PILOT : INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES CONTROL AND MONITORING

The pilot aims at developing a simple model for assessing invasion risk in Spain based on a set of factors that strongly influence the geographic pattern and level of invasion:

1) Environmental similarity, calculated from bioclimatic variables

2) Biodiversity similarity, approached through biogeographic information

3) Propagule pressure, estimated from data on trade, tourism, immigration, population and terrestrial transport network.

4) Ecosystem disturbance, measured from land use and fire frequency.

The model is expected to identify the geographic origin of the biological invasions that will likely affect terrestrial Spain in the next future, to provide a detailed generic spatial assessment of invasion risk within Spain and, eventually, to serve for a better management of IAS by increasing the efficiency of preventive measures.

It has been demonstrated that prevention is the most effective way to face the problem of biological invasions. Consequently, it is important to know the invasion risk in different areas and ecosystems for a better management of this problem. Moreover, targeting areas and ecosystems at highest risk makes preventive measures most efficient. The pilot case, by providing a detailed spatial assessment of invasion risk and by identifying the geographic origin of the biological invasions that will likely affect Spain in the next future, is expected to serve for increasing the efficiency of preventive measures and so to contribute to a better management of IAS. Sensitive areas, i.e. those with the highest risk of invasion, will be identified and mapped.

Invasion risk is assessed by quantifying climatic similarity (based on climatic distances) and ‘propagule pressure’ (addressed by information on tourism, immigration and trade) between Spain and the rest of the world. Finally, the degree of disturbance of the arrival ecosystems will also be incorporated, as well as the biogeographic regions of the territories that act as sources of IAS.

The pilot case is linked to prevention, which is both an effective and efficient way of dealing with the problem of biological invasions. Indeed, the pilot will identify the areas in Spain at greatest risk of invasion and the most likely source regions of IAS, thus providing crucial information for resource prioritization and for a much better management of these species.

For instance, more resources and sensible measures could be addressed to the survey of areas at highest risk and products coming from specific countries or regions. In addition, because of the use of public and periodically updated databases, a dynamic tool will be provided, with which future invasion risk assessments will be possible.

The main motivation for this pilot is:

• To develop a model capable to identify the geographic origin of the biological invasions that will likely affect terrestrial ecosystems in Spain in the next future
• To provide a detailed generic spatial assessment of invasion risk within Spain
• To provide a dynamic tool based on public and periodically updated databases with which future invasion risk assessments will be possible.To serve for a better management of IAS by increasing the efficiency of preventive measures.

The main KPIs of the pilot are:

• Surface processed: has of land monitored (related to the whole of Iberian Peninsula, Canary Islands and Balearic islands, approximate surface: 596.270 km2) using the methodology developed within the pilot.

• Invasion risk maps generation: Risk assessment at a geographical level with cells of 1 km per 1 km for the surface processed.

• Reports of risk level: at least NUTS2 level.

• Field visits saved: an assessment of how much fieldwork can be saved by using the methodology developed within the pilot will be performed. The goal is to save at least 10 % of field visits.

• Economic improvements: an assessment of how much money can be saved by using the methodology developed within the pilot will be performed. The goal is to save at least 10 %.