IUCN Save Our Species European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund

IUCN Save Our Species European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund is sponsored by IUCN Save Our Species (with funding from the European Union). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund - IUCN SOS European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund This initiative is co-funded by the European Union and will run until 2028. Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), CC BY 2. 0 Stop invasive alien species before they spread Invasive alien species (IAS) are rising rapidly across the European Union, fuelled by global travel, trade and climate change.

Funded by the European Union, the European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund provides targeted, fast-track grants to help conservation actors act quickly, supporting early detection, swift eradication and coordinated response before small-scale invasions become large-scale ecological and economic crises.

This initiative supports rapid, on-the-ground action aligned with the EU IAS Regulation (1143/2014) , the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 . and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including targets to prevent the establishment and spread of priority IAS.

Grant size: €10,000 – €50,000 per project Project duration: Up to 12 months Geographic scope: European Union (EU overseas countries and territories are not eligible, except the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira) Eligible applicants: Organisations operating in the European Union, including conservation organisations, research institutions and public authorities Focus: Early detection and rapid eradication of invasive alien species (plants, animals and macroalgae) at early stages of invasion Funding type: Fast-track grants for rapid response and early-stage interventions Call status: Open — application deadline: 10 February 2027, 14:00 (CEST) The call for proposals is now open.

Apply here. Invasive alien species are animals, plants or other organisms introduced by humans, intentionally or accidentally, outside their natural range. While harmless or beneficial in their native environments, they can become highly damaging in new ecosystems .

Once established, IAS can outcompete native species, alter habitats, disrupt food chains and water systems, and introduce disease. They also affect people, from health risks to economic losses for agriculture, fisheries, tourism and other sectors. In the European Union alone, invasive alien species are estimated to cause more than USD 28 billion in damages every year .

Early detection and rapid response are the most effective ways to prevent small incursions from becoming long-term ecological and economic crises. Acting quickly, before a species becomes widespread, can make the difference between successful eradication and permanent impact.

The European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund provides targeted, fast-track grants to enable rapid and effective responses to new incursions of invasive alien species across the European Union. Eligible actions must focus on the early stages of invasion by alien plant and animal species, including macroalgae, that have a high potential to spread and cause ecological harm.

On-the-ground coordination with authorities and local stakeholders to ensure timely implementation Rapid eradication operations to remove invasive alien species at an early stage of invasion Early-stage response planning and feasibility assessments to enable swift action Monitoring and verification to confirm eradication success and reduce reinvasion risk The fund prioritises interventions where rapid action is feasible and likely to prevent long-term establishment and spread.

Priority species for rapid-response action To guide applicants towards high-impact interventions, the fund highlights a set of invasive alien species where rapid response is particularly urgent. These examples reflect species with high spread potential, significant ecological or economic impact, and where early action can still prevent large-scale establishment.

Projects targeting these species or similar emerging threats are strongly encouraged. This list is indicative, not exhaustive. Proposals addressing other emerging invasive alien species at early stages of invasion are equally eligible.

⚠️ Impact: Smothers shellfish beds, disrupts aquaculture and fouls infrastructure 🌍 Where: Netherlands, Spain (Atlantic coast), France, Norway, western Mediterranean coasts 🚨 Opportunity: Localised infestations can still be contained before wider spread 🔁 Pathway: Boating, aquaculture transfers ⚠️ Impact: Damages wetlands and crops, outcompetes native species, spreads disease 🌍 Where: Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece and widely established across EU freshwater systems 🚨 Opportunity: Early-stage populations and isolated wetlands remain manageable 🔁 Pathway: Aquaculture, pet trade, bait release ⚠️ Impact: Displaces native crayfish and alters freshwater ecosystems 🌍 Where: Netherlands (confirmed), emerging risk in neighbouring countries 🚨 Opportunity: Still limited distribution in some regions, early containment possible 🔁 Pathway: Stocking, aquaculture, accidental spread ⚠️ Impact: Heavy predation on honeybees, threatening pollination and agriculture 🌍 Where: France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Germany (spreading further north and east) 🚨 Opportunity: Early nest detection and destruction can slow spread 🔁 Pathway: Trade (initial introduction), natural spread ⚠️ Impact: Damages crops and infrastructure, displaces native species, poses health risks 🌍 Where: Recently established in Sicily (Italy) 🚨 Opportunity: Very early-stage invasion in Europe—critical window for eradication 🔁 Pathway: Transported in soil, plants, cargo ⚠️ Impact: Forms dense mats, blocks waterways, reduces oxygen and biodiversity 🌍 Where: France, Italy; high risk of spread across Mediterranean countries (e.g. Spain, Greece) 🚨 Opportunity: Early infestations can still be eradicated before widespread establishment 🔁 Pathway: Accidental introduction with ornamental plants ⚠️ Impact: Outcompetes native vegetation in grasslands and semi-natural habitats 🌍 Where: Austria, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia 🚨 Opportunity: Local control can prevent further spread in sensitive ecosystems 🔁 Pathway: Introduced as ornamental and for beekeeping ⚠️ Impact: Blocks waterways and drainage systems, increasing flood risk 🌍 Where: Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France (localised but spreading) 🚨 Opportunity: Early removal of small populations is highly effective 🔁 Pathway: Ornamental planting, soil movement ⚠️ Impact: Predates and competes with native species, spreads amphibian diseases and degrades aquatic habitats 🌍 Where: Belgium (Douvebeek system), France (spreading north) 🚨 Opportunity: Localised populations can still be contained before wider establishment 🔁 Pathway: Escape or release from captivity Beyond emergency response, the initiative strengthens long-term capacity for invasive species management across the European Union.

Grantees benefit from: Technical guidance and expertise through IUCN’s global network, including the IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group and its community of IAS management experts Peer-to-peer exchange and networking , connecting practitioners facing similar challenges across countries and ecosystems Project and financial management support to ensure fast, accountable and effective delivery Call for proposals currently open If you are responding to a new or emerging invasive alien species incursion in the European Union, apply for support to act quickly and prevent long-term damage.

We particularly encourage proposals targeting priority species highlighted above or similar emerging invasions.

Apply now via the IUCN Grants Portal Watch the information session recording - June 2025 Watch a demo on how to use the IUCN Grants Portal Watch our webinar "Funding rapid response to invasive alien species in Europe" - May 2026 Projects supported by the initiative Check out projects on our interactive map Eradication of the Oriental turtle dove in its only non-native location in Europe (Czech Republic) Protecting native amphibians in Wallonia (Belgium) Rapid eradication of the red-billed leiothrix from a dune ecosystem in Flanders (Belgium) Protecting native amphibians in Flanders (Belgium) Protecting endemic lizards from invasion in Chania, Crete (Greece) Eradication and monitoring of hakea sericea in the Gerês Range (Portugal) Strengthening national capacity for lionfish control (Croatia) Removing hakea sericea from the Peneda-Gerês National Park (Portugal) Rapid eradication of marbled crayfish populations in Moravia (Czech Republic) Eradication of an isolated satellite population of the American bullfrog in a Flemish nature reserve (Belgium) Stop pavlovniji !

— Early eradication of Paulownia tomentosa in a protected urban forest in Slovenia Sustainable removal of invasive bamboo in Langenzersdorf, Austria Eradication of the raccoon in the Thayatal and Podyjí National Parks (Austria and Czech Republic) Early detection and rapid response to invasive plants in the Gesäuse National Park (Austria) Preventing the spread of Bunias orientalis in northern Italy Japanese knotweed eradication initiative (Austria) Elimination of Himalayan balsam from a biodiversity-rich urban stream site in Vantaa (Finland)