BB Alien - Beyond Borders: Joint Efforts to Combat Invasive Alien Species

The BB Alien project is a cross-border collaboration between Sweden and Finland with the goal of preventing the spread of invasive alien species.

The project runs from 1 March 2025 to 29 February 2028 and is funded by the EU Interreg Aurora fund. The Swedish Maritime and Water Authority is co-financing the parts of the project carried out in Sweden.

Background

Invasive alien species (IAS) pose a major threat to northern biodiversity. IAS benefits from climate change and therefore has an advantage over native species, especially in northern latitudes where the global warming goes faster. IAS is spread both by humans and naturally through for example watercourses, and do not accept any boarders! Therefore, it is crucial with cross-border collaboration to prevent the spread.

Project objectives

The project objective is to conduct a cross-border cooperation for effective eradication and prevention of the spread of IAS. The final goal is to make a significant contribution to nature conservation and biodiversity within the defined project area.

Activities

• Prevent the spread of IAS to and within the border area between northern Sweden and Finland by targeted information efforts. Since IAS is mostly spread by humans, the key to limit the spread is to raise awareness of the pathways and the problems of IAS.
• Cooperate between different actors to successful eradication of IAS. We want to find the crucial elements for successful collaboration between landowners and other actors in eradicating IAS.
• Develop guidelines for cost-effective management of mink.
• Enhance collaboration and information sharing towards better management of IAS by developing the Nordic IAS network for IAS professionals, a platform established in the Barents IAS project in 2022.

The project will engage the public, municipalities, private landowners, fishing and hunting associations, schools and policymakers.

Partners and financiers

The project is financed by the EU Interreg Aurora fund, and by the partners participating in the project. The Swedish Marine and Water Authority is a co-financier for the parts of the project carried out in Sweden.
Project partners are:

• Norrbotten County Administrative Board (Lead partner EU)
• Swedish Hunters' Association
• Metsähallitus (Finland)
• LUKE (Finland)
  

Agenda 2030 - sustainable development goals

• Life on land (priority 1)
• Climate action (priority 2)
• Lift below water (priority 2)
• Responsible consumption and production (priority 2)