Invasive Alien Species Project (TERIAS)

“Addressing Invasive Alien Species threats in terrestrial areas and inland waters in Turkey (TERIAS) Project” funded by EU was started. The Project will be executed by Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry, The General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, in consortium with Human Dynamics (www.humandynamics.org/en), the Finnish Environment Institute (SKYE) (www.syke.fi/en-US) and Cinar (www.cinarmuhendislik.com).

The Opening meeting of TERIAS Project took place on 16 January 2020 in Hilton Hotel in Ankara with participants from joining governmental institutions, Municipalities, Universities, NGOs, local People.

This project targets four main results: to prepare legal basis for the control of IAS in terrestrial areas and inland waters of Turkey, to prevent, control and eradicate and manage Invasive Alien Species of interest, to improve management capacity of institutions involved in the sector and to increase public awareness.

Field studies will be carried out for six species of interest which are on the IUCN the worst Invasive Alien Species list, are: Bur cucumber (Sicyos angulatus), Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), Nutria (Myocastor coypus), Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) and Eastern mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki). TERIAS Project will be last for 3 years.