The Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN) has completed a pilot project for the implementation of the EICAT system, a tool for the control of alien species. The results have made it possible to be a management basis for future projects in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN) has completed the project ‘Assessment of the potential impact of introduced species in Spain: feasibility analysis of the EICAT classification system’. This initiative has had the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition within the framework of its 2017 call for grants.

Its purpose has been to analyse the feasibility of the EICAT system to be applied in the management of invasive freshwater species. As a pilot site, it has begun on the Guadiana River.

A training workshop “The IUCN EICAT system and its application” was held on the tool used for the detection of alien species. It was attended by 22 expert researchers and managers of the environment that allowed the evaluation and validation of the species, with tasks of information collection and application of EICAT categories to the species.

For the provision of the conclusions, two EICAT applicability and evaluation reports have been prepared where all the relevant information and results are collected. This information will serve as a basis for the management of invasive alien species and the development of EICAT assessments throughout the Iberian Peninsula through future projects.