Invasive Alien Species Observatory and Network Development for the Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Contextual Ecosystem Services Evaluation in Black Sea Deltaic Protected Areas (IASON+)

The project has been awarded funding under Interreg-NEXT. The project is designed as a continuation of the previous CBC-BSB IASON (BSB-1121) project. The project will last 30 months and will be led by Romania with Romania, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia as partners. The project budget is 1.396.112 Euro.

The IASON+ Project focuses on the impact of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) on Ecosystem Services (ES) in the Black Sea Basin (BSB) region and aims to address the common challenges and impact on ES, particularly in the Danube Delta, Nestos Delta, Kızılırmak Delta, Çoruh and Kolkheti Deltas. These delta regions are particularly vulnerable to the emergence and spread of IAS due to their unique ecological characteristics, including diverse habitats and high biodiversity. IAS can disrupt the delicate balance of these ecosystems, threaten native species and adversely affect the provision of ES such as water purification, flood regulation, coastal protection, fisheries and tourism. The overall objective of the project is to improve the management and mitigation of IAS in delta regions to protect and restore ES. The project aims to create positive change by reducing the spread and impact of IAS, increasing the resilience of ecosystems and ensuring sustainable ES provision in deltaic regions.

Outputs of the project:

1. Establishment of IAS Monitoring and Warning System,      

2. Develop Integrated Management Strategies and Action Plans,

3. Preparation of Capacity Building and Training programs.

Beneficiaries of the outputs and outcomes of the project:

- Local communities living in delta regions whose livelihoods depend on the provision of sustainable energy sources.

- Biodiversity conservation organizations and institutions responsible for managing and conserving the unique ecosystems of the Delta regions.

- Policy makers and government officials involved in environmental management and decision-making.

- Scientists and researchers interested in studying the impacts of IAS and developing effective management strategies.

- Industries and sectors that rely on ecosystem services, such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries and water resources management.

The project takes a transnational approach due to the nature of delta regions in different countries in the BSB, which is crucial to effectively address the challenges facing IAS in these regions. The planned approach involves collaboration, exchange of information and joint efforts between partners from different countries and delta regions. This collaboration enables the sharing of experiences, expertise, best practices and resources, facilitating a more comprehensive and coordinated response to the IAS challenge in BSB deltaic regions.