European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN): supporting European policies and scientific research

Abstract

The European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN) was launched in 2012 to facilitate the exploration of existing alien species information and to assist the implementation of European policies on biological invasions. At the core of EASIN, there is an inventory of all known alien and cryptogenic species in Europe (the EASIN Catalogue, herein published), which includes information on taxonomic classification, pathways of introduction, year and country of first introduction, and native range in Europe. Spatial records of species occurrence in Europe are stored in the EASIN geo-databases, integrating data from many data providers and the literature. All this information is freely provided to the public through a widget framework, providing easy to use and flexible tools for searching and mapping. The EASIN datasets have been used for pan-European or regional assessments of pathways and gateways of alien invasions, towards the fulfilment of the related targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity and of European policies. Moreover, in support of the new EU Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in Europe, an Early Warning and Rapid Response System is being developed by EASIN.