The project IASON+ — Invasive Alien Species Observatory and Network Development for the Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Contextual Ecosystem Services Evaluation in Black Sea Deltaic Protected Areas compiled the report reviewing existing scientific and grey literature to:

• Compile data on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and Ecosystem Services (ES) within the project’s target areas.
• Support future monitoring, policy, and management actions.
• Provide a shared knowledge base for project partners and environmental authorities.

The document is divided into five main sections and annexes:

Introduction – Overview of EU IAS strategy, relevant legislation, and the rationale for the literature review.

Characterization of Target Areas – Detailed environmental, climatic, and socio-economic descriptions of five protected deltaic systems:

• Danube Delta (Romania) – Biodiversity, hydrology, habitats, and human activities.
• Danube Delta (Ukraine) – Climate impacts, hydrological changes, and socio-economic pressures.
• Nestos Delta & Vistonida Lake (Greece) – Vegetation, hydrology, biodiversity, and climate projections.
• Kızılırmak Delta (Türkiye) – Wetlands, flora, fauna, invasive species, and climate trends.
• Chorokhi & Kolkheti Deltas (Georgia) – Ecosystem types, IAS occurrence, and conservation context.

Review of IAS and ES in Target Areas – Summarizes known invasive species and ecosystem services in each delta.

Target Species Lists and Ecosystem Services for Monitoring – Provides tables of key IAS and ES indicators proposed for future fieldwork.

Conclusions – Highlights shared environmental pressures (climate change, eutrophication, land-use change), knowledge gaps, and the need for coordinated monitoring.

Key Findings include:

• Invasive Alien Species: Common threats include fish, plants, and invertebrates that alter local ecosystems.
• Climate Change Impacts: Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and hydrological shifts are increasing IAS establishment and spread.
• Ecosystem Services: All deltas provide critical services such as water purification, flood regulation, carbon storage, and biodiversity support, but these are threatened by IAS and human pressures.
• Data Gaps: Limited harmonized monitoring across countries; need for shared indicators and cross-border cooperation.

The review serves as a scientific foundation for IASON+ activities — particularly for developing harmonized monitoring protocols and identifying target IAS and ES for long-term observation. It emphasizes transboundary collaboration, data sharing, and climate adaptation strategies to protect the Black Sea Basin’s deltaic ecosystems. The full report is available HERE.