GuardIAS

GuardIAS is a three-year Horizon Europe project dedicated to protecting Europe’s freshwater and marine ecosystems from the growing threat of aquatic invasive alien species (IAS). These species, introduced either accidentally or deliberately, can cause serious harm to native biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and socio-economic activities.

The project takes a comprehensive approach to IAS management, targeting all stages of invasion: prevention, early detection, prioritisation, control and public engagement. It combines cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, environmental DNA (eDNA), satellite imagery, underwater robotics and real-time monitoring systems to develop a robust early alert system for aquatic IAS.

GuardIAS is structured around seven interlinked Work Packages, each addressing a specific phase of the invasion timeline. These include enhancing prevention strategies, improving detection and monitoring, prioritising threats through AI modelling, and developing decision-support tools for eradication and control. A strong emphasis is placed on citizen science and stakeholder engagement, using STEAM approaches and platforms like iNaturalist to expand data collection and public awareness.

The project’s Learning Sites span diverse European regions and ecosystems, enabling the testing and demonstration of scalable solutions. A Caribbean site has also been included to explore global comparability and resilience to extreme events under the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework.

By integrating science, technology and community action, GuardIAS aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to biological invasions, preserve biodiversity and support sustainable ecosystem management across freshwater and marine environments.