

Search the SPREP Catalogue

10 result(s) found.

Sort by

Publication Year
Sort results by
Created
Sort results by
Updated
Sort results by

You searched for

Tags / Keywords management action-restoration
X
Collection Biodiversity Conservation
X

Managing Invasive Species to Create a Great Green Line of Defence for the Pacific

SPREP Publications, Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Menzies, Steve

Pacific Regional Invasive Species Managment Support Service

Managing Invasive Species to Create a Great Green Line of Defense for the Pacific. Controlling invasive species is one of the most effective tool for restoring island resilience.

Eradication of invasive animals and other island restoration practices in Seychelles: achievements, challenges and scaling up perspectives

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Rocamora, G.

In recent decades Seychelles has accumulated extensive experience in the management of invasive species and other island restoration practices. Non-government organisations (NGOs), governmental, parastatal and private stakeholders have conducted successful programmes to control and eradicate invasive animals and plants, particularly on small islands of high biodiversity value. Biosecurity protocols have been implemented to prevent (re)infestations. With at least 50 vertebrate populations (33 mammal, 16 bird and one reptile) from 14 different species successfully eradicated, Seychelles is the third country in the world after Australia and the USA for invasive vertebrate eradications from tropical islands, and the seventh when considering all countries. Twenty-four islands have bene?ted from invasive vertebrate eradications and other ecosystem restoration processes to create refuges for native biodiversity. About 470 ha of woodland have been rehabilitated through replanting and recovery of native vegetation, and at least 36 successful island translocations of native birds and reptiles have been conducted. This includes 16 conservation introductions or reintroductions of six endemic land birds (all but one threatened), two of a terrapin species and 18 of Aldabra giant tortoises. Recovery of native species and natural recolonisations have occurred on islands where invasive predators have been removed. As a result, four globally threatened endemic land birds have been down-listed in the IUCN Red List and dozens of other native species including seabirds, land birds, reptiles, invertebrates and plants have also bene?ted. Future challenges include increasing the proportion of the countrys land area free of rats and cats from 3.9% to potentially 15.4%, mainly in the outer islands, and 50% in the long term if Aldabra and Cosmoledo are considered. Factors limiting future eradications and translocations are discussed. Alternative conservation approaches such as mainland-islands are recommended for large islands, and the development of partnerships with nature-based tourism is encouraged to help fund further restoration.

Restoring plant-pollinator communities: using a network approach to monitor pollination function

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Kaiser-Bunbury, C.N.

Ecological restoration is a common tool to mitigate the loss of species and habitats, ultimately aiming to restore ecosystem functioning. Large-scale experimental evidence is lacking, however, on whether standard management techniques, e.g. the removal of invasive alien plants, indeed restore ecosystem functions at the community level. One key ecosystem function is animal mediated pollination. Based on ?ndings from an experimental network study on rocky outcrops (inselbergs) on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles, I present recommendations for conservation practitioners about how to incorporate a network approach into an evaluation of management effectiveness. Responses to restoration actions by plant-pollinator communities and pollination functions lead to several conclusions regarding the resilience of native fauna and ?ora and ecosystem functioning. Pollination network structure appears to be directly related to the quality and resilience of pollination services, which suggests that network analysis can be used to monitor management efficacy. I provide recommendations and advice to encourage the uptake of a network approach by conservation practitioners seeking to restore ecosystem functions.

Ten years after feral goat eradication: the active restoration of plant communities on Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Aguirre-Muñoz, A.

Cárdenas-Tapia, A.

García-Carreón, J.S.

Hernández-Montoya, J.C.

Luna-Mendoza, L.

Luvianos-Colín, S.

Méndez-Sánchez, F.

Puebla-Hernández, O.

Torres-Aguilar, M.

As the ?rst step towards the ecological restoration of its islands, Mexico has completed 60 eradications of invasive mammals thanks to a strong partnership between Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. (GECI), the federal government, local ?shing communities, academia, and private donors. The removal of invasive mammals has led to the dramatic recovery of the islands ecosystems. On Guadalupe Island, after completing the goat eradication in 2007, the native vegetation started to recover. Plants considered extinct or extirpated have been rediscovered, and plant species new to the island have been recorded. However, in order to achieve the islands full recovery, the active restoration of degraded soils and vegetation are needed. To date, GECI, in collaboration with the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) and the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), is implementing a 700 ha project to accelerate the restoration of the native vegetation communities. The project involves reforestation, erosion control, and ? re prevention actions on different plant communities: forests and sage scrub. An on-site nursery has been established, seedlingsmostly from endemic treesare being grown, and on-site reforestation planting has started. Up to June 2018, we have planted almost 40,000 trees, and will produce 160,000 seedlings during this year. Mechanical methods to control and prevent erosion have been used as we have installed more than 2,400 m of contour barriers, 57 m3 of dams, and rehabilitated ?rebreaks. The actions will continue: the long-term goal being the comprehensive restoration of the vegetation communities devastated by feral goats. The Guadalupe Island experience will be useful to inform the restoration of other Mexican islands.

Conservation gains and missed opportunities 15 years after rodent eradications in the Seychelles

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Accouche, W.

Appoo, J.

Bristol, R.M.

Havemann, C.P.

Millett, J.E.

Retief, T.A.

de Groene, A.

van Dinther, M.A.J.A.

van de Crommenacker, J.

The Seychelles was one of the ?rst tropical island nations to implement island restoration resulting in biodiversity gain. In the 2000s a series of rat eradication attempts was undertaken in the inner Seychelles islands which had mixed results. Three private islands with tourist resorts successfully eradicated rats: Frégate (2000), Denis Island (2003) and North Island (2005). Frégate Island was successful with the ?rst eradication attempt whereas North and Denis Islands were initially unsuccessful, and both required second eradication operations. All three islands have developed conservation programmes including biosecurity, habitat rehabilitation, and species reintroductions, and have integrated nature into the tourism experience. Conservation actions, including rat and other invasive species eradications, on these three islands resulted in the creation of 560 ha of mammalian predator-free land, the reintroduction of seven populations of ?ve globally threatened birds (GTB) and the safeguarding of two existing GTB populations and several reptile and invertebrate species. However, on these and many other islands in the Seychelles, the potential of this conservation model, where island owners implement conservation programmes largely funded by the tourism businesses in collaboration with NGOs (Non-Government Organisations), has not been fully realised. We review the rehabilitation on Frégate, Denis and North Islands from inception to the present, and assess factors that have facilitated the subsequent development of conservation programmes, the presence of receptive businesses and governmental/NGO/donor support and explore limitations on business-led island rehabilitation.

The recovery of seabird populations on Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, following the 1999/2000 rat eradication

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Bell, E.A.

Bell, M.D.

Morgan, G.

Morgan, L.

Ramsey Island, 259 ha, is ca. 1 km off the Pembrokeshire coast, south-west Wales. The eradication of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) was successfully completed in the winter 1999/2000 using a ground-based bait station operation. The pre-eradication survey using tape playback estimated the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) population to be 849 pairs. These surveys were repeated in 2007, 2012 and 2016. Each survey showed the Manx shearwater population had increased, reaching 4,796 pairs in 2016 with birds spreading from previously known breeding locations. European storm petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) were ?rst recorded breeding on Ramsey Island in 2008 with up to 12 pairs in 2016 (a minimum estimate based on accessible survey areas). Other species have also shown improvements to population estimates and range since the rat eradication. This evidence shows that there can be little doubt that the presence of brown rats on Ramsey played a signi?cant role in suppressing breeding numbers and limiting the breeding range of seabirds on the island and the positive results following the successful eradication are now being seen.

A Community-Based Mangrove Planting Handbook for Papua New Guinea

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

,

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), many coastal communities depend on mangroves for their livelihood.

Rapid recovery of damaged ecosystems

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Jones, Holly P.

Schmitz, Oswald J.

Background: Recent reports on the state of the global environment provide evidence that humankind is inflicting great damage to the very ecosystems that support human livelihoods. The reports further predict that ecosystems will take centuries to recover from damages if they recover at all. Accordingly, there is despair that we are passing on a legacy of irreparable damage to future generations which is entirely inconsistent with principles of sustainability. Methodology/Principal Findings: We tested the prediction of irreparable harm using a synthesis of recovery times compiled from240 independent studies reported in the scientific literature. We provide startling evidence that most ecosystems globally can, given human will, recover from very major perturbations on timescales of decades to half-centuries. Significance/Conclusions: Accordingly, we find much hope that humankind can transition to more sustainable use of ecosystems.

Report on Polynesian Capacity Building Restoration Study Tour to Auckland, New Zealand

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Atherton. J

Moverley. D.

Skelton. P

A study tour of restoration projects was conducted for seven participants from four Polynesian countries (American Samoa, Niue, Samoa and Tonga) between March 20 and 27, 2015 to Auckland, New Zealand. All participants are involved in restoration projects in their home country, most funded under the GEF-PAS "Prevention, control and management of invasive alien species in the Pacific Islands" Project. Seven restoration sites were visited, including 3 island sites and 4 mainland sites. The site provide a range of available management options including isolated open sanctuary islands, predator-proof fenced peninsulas, virtual "fenced" reserves and urban parklands.

Special Issue Article: Tropical rat eradication. Seabird recovery and vegetation dynamics after Norway rat eradication at Tromelin Island, western Indian Ocean. Biological Conservation. Volume 185, May 2015

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Available Online

Bastien. M

Danckwerts. D.K

M. Le Corre. M

Micol. T

Morey Rubio.C

Orlowski. S

Pinaud. D

Ringler. D

Seabirds are notoriously sensitive to introduced mammalian predators and eradication programs have benefitted seabird populations and their habitats on numerous islands throughout the world. However, less evidence is available from the tropics as to the benefits of rat eradication. Here, we report the seabird recovery and vegetation dynamics on a small coralline island of the tropical western Indian Ocean, eight years after Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) eradication. Two species of seabirds were breeding before rat eradication (red-footed and masked boobies, Sula sula and Sula, dactylatra) and, in both species, the number of breeding pairs had an apparent increase of 22?23% per year after rat eradication. Such a high annual growth rate cannot be achieved by auto-recruitment only and our data suggest that immigration from other source populations never occurred in at least one of these species. We suggest that it is rather due to a rapid increase in breeding success, which rapidly increased the observed number of breeders since birds remained in the available-for-counting-as-breeders group for much longer. Two other species, the white tern (Gygis alba) and the brown booby (Sula leucogaster) were recorded breeding in 2014. The former species has not bred on the island since 1856 and the latter has never bred on the island. Plant cover (monospecific formation of the ruderal herb Boerhavia diffusa) dramatically increased from less than 30% of surface coverage to more than 70%. Although the initial restoration project was to eradicate all introduced mammals of the island simultaneously, house mouse (Mus musculus) eradication failed. Mouse density was high 8 years after rat eradication (32 mice/ha in dry season and 52 mice/ha in rainy season) but not higher than at a comparable tropical island of the region (Juan de Nova) where mice coexist with introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) and feral cats (Felis catus). These results are discussed in terms of the direct positive effects of rat eradication on seabirds and plants and the indirect positive effects of post-eradication seabird increase on soil manuring and vegetation recovery. Overall, our results show that on tropical islands, seabird and habitat recovery can be very rapid after rat eradication and should be implemented as a restoration tool wherever possible.

www.sprep.org © 2021 - 2025. All rights reserved