Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN)

Wales Resilient Ecological Network

The Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN) is a pan-Wales initiative which has developed a framework for tackling invasive species across Wales. It has developed links between stakeholders who are taking action on invasive species, Local Action Groups in Wales and landowners.

 Local Action Groups  focus on reducing the risks and impacts of invasive species in their local area, for example, through direct management. 

WaREN also engages with the wider public to raise awareness of invasive species through effective science communication and sharing best practices.

To contact the WaREN team please email: INNSTeam@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

WaREN invasive species toolkit front cover

The WaREN Invasive Species Toolkit aims to support volunteer action and help you tackle invasive species in Wales. This toolkit is a ‘one-stop-shop’ and should include all of the resources you need, including information on: invasive species in Wales, best practice management, project planning, biosecurity and awareness raising.

There are lots of ways you can help tackle the threats posed by invasive species. This toolkit breaks down this information to help you protect our environment. You can download a pdf of the toolkit or view a summary of each section below.

Download our invasives species toolkit

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Management

Before managing an invasive species, it's really important to think about the follow three points:

Know your species - what are the characteristics, such as life cycle and dispersal methods of your chosen invasive specices?
Know your site - what are the characteristics of the habitat or environment – resource availability (e.g., light, water, etc.), level of disturbance, and sources of spread into the area?
Know your neighbour - who lives near your site? Who might be interested in what you’re doing? What stakeholders in your community could support your work?

Your management actions can all be affected and altered by the species, site, and your neighbours.

Good practice management

Here we have linked to good practice management guides for all of the Invasive Priority Species for Action in Wales. You can find good practice management information on species not on the Invasive Priority Species for Action in Wales list from organisations such as: GB NNSS, CABI and Invasive Species Northern Ireland.

Licencing

You may require a licence to carry out certain activities and manage some invasive species. Find out more about what licences may be required and how to obtain them in Management section of the toolkit.

Download our Invasive Species Toolkit

Local Action Groups

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are volunteer-run community groups set up to tackle local issues, such as, invasive species. LAGs play a crucial role, often carrying out work on the ground and getting directly involved in invasive species management in their area. Without LAGs a collective effort to tackle invasive species would not be possible. You can:

Find a LAG near you on the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat or
Follow our simple guide below to setting-up a LAG in your area.

Setting up a LAG

Begin by considering your group’s purpose (the reason you want to set up a LAG), aims (broad targets that you want to achieve) and objectives (how your LAG will achieve its aims).

To ensure your objectives are achievable, we recommend you follow the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-orientated (realistic and relevant), Time-bound) methodology.

Objectives can be further split into tasks; these tasks can be used as milestones to monitor progress.

Next you’ll need a name! Have you also thought about what members your group requires? At first you may not need many members, but as your group grows you may wish to consider having a member responsible for Health and Safety officer or database management. This allows people with different interests to join in.

Now it’s time to promote your group, find volunteers and keep them engaged! You can do this by:

Creating a Facebook group
Post flyers/posters around community
Link to other environmental issues
Don’t forget to thank people for their work!

You can find more information and download helpful templates, e.g. strategic action plan, governing documents and risk assessments from the project planning section of our toolkit. Or contact one of our project officers for advice.

Now it's time to get tackling invasive species!

Managing and monitoring invasive species

To effectively and collectively manage invasive species in Wales we need to:

Know where invasive species are, and
Know whether they are being or have have been tackled.

Surveying

Surveying is straight forward and used to determine what species are present. Surveys are often the first step towards invasive species control! Start by trying to identify the upper-most source of the invasive species distribution. Control actions can then be implemented working downstream.