the Alta Murgia National Park. Many large areas have been restored by using an eco-friendly and sustainable strategy for tree of heaven control based on stem application techniques able to minimize herbicide use and reduce risks for health and environment. For broad high plant density patches, best results were obtained with one winter treatment with glyphosate followed by one summer completion treatment. Stem applications provided good control with low rates of herbicide and off ered many advantages: no drift, no off -target eff ects, selectivity, minimal need for equipment, the possibility of treatments in urban and natural areas. An offi cial protocol for tree of heaven management will be proposed.