"LIFE CONOPS" project (LIFE12 ENV/GR/000466) is funded by the European Commission in the framework of the programme LIFE + Environment Policy and Governance. The project is implemented in the EU Member States, Greece and Italy, including various regions in both countries.
LIFE CONOPS is based on preparatory actions including the analysis of current state of the problem, the analysis of climatic and environmental parameters influencing the invasive mosquitoes introduction and establishment as well as the socio-economic impacts of the problem targeted. In the analysis of the problem preliminary data on distribution and population abundance for IMS in Greece and Italy is acquired, contact with key stakeholders is established (such as ports and airports authorities highways authorities), the efficacy of the commercially available larvicidal products is tested against IMS to check their sensitivity and the risk assessment for Dengue and Chikungunya virus transmission is performed.
The LIFE CONOPS intends to build and implement in Greece and Italy the capacity of early detection of possible new IMS, therefore allowing for their immediate elimination from the area (before IMS establish on large areas as it was the case with Ae. albopictus) following the adoption of specific IMS integrated management plans.