Residents are engaged in invasive alien species control through gamification

Janakkala municipality will procure the Crowdsorsa mobile application as a tool for invasive alien species control. The Crowdsorsa app, used in combating invasive species, helps gamify activities that can activate and encourage especially young residents to eradicate invasive species.

Engaging residents has been a central part of Janakkala’s municipal strategy for years, and in an increasingly tight economic situation the need for participation and for activating residents will play an ever more significant role in municipalities. Combating invasive alien species along the waterbodies of population centers and in recreational areas promotes residents’ outdoor activity and nature literacy while also offering opportunities to act for the wellbeing of nature. With Crowdsorsa, a new kind of “summer job opportunity” opens up for willing young people in invasive species volunteer work. Through Crowdsorsa, all residents have the same opportunities to participate in invasive species control.

In Janakkala, with the help of Crowdsorsa, the primary targets of control in summer 2026 are giant hogweed and lupin. Methods for controlling invasive species can include mowing, pulling out by the roots, or weeding. While playing, the player finds on the map already marked or self-reported invasive species occurrences, and records the occurrence on video before and after removal. The reward comes from the budget set by the municipality for the game, and the game calculates the reward based on the occurrence’s area, density and species. The play area consists of predefined land areas owned by the municipality, and a total control budget of 2,000 euros has been allocated.

You can read more on Janakkala municipality’s invasive alien species pages about, among other things, what are harmful invasive alien species.