IPS Monitor – A habitat suitability monitoring tool for invasive alien plant species in Germany

Abstract

Invasive alien plant species (IPS) are one of the major threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services. As the dynamics of biological invasions by non-native plant species are expected to intensify with climate change, there is an increasing need to provide accessible information on the distribution of IPS to improve environmental management programmes. Monitoring the probability of occurrence of IPS is therefore essential to limit their spread, as control measures are most effective in the early stages of invasion. This article presents IPS Monitor, a tool developed to monitor habitat suitability for IPS in Germany under current and projected climate conditions. Developed from previous research on IPS impacts and habitat modelling, the tool facilitates the visualisation of habitat suitability for 45 IPS through digital web maps and fact sheets. IPS Monitor acts as a bridge between scientific research and its application, aiming to support decision-making by conservationists, policy-makers and other stakeholders. It provides a scientific basis for developing targeted strategies against the spread of IPS and enables integrated management approaches by providing access to synthesised research and predictive modelling.