Alien species are animals and plants introduced by accident or deliberately into a natural environment where they would not be normally found. A small proportion of these alien species becomes invasive and has significant negative consequences for their new environment, as they impact biodiversity and ecosystem services, causing damage worth millions of euros every year. LIFE ATIAS (LIFE18/NAT/GR/000430) is the first coordinated effort to address this threat in Greece.

The project aims to establish an early detection and rapid eradication system for IAS in Northern Greece. Moreover, it will introduce a technical and administrative framework for the local eradication within and around NATURA 2000 sites, and the containment of the feral population of American mink (Neovison vison) in the wider regions of western and central Macedonia.