Description:
In the past ten years, invasive alien species (IAS) have been the target of several European Union (EU) legislative acts (e.g., Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, Regulation (EU) 1143/2014). The prevention and reduction of new introductions and the management of established IAS are key commitments to defend biodiversity, in line with the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 objectives. IAS establishment is at the interface between the initial introduction of a species and its spread into the ecological community. This transitional phase is very difficult to detect because IAS data is limited in time and space by the lack of monitoring capacity and reporting bias. To this end, integrating spatial techniques with biological knowledge may help identifying hotspots of IAS establishment, assisting the identification of areas to be prioritized for action. This report provides an analysis and a synthesis of the state of current knowledge on the distribution of IAS of Union concern (IAS of UC), i.e. IAS listed according to the Regulation (EU) 1143/2014. It describes their spatiotemporal trends, using unique and Europe-wide data gathered by the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN). It combines spatial and temporal techniques with species specific biological knowledge to identify areas of establishment supporting management prioritization and planning. The primary aim is to support policy monitoring and implementation, by assisting the identification of gaps and actions that need reinforcement, also creating awareness on the distribution of IAS of UC.