Outreach and suppport to the community of practice on invasion management

Invasive species management is receiving more and more attention in field management practice, and policy initiatives follow each other in quick succession. Site managers consult few scientific journals or have no access to them. Knowledge transfer must therefore take place via other channels, such as practitioner's days and newsletters. Management must be underpinned by good science, but there is often a mismatch between the research conducted and the knowledge needed in the field. Managers expect tailor-made, practically applicable information about methods and their effectiveness, but applied research on exotic species management is rather scarce.

An active community of practice, in which field managers, policy makers and researchers can find each other, can help reduce the gap between research and management. Policymakers learn about implementation in the field and researchers get to know the needs and bring their knowledge where it is needed. It allows site managers to exchange knowledge about good management practices.

This project includes activities through which INBO supports an active community of practice on invasion management. These include support for the ExotenNet partnership, which is supported by Ecopedia, Rattenbestrijding Oost-Vlaanderen vzw, INBO, the Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos, the Provinciaal Centrum voor Milieuonderzoek, the Dienst Waterlopen Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen, and De Vlaamse Waterweg nv.