News January 2025

Preventing new introductions through policy measures—such as import bans or biosecurity protocols—and ensuring early detection and rapid response are essential proactive strategies to prevent invasive species from becoming established.

Horizon scanning for invasive species allows researchers to anticipate future threats posed by potential invaders. This process identifies species likely to have a significant impact on biodiversity in the near future. In November 2024, 12 experts from INBO contributed extensively to a horizon scan commissioned by the DG Environment of the European Commission and coordinated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This process was enhanced by INBO’s expertise in data science. Using a data-driven approach inspired by the Flemish horizon scan for LIFE DUNIAS, researchers narrowed down a preliminary list of nearly 9,000 species. Only those species not yet present in Europe and expected to thrive under Europe’s projected climate conditions over the next 50 years were selected for further evaluation. For each species, the experts assessed three key factors: the probability of introduction into Europe, the likelihood of establishment and spread in the natural environment and the potential ecological impact.

Ultimately, just under 500 species were thoroughly reviewed by experts. Through consensus-building, a final list of approximately 60 high-risk species was compiled. This list will guide the selection of species for risk assessments and potential inclusion in the Union list of invasive species of concern under the EU Invasive Species Regulation.

This effort exemplifies evidence based nature policy, ensuring a proactive approach to safeguarding Europe’s biodiversity.