Who would have thought that palm trees would be a problem in Switzerland?
The Chinese Windmill Palm was brought to Europe in the 1830s – where it has found a home.
Now it’s spread in canton Ticino is worrying officials – and the chainsaws need to come out.
The Federal Office of Forest, Snow and Landscape Research says the woods in the southern canton are now like being in the tropics.
The experts say the trees are having a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. There are fewer local species around the areas where the palm trees grow and their fallen leaves pose a fire hazard.
There are also worries their spread will only increase as temperatures rise. Currently they don’t survive above 900 metres – but that could change.
The office says they need to be cleared out from many areas.
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