PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
About 50 000 American mink (Neovison vison) were deliberately released from fur farms by animal rights activists in 2010 in the regions of Kastoria and Kozani, Greece. Although most (approx. 35 000) were either captured or found dead soon after their release, a considerable number of individuals established successfully and have since spread in different directions following the Aliakmonas River valley and its tributaries, with records extending also to the regions of Florina, Grevena and Pella. The species has also been recorded in small numbers in important wetland Natura 2000 sites (SPAs),(Limni Orestias (Kastoria) and Ethnikos Drymos Prespon designated for the conservation of the near-threatened Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), pygmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) and squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides).
American mink is an opportunistic predator, with a wide diet spectrum, including aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial prey. Apart from direct effects on prey populations it also causes problems of food and habitat competition, as well as disease transmission (e.g. Aleutian disease). It can have a negative impact on: a) certain economically-important wildlife (i.e. ground-nesting birds such as rock partridge, Alectoris graeca) and domestic species (i.e. free-range chickens); b) other mammalian native competitors such as the European otter (Lutra lutra), the stone marten (Martes foina) and the European polecat (Mustela putorius); and c) small mammals such as water voles, and amphibians, leading to population declines following the spread of this invasive predator. Alteration of food webs is also likely to occur where the mink is found in high densities.
American mink is now the most common fur farming species in Greece, with over 100 mink farms in northwestern Greece, mainly in the region of Kastoria. Another deliberate release may have detrimental effects on biodiversity and the conservation of vulnerable bird species, with no framework in place for early warning and rapid eradication.OBJECTIVES
The LIFE ATIAS project targets the eradication or at least containment of the spread of the feral population of American mink before it can severely damage biodiversity in Greece, by developing early detection and rapid eradication systems, and applying management measures to eradicate or contain already established individuals. Specifically, the project aims at the: 1. establishment of an early warning and rapid eradication system for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) starting from regional (Decentralised Administrations of Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace) and local levels (Kastoria, Florina, etc.), which can be gradually built up to national level; 2. introduction and pilot implementation of a technical and administrative framework for the eradication/control of established invasive alien species through the application of best practices (innovative eradication and intense control methods); 3. establishment of communication channels between national relevant stakeholders in order to address IAS efficiently; 4. setting up networking mechanisms among stakeholders for monitoring the effectiveness of eradication and control, its impact on protected wildlife species and its socio-economic impact on local communities; 5. promotion of transnational cooperation for experience and knowledge exchange, and replicability and transferability of the project actions to enhance their impact beyond the project area and duration; 6. protection of biodiversity, restoration of ecosystem services and amelioration of the conservation status of vulnerable species in Natura 2000 sites of northern Greece, such as the Dalmatian pelican, swans, ducks and other water birds; 7. reduction of economic damage to farm animals and crops due to the gradual control of IAS feral populations, and conflict resolution between social groups through participatory activities; and 8. raising public awareness on IAS and their impact, the need to protect vulnerable and other important species, as well as to conserve the high biodiversity in north-western Greece.
The project implements EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien (non-native) species, by establishing an early detection and rapid eradication system for IAS and introducing a technical and administrative framework for eradication of American mink in and around Natura 2000 sites, and the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (target 5 aiming to combat IAS). The project is also in line with the Greek National Strategy for Biodiversity for 2014 2029.
RESULTS
Expected results: 1. development of an integrated information system (species database and inventory, expert registry, and black, watch and alert lists) that will incorporate all existing data for IAS in the project area, covering approximately 40% of the Greek territory and 100% of its terrestrial borders with neighbouring countries; 2. establishment of an early warning and rapid eradication system for IAS in northern Greece, through the development of relevant protocols, with the involvement of key stakeholders for biodiversity protection and IAS management; 3. improvement of the knowledge on the American mink population size, distribution, ecological requirements and behaviour as an IAS. Predictive spatial models will also be developed to map the most likely introduction pathways; 4. eradication of the feral American mink population in two Natura 2000 network sites through trapping and removal; 5. control of the feral American mink population in the regions of Kastoria, Florina, Grevena, Kozani, Imathia, Pella and Thessaloniki to prevent its spread to currently uncolonised areas, as well as to sites of the Natura 2000 network; 6. development of more efficient strategic mechanisms for community-based American mink management; 7. amelioration of the conservation status of species threatened by American mink (i.e. Dalmatian pelican, swans, ducks, and other water birds) through the removal of the unwelcome predator; 8. establishment of cooperation mechanisms between public administrations, management bodies of protected areas, gamekeepers, experts, environmental organisations and the general public to support surveillance and monitoring of IAS; 9. identification of potential introduction pathways by recording the distribution, capacity and establishment details of mink fur farms in the project area; 10. improvement of the response mechanisms of fur farms by setting up early detection systems in cases of escape or deliberate release; and 11. increased awareness among stakeholders, authorities, affected groups and the general public on the definition of IAS, their identification, potential impacts and need for eradication/control.
