Within the scope of its title European Green Capital 2016 the City of Ljubljana is launching a socially responsible campaign »Gloves on!« to emphasize the importance of timely removal of harmful ambrosia.

In May 2015, the participants of a creative play designed a pattern for work gloves which will become the emblem of the communication campaign shedding light on the ambrosia issue.

67 patterns created during the play were submitted and 10 finalists were selected by a jury. The winning pattern was designed by Blaž Jakelj. His work will be made public, he will be cited as the author and the word on his creativity will be spread wide and far. At the announcement of the winning pattern Blaž received the main prize – the Urbana city card for a year of comfortable travelling with LPP buses valid for 2016 when Ljubljana is the holder of the title European Green Capital.

With their participation in the creative play the designers contributed to the socially responsible communication campaign on environmental issues facing not only the City of Ljubljana and the Ljubljana Urban Region but most of Slovenia as well.

The activities of the City of Ljubljana in the area of ambrosia removal

In 2012, 1414 ambrosia populations were recorded on surfaces accessible to public in the wider area of Ljubljana, spread almost all over the mapped area. On the land of the City of Ljubljana 357 ambrosia populations were recorded which are being removed in cooperation with a contractor, and in 2013 and 2014 work of general interest was also performed.

Having noticed that citizens often do not recognise ambrosia we have, already in 2011, started organising educational and work campaigns for ambrosia removal where the participants are shown the plant in nature and are educated on its effects on the health of humans, the removal methods and appropriate ways of disposal. In city districts lectures are held, the exhibition »Non-native Species – the Disregarded Threat« is hosted and free of charge walks are organised to warn the citizens about other non-native plants and educate them on how to recognise them as well as how they should be removed and disposed of.