Report prepared for the Experts Meeting Towards the Implementation of a Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN), 6-8 April, 2004. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Page 51
8/30/2004
European Research Network on
Aquatic Invasive Species
(ERNAIS)
Vadim E. Panov ¹ and Stephan Gollasch ²
Abstract
The importance of international
cooperation on the invasive species issue on
both the regional (Pan-European) and sub-
regional levels is well recognized by the
European scientific community. The European
Strategy on Invasive Alien Species, adopted
under the Bern Convention in December 2003,
aims to promote the development and
implementation of coordinated measures and
cooperative efforts throughout Europe to prevent
or minimize adverse impacts of invasive alien
species (IAS), including regional and sub-
regional cooperation in exchange of information.
European cooperation relevant to
aquatic species invasions resulted in the
establishment in 2001 of the European
Research Network on Aquatic Invasive Species
(ERNAIS),
13
which currently includes more than
100 experts (scientists, managers, and
administrators) from 27 countries. The
searchable online ERNAIS experts database is
available online at http://www.zin.ru/projects/
invasions/gaas/ernaisdb.asp. Facilitation of
international cooperation in research, scientific
information exchange, and management of
aquatic invasive species in Europe and
worldwide is a main objective of ERNAIS.
The future ERNAIS priority objectives
include facilitation of development of the
subregional thematic networks/information hubs
(Nordic/Baltic, Mediterranean, Ponto-Caspian
etc.) and, in long-term perspective, integration
into the Global Invasive Species Information
Network (GISIN) via development of the
European Information Network on invasive alien
species, based on subregional information hubs.
1
Coordinator, Regional Biological Invasions Centre
Information System, Zoological Institute of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya
Nab.1, 199034 St.Petersburg, Russia
2
(Presenter) Senior Scientist, GoConsult,
Bahrenfelder Str. 73 a, Hamburg, 22765 Germany
13
Introduction
The European Research Network on
Aquatic and Invasive Species (ERNAIS)
naisdb.asp) is mainly a database of
scientists.
Starting in 1999, the initiative was
stimulated by the Baltic Marine Biologist
initiative referred to in the report on the
Baltic Sea Alien Species Database. When
the Baltic Database on introduced species
became available, the question was asked,
“Who should be approached in the event
that a new invader is identified?” So a
database was created of all European
experts that agreed to be responsible for
certain invaders or invasion vectors.
ERNAIS has since received the honor of
being recognized by the European
Commission.
Structure and Content
ERNAIS is hosted by the Regional
Biological Invasions Center (RBIC) in
Russia. The RBIC also draws on the
resources of several other data providers
including the World Conservation Union
Species Survival Commission Invasive
Species Specialist Group’s (IUCN-SSC
ISSG) Global Invasive Species Database
(
the Global Ballast (GloBallast) Water
Management Program Information
Resource
History of ERNAIS
History of ERNAIS
1999 -
first discussion on the idea of ERNAIS, 16th BMB
meeting in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
2001
-
SIL WGAIS and
BMB WG NEMO initiated
a broad
discussion
of
the
ERNAIS concept, sending
electronic
“call
for cooperation”
to
the
known
European
experts.
Finally virtual network was created: ERNAIS web site
was open, listing around 50 experts by the end of 2001.
2002 -
searchable on-line ERNAIS experts database was created,
which included information on 101 experts from 27
countries by the end of 2003.
In
2002, the
ERNAIS was
first
recognized
by
EC (see
EC Report
2
to
CBD
2002. Thematic
Report
on
Alien
Invasive
Species).
In late 2003, role
of
ERNAIS in
European
cooperation
on
invasive
alien
species
has
been
recognized
by
the
European
Strategy
on
Invasive
Alien
Species, adopted
under
the
Bern
Convention
on
Dec.
1, 2003.
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