In May 2026, Janneke van der Loop took part in the international GuardIAS Workshop on Invasive Freshwater Plant Management in Ghent, where researchers, managers, and policymakers from across Europe came together to exchange knowledge and experiences on managing invasive aquatic plants. In her presentation, she discussed the approach and initial experiences within the LIFE-Resilias project.

Janneke van der Loop: “In my contribution, I explained that traditional control methods are often insufficiently effective, especially for species that cannot be eradicated quickly. Within LIFE Resilias, therefore, we are looking at alternative strategies, such as strengthening biodiversity and ecosystem processes, so that invasive species have less chance of establishing themselves or becoming dominant. The initial results are effective for several species, including Japanese knotweed, water crassulacean, and pumpkinseed. The method is now also being applied to other invasive alien species such as alien crayfish.”

“The workshop also provided many valuable insights into innovative management strategies, new detection methods, and the challenges involved in the practical implementation of policies. The exchange with international experts underlined the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in tackling a transboundary problem like invasive species.”