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A report prepared by the Invasive Partnership for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, Palau July 2014 as requested by the Micronesian Chief Executives in Resolution 19-01

Successful invasion is often due to a combination of species characteristics (or invasiveness) and habitat suitability (or invasibility). Our objective was to identify preferred habitats and suitable environmental conditions for the African tulip tree Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae), one of the most invasive alien trees on the tropical island of French Polynesia (South Pacific Ocean), in relation to its distribution and photosynthesis capacity. Spathodea abundance and leaf chlorophyll fluorescence

Since the 1950's, 19 algal species were intentionally (e.g., aquaculture food) and/or accidentally (e.g., ballast water) introduced into Hawaii (Glenn and Doty 1990).

This paper develops a model of invasive species control when the species’ population size is unknown. In the face of an uncertain population size, a resource manager’s species-control efforts provide two potential bene ts: (1) a direct bene t of possibly reducing the population of invasive species, and (2) an indirect bene t of information acquisition (due to learning about the population size, which reduces uncertainty). We provide a methodology that takes into account both of these bene ts, and show how optimal management decisions are altered in the presence of the indirect bene t of learning. We then apply this methodology to the case of controlling the Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis) on the island of Saipan. We nd that the indirect bene t—the value of information to reduce uncertainty—is likely to be quite large.

Inthe1990's,LittleFireAnts(LFAs)founditswaytotheislandofHawaii,mostlikelytravelingwithashipmentof potted plantsfrom Florida.These plants weresubsequentlysold toconsumers along theeastcoast of theIsland, alongwithLittleFireAntcolonieslivinginthepottingmedium.LFAisnowthrivingandcontinuestospread.Fifteenyearsaftertheinitialdetectionin1999,LFAhasspreadtoover4000locationsontheislandofHawaiiandhas beenfoundinisolatedlocationsonKauai,Maui,andOahuIslands.Currenteffortsareexpectedtocontaintheinfestations on the otherislands but signi cant additional investment isneeded tohalt therapid spread of LFA on the island of Hawaii. Increased management expenditures can suppress infestations; reduce spread between sectors; and decrease long-term management costs, damages, and stings.| Animmediateexpenditureof$8millioninthenext2–3yearsplusfollow-upprevention,monitoring,andmitigation treatments will yield $1.210 billion in reduced control costs, $129 million in lowered economic damages, 315 million fewer human sting incidents, and 102 million less pet sting incidents over 10 years.| Over35years,thebene tsinclude$5.496billioninreducedcontrolcosts,$538millionlesseconomicdamages, 2.161 billion fewer human sting incidents, and 762 million fewer pet sting incidents.

On Tuesday 24th June 2014, the terrestrial section of the Division of Environment and Conservation received a report from Sooalo Tito Alatimu, a principal officer of the Forestry Division, regarding a complaint from a resident of Vailima due to an unusual seen of myna birds at his place. According to Sooalo, the complainant was shocked seeing more than 100 myna birds in his compound on Sunday and Monday in the early hours of the morning and late evening, it is very unusual and the first scene to happen while staying at Vailima.

Myna birds are categorized in the ‘starling family’, they are native to Southern Asia especially India, has many species and lastly became an introduced invasive species to many countries of the Pacific including Samoa. Specifically, there are two species in the country today, jungle myna and the common myna bird, both have different characteristics but brings harm to the environment and people as whole. In 1965, the jungle myna was introduced to the country followed by the common myna in 1988, under one aspect to control cattle ticks; however, it brought great impacts to Samoa’s biodiversity.

Flyer for the awareness of the water-lettuce as an invasive plant.

Invasive species is one of the greatest threats to Samoa's biodiversity, it damages habitat for native plants and animals, loss of subsistence resources, economic loss especially the health of people. Invasive species could be anything that is introduced to a certain area, thus cause negative impacts to the environment as a whole.