Life Riparias Reaching Tender

Duration 01-JAN-2021 to 31-DEC -2026Total budget 7010389.00 EU contribution 3855714.00 Project descriptionBackgroundInvasive alien species IAS are recognised as one of the major threats to biodiversity in Europe. In Belgium 13 plant and five crayfish species included in the EUs List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern are already established or will soon become established in riparian and aquatic ecosystems resulting in severe damage. Previously management decisions on the invasive species and areas toprioritise were made in an ad hoc fashion mainly due to the diversity of actors involved and the fragmented nature of available data sources. An overarching data-driven and efficient workflow for decision-making based on clear criteria and feasibility for IAS management is lacking. A coherent replicable and transparent workflow for decision-making is needed to take IAS management to the next level.ObjectivesThe LIFE RIPARIAS project aims to develop an innovative evidence-based workflow for decision-making on IAS management translating national management objectives into concrete actions by maximising the cost effectiveness of management. This will be piloted in the Dijle Mark and Zenne river basins of the Scheldt river basin district after which it will be made available for IAS management across Belgium and other EU Member States.Specifically the project will seek to Improve data flows from surveillance systems to regional IAS managers by ensuring systems interoperability and enhancing surveillance including for alert species and species not yet listed at EU level. This will allow for rapid eradication of emerging species and cost-effective containment of widespread species Develop clear guidelines and objective criteria for prioritising management actions for aquatic and riparian IAS and apply priority actions in the pilot river basins Dijle almost 130 000 ha Mark nearly 18 000 ha and Zenne over 115 000 ha Improve data flows from management actions to policymakers by monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of IAS management in support of reporting obligations pursuant to Article 24 of the EUs IAS Regulation and Promote replication of the evidence-based workflow for decision-making on IAS management in Europe thus contributing to EU-wide implementation of the IAS Regulation and 2020 biodiversity strategy target 5 and to improving the transfer of experience and best practices of IAS management.ResultsExpected results Increase in the detection rate of emerging and widespread IAS by 200 and 100 respectively in the river basins of Dijle nearly 130 000 ha Mark almost 18 000 ha and Zenne over 115 000 ha Full eradication of 15 isolated populations of the following emerging invasive species fanwort Cabomba caroliniana Persian hogweed Heracleum persicum Sosnowskys hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi curly waterweed Lagarosiphon major