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Outcomes of the LIFE INVASAQUA project: an integrated approach for the prevention and awareness of aquatic invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula

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dc.contributor.authorLópez Cañizares, Celia
dc.contributor.authorOlivo del Amo, Rosa
dc.contributor.authorGuillén Beltrán, Antonio
dc.contributor.authorTorralva, Mar
dc.contributor.authorAnastácio, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorBanha, Filipe
dc.contributor.authorBrandão, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorBarca, Sandra
dc.contributor.authorCobo, Fernando
dc.contributor.authorVieira-Lanero, Rufino
dc.contributor.authorCasals, Frederic
dc.contributor.authorSánchez-González, Jorge R.
dc.contributor.authorPerdices, Anabel
dc.contributor.authorMachordom, Annie
dc.contributor.authorMiranda, Rafael
dc.contributor.authorOscoz, Javier
dc.contributor.authorNuma, Catherine
dc.contributor.authorClavero-Sousa, Helena
dc.contributor.authorRibeiro, Filipe
dc.contributor.authorOficialdegui Aladren, Francisco Javier
dc.contributor.authorZamora Marín, José Manuel
dc.contributor.authorOliva Paterna, Francisco José
dc.contributor.departmentZoología y Antropología Física
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-13T10:30:20Z
dc.date.available2025-10-13T10:30:20Z
dc.date.copyright© 2025, Celia López-Cañizares et al.
dc.date.issued2025-10-07
dc.description.abstractInvasive alien species (IAS) pose a growing threat to biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. These species lead to severe environmental and economic impacts by altering habitats, disrupting ecological processes and outcompeting native species. In the Iberian Peninsula, IAS represent a major risk to its unique freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, which are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions due to their connection to human activities and high number of endemic species. Awareness of IAS and their impacts among the general public and stakeholders in Spain and Portugal remains limited, hindering effective management strategies and policies. The LIFE INVASAQUA project (2018–2023), co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Commission (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515), aimed to support management, communication and the dissemination of information on aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula. To achieve this, diverse partners were involved, including universities, research institutions, an environmental news agency and NGOs. Key actions included the production of governance tools such as strategic recommendations and IAS priority lists and communication resources such as a traveling exhibition for the public and codes of conduct for stakeholders. The project delivered 98 training activities to over 2,900 participants and engaged more than 430 institutions and 246,000 people through 598 public events in Spain and Portugal. LIFE INVASAQUA significantly enhanced public awareness and transnational collaboration, evidenced by improved communication, increased social media engagement, and positive shifts in public perception, as revealed by 7,078 records of a survey based on a questionnaire on the Iberian public’s perspectives. These outcomes foster strengthened IAS management frameworks and support implementation of relevant European and national regulations. The project’s long-term efforts focus on developing and replicating actions with the greatest audience reach and the highest impact on public perception of IAS issues. Lessons learned include the importance of sustained public engagement, the need for continued stakeholder collaboration, and the effectiveness of integrating educational campaigns with policy enforcement for sustained success in IAS management.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.format.extent21
dc.identifier.citationNeoBiota 102: 377–397 (2025)
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.102.148744
dc.identifier.eissn1314-2488
dc.identifier.issn1619-0033
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10201/166089
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherPensoft Publishers
dc.relationThis study was conducted within the framework of the LIFE INVASAQUA project (Aquatic Invasive Alien Species of Freshwater and Estuarine Systems: Awareness and Prevention in the Iberian Peninsula) (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515), funded by the EU LIFE Program. Specific actions under the LIFE INVASAQUA initiative were also financially supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad (Government of Spain) and the Government of Navarre. J.M. Z-M. is supported by a postdoctoral grant funded by the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Social Fund Plus (CIAPOS/2023/129). P.A., F.B. and P.B. had the support of FCT through the strategic project UIDB/04292/2020 awarded to MARE and through project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associated Laboratory ARNET. F.B. is also supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology through an individual contract (CEEC/01896/2021).
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/148744/
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.accessRightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectBiological invasions
dc.subjectCommunication
dc.subjectFreshwater systems
dc.subjectGovernance
dc.subjectPublic engagement
dc.subjectTransnational management
dc.subject.odsNo relacionado con ningún objetivo de desarrollo sostenible
dc.titleOutcomes of the LIFE INVASAQUA project: an integrated approach for the prevention and awareness of aquatic invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
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