TERIAS

Project Objective

To ensure resilience of these ecosystems, the Project is aiming to get Invasive Alien Species (IAS) under control in terrestrial areas and inland waters in Turkey, in line with the EU Regulation 1143/2014. The Contract, including the preparation of a draft by law and the establishment of an inter-sectorial advisory board, will contain technical assistance and capacity improvement activities which encourage the analysis and development of Turkish legal structure controlling IAS. In this context, strategies, action plans and management plans will be prepared, trainings will be delivered, a database will be developed, management capacities of authorized governmental departments concerning the control of target IAS will be improved, and public awareness activities will be implemented. Additionally, pilot applications will be implemented to control population of target 6 terrestrial/inland water IAS in selected areas.

Operating Structure and Responsible Body

Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change General Directorate of European Union and Foreign Relations
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks

Target Groups and Stakeholders

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate for European Union Affairs
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Forestry
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Water Management
Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets
Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Customs
Universities
NGOs
Local People

Acceptance Date

17^th of January, 2018

Contracting Date

26^th of September, 2019

Starting Date

28^th of November, 2019

Duration

36 months

Budget

2.086.000,00 Euro

Expected Results

Prepared legal basis for the control of invasive alien species in terrestrial areas and inland waters of Turkey
Controlled/eradicated invasive alien species of interest
Improved management capacity of institution staffs
Increased public awareness

Target Species / Pilot Areas

Bur cucumber (Sicyos angulatus) / Eastern Black Sea Region (Artvin, Rize, Trabzon, Giresun provinces)
Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) / Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir provinces
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) / Lakes in İzmir, Antalya, Mersin provinces
Nutria (Myocastor coypus) / Meriç River (Trakya), Aras River (Eastern Anatolia)
Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) / Seyitler Dam Lake (Afyonkarahisar province)
Eastern mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki/ Acıgöl Lake and very small spring field and short spring feed streams (Denizli-Afyonkarahisar)

Project Activities

Activity 1-Legal basis for the control of IAS in terrestrial areas and inland waters of Turkey will be prepared
- Activity 1.1. Identification of Legislative Gaps
- Activity 1.2. Preparation of a draft by-law on introduction, early detection, prevention and management of IAS in inland water and terrestrial ecosystems
- Activity 1.3. Establishment of Inter-sectorial multi-stakeholder Advisory Technical Board

Activity 2-Each Invasive Alien Species of interest will be controlled/eradicated in pilot areas
- Activity 2.1. Identification of Distribution: Inventory of IAS of terrestrial areas and inland waters of Turkey
- Activity 2.2. Identification of main pathways and vectors for IAS
- Activity 2.3. Identification of impacts of 6 IAS of interest on terrestrial and inland waters
- Activity 2.4. Development of strategy for IAS in terrestrial and inland water ecosystems as an input for the National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) on IAS to define future actions on identifying priority habitats and species to be protected
- Activity 2.5. Development and implementation of Urgent Action Plans for each of six IAS of interest
  - Activity 2.5.1. Preparation of Urgent Action Plans for early detection, Rapid Response, Prevention, Control and Eradication of IAS in the pilot areas
  - Activity 2.5.2. Implementation of Urgent Action Plans
- Activity 2.6. Preparation of mid/long term management plans for 6 IAS of interest for pilot areas
  - Activity 2.6.1. Making socio-economic analysis for commercial species which are native to pilot area, produced and sold
  - Activity 2.6.2. Identification of site-specific measures to detect and control the spreading of IAS at the pilot areas in collaboration with local communities such as fishermen, local people
  - Activity 2.6.3. Workshops for preparation of mid/long term management plans for 6 IAS
- Activity 2.7. Restoration/rehabilitation of ecosystems degraded as a result of inland water and terrestrial IAS in pilot areas
- Activity 2.8. Improving the IAS database to be linked with Noah’s Ark National Biodiversity Database in order to monitor IAS in pilot areas

Activity 3. Development of Management capacity of institutional staff
- Activity 3.1. Preparation training programs
- Activity 3.2. Delivery of trainings
- Activity 3.3. Holding an International Scientific conference on inland water and terrestrial IAS (impacts, combat, control, and management etc. of IAS)
- Activity 3.4. Holding a national symposium on inland water and terrestrial IAS (impacts, combat, control, and management etc. of IAS)
- Activity 3.5. Performing 3 study visits for 6 IAS in EU countries to learn best practices at the Institutions including European Environment Agency
- Activity 3.6. Organization of training workshops for IAS issues that will not be covered in study visits

Activity 4. Public awareness activities
- Activity 4.1. Publicity Activities
- Activity 4.2. Organization of meetings for local people, fishermen, students, tourists, aquaculturists, media and press, etc.
- Activity 4.3. Opening Event
- Activity 4.4. Closure Meeting