Background The EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation highlights the benefits of preventing the spread of invasive alien species (IAS) in terms of biodiversity and cost. Increased public awareness and effective early warning systems and management are essential to this task. In Italy, there is a need for more public awareness of the problem, in particular of the role of the pet and ornamental plants trade, and more complete data about the rates of introduction and impacts of IAS. Objectives The LIFE ASAP project seeks to limit the spread and impact of IAS in Italy through public awareness and participation. Specific objectives are: To translate into Italian the European voluntary codes of conduct and guidelines for managing IAS and circulate this material to key stakeholder groups that can help prevent the spread of IAS (e.g. florists, horticulturists, landscape architects, pet shops, aquarists, anglers and hunters); To train personnel from public administrations in how to support the implementation of the new EU Regulation on IAS; To draft a national IAS blacklist in collaboration with the Italian scientific community and propose a set of priorities for the Italian government; and To train knowledge multipliers (teachers, conservation professionals, zoos, botanical gardens) about IAS and with their input to develop an information campaign focused on schools and the general public. The awareness campaign will make use of a range of media channels, including information displays in zoos, botanical gardens, national parks and airports, online activities (social media, website etc.) and citizen science activities using apps. Expected results: The project expects to achieve the following results: Adoption of codes of conduct and voluntary practices by the different stakeholders and target groups (500 hunters and at least one national hunting association, 500 anglers and at least one national angling association, 500 nature professionals (foresters, agronomists, landscape architects, biologists and veterinarians), 200 relevant businesses (hatcheries, aquaculture companies, pet shops, florists and garden centres), and adoption of guidelines on IAS management in at least four protected areas; 115 representatives of public administrations trained to apply the IAS Regulation; At least 50 scientists involved in drafting a national IAS blacklist and a horizon scanning/priority setting proposal for the Italian government; Training of at least 100 IAS knowledge multipliers from zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and museums, and a further 300 knowledge multipliers among teachers, academics and nature professionals; and 800 pupils and members of the public will have taken part in IAS information activities. The project’s actions will increase public awareness and reduce both the deliberate and accidental spread of IAS (with a particular focus on the sale of pets and ornamental plants).