Testing and piloting a variety of IAS management and control strategies is crucial for developing experience and know-how. For this purpose, IAS management frameworks, i.e., IAS Management Plans, have been developed at four pilot sites of the project. The implementation of management plans has been initiated starting from Ayvalık Islands in 2023 and will be completed at all pilot sites by the end of 2024.

MarIAS project has also developed Harvest Incentive Programs for the Indo-Pacific origin lionfish (Pterois miles), Atlantic starfish (Asterias rubens), puffer fish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) populations, offering solutions on how to control them and integrate them into the economy. As part of the implementation of these Harvest Incentive Programs, a fishing derby and gastronomy event for lionfish, a diving contest to collect starfish,  and a community activity for removal of water hyacinth from the Asi River and along the Mediterranean coast at Samandağ were carried out. The lionfish derby in Keldağ was followed by a tasting of different lionfish recipes, in an effort to popularize the hunting and consumption of lionfish among Hatay residents. Local divers participated in a small-scale tournament, competing to collect as many starfish as possible from the shores of the Marmara Islands, and the winners were rewarded with a scuba dive computer, a dive bag, and a dive torch. The community water hyacinth removal event targeted water hyacinths, which block waterways and channels and also prevent sunlight and oxygen from reaching the water column and submerged plants due to their very rapid reproduction and spread, thus negatively affecting transportation, tourism, and fishing activities, as well as causing much destruction to the ecosystem and a significant decrease in biodiversity. 

MarIAS (Addressing Invasive Alien Species Threats at Key Marine Biodiversity Areas) project is committed to improving the country’s legal and institutional infrastructure to counter the threat of invasive alien species. In the light of this aim, a "By-law on Prevention and Management of Introduction and Distribution of IAS” has been drafted in line with the EU Legislation, and National Invasive Alien Species Committee and National Invasive Alien Species Technical Advisory Groups have been established under the existing National Biodiversity Coordination Board. 

To address potent threats in the long term, the project has also enabled the development of Türkiye’s first strategy and action plan to combat invasive alien species and restore the ecosystems they have harmed. The new strategy, which is comprised of 11 components covering 57 actions to be realized between 2024 and 2035, is aligned with regional, national and international best practices.

The objective (mission) of the Strategy is to coordinate and cooperate at the national and international levels on the implementation and measures concerning issues such as the introduction, detection, monitoring, control, and prevention/mitigation of invasive alien species. The strategy has been prepared within the framework of three main objectives under this mission:

1. Preventing the entry of IAS that harm all sectors, early detection, rapid intervention, monitoring, combating and preventing damage in order to protect biodiversity, ecosystem services, economy and public health;
2. Restoring or improving invaded habitats and ecosystems;
3. Supporting all efforts in the field of combating IAS on an international and national scale and increasing Türkiye's effectiveness in this regard.

The coordination of the National Invasive Alien Species Strategy and Action Plan will be undertaken by the National Invasive Alien Species Committee.

The cash crop integration component aimed to incentivize tree management by linking reforestation efforts with short-term income generation. Top-performing farmers, assessed based on tree survival rates and GAP training participation, were awarded cash crop inputs such as soya beans and groundnuts. These crops were selected for their adaptability to local soils, market demand, and ability to complement agroforestry systems. Farmers achieved an average 12% increase in soya bean yields (350 kg/acre) and 10% increase in groundnut yields (240 kg/acre), with incomes averaging UGX 1,050,000 ($285) for soya beans and UGX 900,000 ($244) for groundnuts. The inclusion of cash crops encouraged farmers to maintain their agroforestry systems, reducing tree felling for short-term needs.

The primary purpose of tree planting at community level is to achieve large-scale ecosystem restoration while enhancing local livelihoods through agroforestry. The project partnered with four communities to mobilize 425 farmers for tree planting, distributing 73,867 seedlings. Farmers were trained in Good Agroforestry Practices (GAP), including tree planting techniques, mulching, pest and disease management, and soil fertility enhancement. Tree species like Grevillea robusta and Agrocarpus were selected for their fast growth, timber production potential, and ability to improve microclimates and soil structure. Tree planting activities focused on degraded lands prone to erosion and drought, effectively addressing flood control, biodiversity restoration, and ecosystem loss.

The purpose of community-based permanent nursery beds is to ensure the production of high-quality, resilient seedlings for reforestation efforts while building local capacity. Each of the four project districts (Luwero, Mbale, Busia, and Kapchorwa) established one centralized nursery bed per location, equipped with essential tools, irrigation facilities, and trained nursery operators. Seeds were delivered early (December 2023–January 2024) to allow for the full growth and hardening process, ensuring seedlings met survival standards. The nurseries produced 96,423 seedlings of multi-purpose tree species, including Grevillea and Agrocarpus, which were selected for their adaptability to local climatic conditions, drought resistance, and soil stabilization properties. Nurseries also served as training hubs, where farmers learned good agroforestry techniques, seed propagation, pest control, and seedling management techniques.

This building block is to explain how I developped an App that allow fishers to contribute to marine science knowledge in Africa. 

Initially we gave fishers a pre-printed form to report opportunistic sightings they encountered. However, the form was getting lost most of the time. 

We decided to move to a digital solution. The existing App by then required internet to work and was just too complicated for fishers. So we thought we shoud develop an App that will be more userfriendly for fishers. 

We wrote the  algorithm (workflow) of the App and then contracted an Indian development company to write the code. 

Later we had to bring the development of SIREN back to Cameroon to reduce the cost of developement. 

We work with volunteer around the world that will continuously support with the development of the SIREN

This building block provides the essential spatial intelligence for PyroSense, enabling a dynamic understanding of the geographical landscape. Its core purpose is to identify fire risk areas, pinpoint incident locations, and visualize resource deployment. This is crucial for strategic decision-making, allowing proactive resource allocation, and response planning. 

PyroSense utilizes a robust Geographic Information System (GIS) to power this function. The GIS integrates various spatial data layers, including topography, vegetation, infrastructure, etc. Initially, baseline risk maps are created by analyzing factors, guiding the placement of sensors and cameras.

Upon detection of a potential fire by environmental sensors or AI, the system immediately feeds the precise coordinates into the GIS. This real-time location data, combined with meteorological data (local and satellite), enables dynamic risk assessments. The GIS also serves as a central operational dashboard, visualizing the real-time positions of all deployed assets, including drones and first responder teams. This facilitates optimal resource allocation and coordination. This critical information is then communicated via a web application to stakeholders, providing clear visual situational awareness and supporting informed decision-making. 

Whale-watching tour operators

SMART Conservation Tool software

Once plants have been collected, they are transferred to our conservation nursery for propagation, or to our seed lab for viability testing and storage. We are seeing increased effectiveness of these methods with freshly collected seeds and cuttings making it quickly to our staff. As many of these individual plants were not previously known, these actions boost the genetic diversity of ex-situ collections, providing a safe place in the face of environmental degradation.