Guidance and strategies for plant selection in NBS
Providing guidance regarding plant selection in restoration and protection oriented NBS can underpin the protection of local biodiversity and limit spreading of harmful, invasive species.
Specific Advice
Supplying guidance regarding plant selection in any project where plants are to be introduced for ecosystem restoration, management, or green infrastructure, can be supportive in decision-making for NBS. By developing strategies and step-by-step methodologies for plant selection, practitioners can be supported in their implementation of NBS. Moreover, by issuing official plant selection lists adapted to local environments, landscapers and practitioners can have concrete resources to turn to when designing and planning NBS. Plant lists are also very relevant information material for private people who own gardens or land on which they sow or plant.
Good to Know
Consider a strategy which accounts for both invasive species (species that clearly have negative effects on the ecosystem) and non-native or alien species (which may or may not have negative effects on the ecosystem).
Include guidance on best practice for sourcing plants for NBS projects.
Promote synergies with existing species databases which exist in all Nordic countries.
There is a difference between non-native and invasive species. In some cases, non-native plants that are more resilient to drought and flooding should be considered in urban NBS such as rain gardens. It is important that experts are involved in assessing species and risk levels.
Context
Many restoration and management projects require introduction of new plants via sowing, planting or transferring. This is the case when a city wants to increase the number of urban trees, when there are wetland restoration projects on productive land, or when a municipality wants to create a meadow beneficial for pollinators. In the past, these practices have often led to introduction of invasive species, which can threaten local biodiversity.
Misplaced garden waste is another source of invasive species, and there is a need for education around this risk for both private garden owners and professionals. While the risk of invasive species increases with climate change, there are also grey zones surrounding the use of non-native species. Some non-native species are hardier towards the future climate in the Nordic countries, and the population may naturally even be migrating towards the Nordics as an effect of changing climate conditions. Moreover, non-native species may be especially useful in raingardens and similar NBS, as they may be particularly drought-tolerant or sturdy. The use of non-native species should therefore be a living discussion, building on latest evidence. It is important that experts are involved in assessing the use of specific species and risk levels in different contexts.
Examples and Cases
Nordic examples of guidance and strategies for plant selection in NBS:
#DENMARK – Guidance website on native species for Copenhagen
Copenhagen municipality has created a webpage with guidance regarding native and invasive species. The website is directed towards citizens in the municipality. It describes what plants are suitable under which conditions and provides examples of plant species based on a list developed by researchers at Aarhus University.
More information about the “Guidance website on native species” can be found here:
https://biodiversitet.kk.dk/hvad-kan-du-goere-for-biodiversiteten-i-byen/plant-hjemmehoerende-arter-og-undgaa-gift#NORWAY – Nature friendly gardens and guidance on local native species in Oslo
Under the headline “Nature friendly garden” (Naturvennlig hage) the Agency for Urban Environment in Oslo municipality provides guidance and information on how citizens can make their gardens more nature friendly by selecting native species, collecting seeds, create flower meadows, provide habitats for birds and amphibians, make compost, reduce the use of pesticides and also how to avoid spreading of invasive species. The municipality also offers
Among the resources provided is a guidance sheet with a list of native species which are found locally in the Oslo area. The list is written in collaboration with a professor in botany and can be consulted by public institutions and contractors for municipal construction projects, as well as by the public for guidance regarding gardens and other private land. Apart from providing a list of 654 plant species suitable for planting in the Oslo area, the sheet also describes common pitfalls and attention points for planting. Since it is accessible online, it can function as a good knowledge resource for anyone involved in a planting project.
More information about the Nature friendly gardens and guidance on local native species in Oslo can be found here:
Guidance sheet on local plants suitable for planting in Oslo municipality: https://www.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/13504371-1708084712/Tjenester%20og%20tilbud/Politikk%20og%20administrasjon/Milj%C3%B8%20og%20klima/Slik%20jobber%20vi%20med%20milj%C3%B8%20og%20klima/Natur%20og%20biologisk%20mangfold/Dokumenter/Stedegne%20karplanter%20egnet%20til%20beplantning%20i%20Oslo%20kommune%281%29.pdf
The nature friendly garden website: https://www.oslo.kommune.no/miljo-og-klima/slik-jobber-vi-med-miljo-og-klima/natur-og-biologisk-mangfold/bring-oslonaturen-inn-i-hagen-din/naturvennlig-hage/#toc-6
Guidance on how to collect seeds and create flower meadows: https://www.oslo.kommune.no/miljo-og-klima/slik-jobber-vi-med-miljo-og-klima/natur-og-biologisk-mangfold/bring-oslonaturen-inn-i-hagen-din/sanke-fro-lage-blomstereng/
#FINLAND – Finnish open access country-wide biodiversity data
Several large biodiversity databases exist, with the largest being the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (Suomen Lajitietokeskus, FinBIF) and the longest being the Plant Atlas (Kasviatlas, since 1960s) that maps the distribution of families, species, subspecies, varieties and hybrids of Finland's wild vascular plants. Information on the invasive alien species is collected and stored in another database at Vieraslajit.fi. All three databases support the integration with citizen observations and the FinBIF integrates all biodiversity data as well as receives data from the observations in iNaturalistFi. FinBIF works in accordance with FAIR open data principles and in cooperation with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Biodiversity data in the national FinBIF platform is available both in its original form as well as in the analysed form such as statistics, maps and diagrams.
More information about the Finnish open access country-wide biodiversity data can be found here:
Plant Atlas (Kasviatlas): https://kasviatlas.fi/
Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (Suomen Lajitietokeskus, FinBIF): https://laji.fi/
Invasive alien species: https://vieraslajit.fi/
iNaturalistFi: https://inaturalist.laji.fi/
#FINLAND – Helsinki Urban Plant Guide (Helsingin kaupunkikasviopas)
City of Helsinki has developed a Helsinki Urban Plant Guide (Helsingin kaupunkikasviopas) which serves as a toolkit for selecting plants for green areas in Helsinki. It provides information on selection of sustainable and long-lasting vegetation that is suitable for harsh Helsinki growing environment at the same time promoting the diversity of urban nature. The guide also lists the invasive alien species based on national legislation that are to be avoided.
More information about the Helsinki Urban Plant Guide can be found here:
Helsingin kaupunkikasviopas: https://kaupunkikasviopas.hel.fi/
Helsingin kaupungin luonnonhoidon linjaus [City of Helsinki Plan for Nature Management]: https://www.hel.fi/static/hkr/julkaisut/2011/luonnonhoito_web.pdf
Learn more
Webinar on selecting plants for rain gardens in Norway
is part of the webinar series “Naturbasert sone” by NIVA. The webinar presents methodologies around plant selection, invasive species, and other theoretical basis for making plant selection. https://youtu.be/HkyK7LnOGk8Plantevalg.dk
(“plant selection”) is a Danish information system on plant species and seed sources to support decisions for suitable plant materials in different locations. The system is open access and targeted toward “ordinary” users such as forest owners, farmers and hunters, but also plant nurseries and consultants. The system was financed and developed by The Danish Environment Agency and the center for forests and landscapes at the University of Copenhagen. The Nordic Council of Ministers and The Danish Association for plant nurseries also gave financial support to the development of the system. https://www.plantevalg.dk/Plantevalg.no
(“plant selection”) is a Norwegian database developed by practitioners and scientists to support decisions on what plants to use where. The tool includes information on plant characteristics, maps on climate conditions and more. Several municipalities and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration were among the test users before the database was launched in June 2024. The tool is targeted toward more “professional” users, but also students and researchers. It is only accessible for registered users, and the annual licence fee is 3600 NOK for one user. https://www.plantevalg.no/Conservation planning tools
CropWildRelatives is a project carried out across the Nordic countries by NordGen. Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are wild plant species that is closely related to cultivated crops. The project offers conservation planning tools for crop wild relatives. https://www.nordgen.org/projects/crop-wild-relatives/about-cwr-and-the-project/International Obligations
Ramsar Convention
Invasive alien species and pathways of introduction and expansion are identified and prioritized, priority invasive alien species are controlled or eradicated, and management responses are prepared and implemented to prevent their introduction and establishment.Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 6, Reduce the Introduction of Invasive Alien Species by 50% and Minimize Their Impact
“Eliminate, minimize, reduce and or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services by identifying and managing pathways of the introduction of alien species, preventing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive alien species, reducing the rates of introduction and establishment of other known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50 percent, by 2030, eradicating or controlling invasive alien species especially in priority sites, such as islands.”