The resources listed here, although hosted on external websites, were either produced by IUCN, or completed with the oversight of IUCN, and provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on the ways to prevent, manage and mitigate the impacts of IAS.
The project idea of was to revitalize and manage the wetland habitats in the Special Nature Reserve “Obedska bara” by implementing a nature-based Solution (NbS), namely through extensive grazing by a herd of water buffalo. Managed by a local farmer, and in cooperation with the protected area manager (Public Enterprise Vojvodinašume) and the BirdLife partner (Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia), the problem posed by overgrown vegetation and reduced water flow was greatly reduced.
The main goal of the project was to clear up 25 ha of overgrown wet meadows, ponds, and forest edges by grazing water buffalo and to remove invasive plant species, creating “open water mirrors” and attracting more birds to reside in the area. The project also conducted activities to strengthen and raise the awareness of the local community about the importance of preserving wetland habitats.
In 1995, South Africa launched one of its most progressive job creation initiatives: the Working for Water programme. It focused on protecting ecosystems by removing invasive vegetation from mountain catchment areas while creating jobs and reducing poverty in vulnerable communities. The programme has since created thousands of jobs and supported families across diverse landscapes. However, a key challenge has been the limited transfer of business, finance, and technology skills to participants. The Grasshopper Tool—a web and mobile application—helps address this by enabling contractors to manage projects, field teams, tools, and equipment. It also allows them to generate quotes and invoices for ongoing and new work opportunities, reducing reliance on paper. Additionally, the tool is also meant to support conservation agencies in managing large teams and projects efficiently.
Eradication of the neophyte Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) was a successful joint project of two bordering national parks Thayatal (AT) and Podyjí (CZ) that led to a significant decrease of Himalayan balsam plants in the river valley and return of native plants. The most important success factors were the common approach to river valley management, access to both river banks by Czech staff, change in management of river valley meadows, and ongoing joint monitoring in the river valley.
The invasion and proliferation of lionfish threatens biodiversity in the Wider Caribbean Region. A strategic plan for their control provides a framework to address the invasion with a concerted approach across political and geographical boundaries. Cooperation is promoted among governments, reef-reliant industries, civil society and academia. A transboundary research and monitoring agenda is coupled with local action plans, information campaigns and the adaptation of policy guidelines.
The Indo-Pacific lionfish is a major threat to Caribbean reefs. Blue Ventures is pioneering efforts to build Belize’s lionfish fishery, creating an economic incentive for the sustained removal of this invasive species while providing an alternative target for fishers and promoting associated cottage industries, reducing dependency on traditionally targeted fisheries. This effort is supported by an integrated lionfish control strategy, which helps to avoid unintended outcomes, and also details alternative targeted removal methods for sites where fishing is not permitted or practical.
Montecristo Island, nature reserve in the Tuscan Archipelago NP, hosts a relevant population of breeding Yelkouan Shearwaters, Puffinus yelkouan. The main local threat that had been identified was rat predation. Black rats, Rattus rattus, were also believed to affect negatively rejuvenation of plant communities in particular the holm oak stands. Project Life08 NAT/IT/353 Montecristo 2010 included a large action of rat eradication carried out in winter 2011/12. Activities started in 2010 with preliminary tests and protocol definition for toxic bait amounts and delivery. The latter rodenticide distribution took place from helicopter, except in a 25 ha area treated by bait stations. In the following breeding season, 2-6 months after bait delivery, positive consequences were already observed, such as a shearwater maximum productivity recorded for 95% of pairs, and from next autumn no impact was observed on oak seeds. After prolonged monitoring, the island was declared rat free in 2016.
The report Biofouling Management for Recreational Boating: Recommendations for improved biosecurity to prevent the introduction and spread of Invasive Aquatic Species was written by William Jonathan Michael Yonge, Senior Consultant, Earth to Ocean, with contributions, editorial review, comments and inputs from Udo Kleinitz, Secretary General and Julian Hunter, Head of Sustainability, ICOMIA; Kevin Smith, Senior Programme Officer Biodiversity Data Impact and Influence, IUCN; Dan Reading, former Head of Sustainability and Alexandra Rickham, Head of Sustainability, World Sailing; Lilia Khodjet El Khil, Project Technical Manager; John Alonso, Project Technical Analyst, GloFouling Partnerships Project, the Department of Partnerships and Projects, IMO; and Teo Karayannis, Head of Marine Biosafety, Marine Environment Division, IMO. Great thanks are also due to Violeta Luque, Senior Project Assistant; and Jurga Shaule, Project Assistant, GloFouling Partnerships project, the Department of Partnerships and Projects, IMO, who provided coordination and editing support to produce this report.
Invasive alien species (IAS) have been identified as one of the most important direct drivers of biodiversity loss and change in ecosystem services. Several strategies have been developed and implemented (e.g. eradication, control, containment) yet prevention is unanimously acknowledged as the best available management option.
Guidelines and codes of conduct were developed to build awareness among the relevant professional sectors, prevent introduction of new IAS, the spread of those already established, and their ethical management.
Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, and the way we live.
The DG ENVIRONMENT of European Commission launched in 2022 an initiative to raise awareness on IAS amongst stakeholders and citizens, which entailed workshops in several EU countries and consensus on key messages. A package of information material was produced.
Here you can find posters, animations and other resources for raising awareness about IAS. Please download them for use to inform and educate people about biological invasions. We have also included a manual to guide you in communicating about this important issue. Thanks you for playing a part in increasing understanding of IAS!
The ISSG is a network of global species on IAS. It facilitates the exchange of information and knowledge on IAS across the world and promotes linkages between knowledge, practice and policy to inform decision-making. The two core activity areas of the ISSG are policy and technical advice, and information exchange through online resources and tools and networking. ISSG is currently working with partners on a global initiative, the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (GRIIS) (site is under development), which is aimed at developing national-level validated, and annotated inventories of IAS. ISSG is also working with partners on to develop a prototype online resource IAS pathway management – the Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource. It will include information on IAS pathways and legal information related to the management of specific pathways.
Competence frameworks are widely used in many professional sectors, helping to develop capacity by defining and recognising the required skills, knowledge and personal attributes. Registers of competences have been developed within the conservation sector. A global register of competences for threatened species recovery practitioners is a register of competences in the form of a directory of the possible skills, knowledge and personal attributes required by practitioners working in threatened species recovery programmes around the world, in both in-situ and ex-situ contexts. This register has the potential to transform approaches to capacity development within threatened species recovery and help improve the effectiveness of this branch of conservation. Its structure largely follows that of A global register of competences for protected area practitioners (Appleton, 2016).
