Monitoring invasive species in connection with the EU IAS Regulation: Coordination, preparation, implementation and follow-up

To meet the requirements of the new European regulation in terms of scientific input, the following tasks are being carried out within the framework of this project:
(1) Preparation, coordination, implementation and follow-up of the monitoring of potentially invasive species (in terms of both early warning and rapid response for non-established species and the monitoring of already established species) in Flanders (at least the European list and the national and/or Flemish list) and the monitoring of the management of these species and the results of this management. This includes preparatory research on the database methods to be used, the design of the methodology for monitoring Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their management, and the actual implementation in collaboration with the Agency fort Nature and Forest, and other partners. In this context, as with the conservation objective monitoring, it will also be necessary to analyse whether there are species for which monitoring and reporting is necessary in the context of the regulation and that are currently not being analysed either by volunteers or by other professional bodies. For these species, it is necessary to ascertain whether INBO should/can perform additional monitoring activities, or whether other initiatives need to be developed in this connection with partners.
(2) Provision of a contact point and coordination within the Flemish government regarding scientific research into IAS and their management, and regarding the scientific aspects of the implementation of the new regulation. This includes analysing gaps in scientific knowledge in relation to the implementation of the regulation.