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Operations to control Rusa deer and wild pig populations have been carried out in New Caledonia to limit the damage caused by these invasive alien species (IAS) to ecosystems, crops and water resources. The main aim of these actions was to protect the rainforests of the Central Mountain Range, whose environments are remarkable for thier exceptional biodiversity and their crucial role in maintaining essential ecosystem services, particularly those linked to the water cycle.

Innovative monitoring systems have been developed to measure the impact of the Rusa Deer on the undergrowth of New Caledonia rain forests and to assess the abundance of this invasive species in three priority areas of the territory. The development of these systems follows objectives that complement the professional control actions implemented within the PROTEGE framework. The monitoring aims to carry out an initial assessment and evaluate the benefits of the control operations, using tools tailored to action areas that are difficult to access and boast exceptional biodiversity. More than 80% of the plant species in high altitude rainforests are endemic to New Caledonia.

Des opérations de régulation des populations de Cerf Rusa et de Cochon ensauvagé ont été menées en Nouvelle-Calédonie pour limiter les dommages causés par ces espèces exotiques envahissantes (EEE) sur les écosystèmes, les cultures et la ressource en eau. Ces interventions avaient pour principal objectif la protection des forêts humides de la chaîne centrale, des milieux remarquables par leur biodiversité exceptionnelle et leur rôle crucial dans le maintien des services écosystémiques indispensables, notamment liés au cycle de l’eau. En parallèle, l’implication des tribus dans des démarches participatives, de chasse-régulation et de piégeage, visait à réduire les dégâts sur les zones de savanes périphériques aux massifs forestiers et sur les champs cultivés pour faciliter l’acceptation locale du projet et contribuer à l’effort global de régulation. Grâce aux formations élaborées et dispensées dans le cadre du projet, les compétences des communautés locales en matière de sécurité, de chasse-régulation armée et de piégeage participatifs ont été considérablement renforcées et mises en pratique aussi bien sur la Grande Terre que sur les Îles Loyauté de Lifou et Maré. Par ailleurs, la formation des premiers agents de régulation professionnelle du territoire a marqué une étape importante en permettant la concrétisation d’opérations de régulation inédites dans les zones prioritaires de forêts humides de la Chaine centrale particulièrement éloignées et difficiles d’accès, n’ayant jusque-là bénéficié d’aucune action de régulation ciblée. FICHE FINALE DE CAPITALISATION DU PROJET PROTEGE, financé par l'Union Européenne.

Des dispositifs innovants de suivi ont été développés afin de mesurer l’impact du Cerf Rusa sur le sous-bois de forêts humides de Nouvelle Calédonie et évaluer l’abondance de cette espèce envahissante, dans trois zones prioritaires du territoire. L’élaboration de ces dispositifs poursuit des objectifs complémentaires aux actions de régulation professionnelle mises en œuvre dans le cadre de PROTEGE. Le suivi vise notamment à réaliser un état initial et à évaluer les bénéfices des opérations de régulation, grâce à des outils adaptés à des zones d’intervention difficiles d’accès et caractérisées par une biodiversité exceptionnelle, plus de 80% des espèces végétales des forêts humides d’altitude étant endémiques à la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Un travail initial de sectorisation a permis mieux de caractériser les enjeux, les pressions sur l’environnement ainsi que le contexte socio-économique afin de délimiter les zones d’intervention prioritaires. Pour la première fois en Nouvelle-Calédonie, un protocole standardisé de mesure de l’impact des cerfs a été élaboré. Il s’appuie sur plusieurs indicateurs et prend en compte les spécificités des espèces végétales concernées et des contraintes associées à sa mise en œuvre. En complément, PROTEGE a permis d’élaborer une méthodeinnovante d’évaluation de l’abondance des cerfs, reposant sur l’utilisation d’un drone équipé de capteur thermique pour l’enregistrement de vidéos nocturnes. Un algorithme développé spécifiquement a par ailleurs vocation à réaliser automatiquement les détections à partir de ces vidéos, facilitant considérablement le traitement des données. La mise en œuvre de ce protocole pour la prospection de 4 700 hectares a révélé des densités de populations et des concentrations de hardes localement très élevées, atteignant par endroits des niveaux parmi les plus élevés enregistrés à l’échelle mondiale. Ces résultats fournissent des informations précieuses pour le ciblage de futures interventions et le suivi de leurs bénéfices. FICHE FINALE DE CAPITALISATION DU PROJET PROTEGE, financé par l'Union Européenne.

Water lettuce is a free floating aquatic plant in rosettes of green leaves, rosettes occuring singly or connected to others by short stolons whose origins are uncertain. It forms large, dense floating mats. The plant can adapt to life in ponds, dams, lakes and quiet areas of rivers and streams, but cannot withstand salt water. Still continue with observation whether it is to survive in winter.

Although the term biodiversity emerged from the pool of obscure jargon quite a few years ago, it is still enshrouded with significant ambiguity. At one extreme, some people use it as a loose synonym for nature. At the other extreme, some people reduce biodiversity to simplistic parameters, such as the number of species. Conservation organizations, both private and public, must navigate these waters with great care. They need to engage a pulic that loves nature as embodied in beautiful places and charming creatures - elk in a Yellowstone meadow or snow leopards on a Himalayan snowfield - while expounding the values of species and ecosystems that have "swamp," "rat," or "spider" in their titles. A the same time, to undertake their work in a systematic and rigorous manner, conservation organizations need to be able to quantify their goals and accomplishments. Some things are easy to measure, such as the areas of new reserves, but biodiversity writ large is not one of them.

The Common Myna Acridotheres tristis was originally introduced to the island of Atiu, Cook Islands, in 1915 to control the Coconut stick insect Graeffea crouanii but it has since become a pest itself. The Rimatara lorikeet Vini Kuhlii or ‘Kura’ was reintroduced, after disappearing from the Southern Cook Islands almost 200 years ago, to Atiu on 24th April 2007 from Rimatara, French Polynesia to create a reserve population due to there being only approximately 1000 birds left on Rimatara. Due to observations of mynas reportedly harassing and attacking adult and juvenile Kura at the nest, an eradication programme was introduced by Gerald McCormack, Director of the Cook Island Natural Heritage Trust (CINHT), in May 2009 to reduce the population size of myna birds to give the Kura a couple of peaceful nesting seasons to help establish a stable population on Atiu. A study by J. Mitchell of the University of Leeds in May/June 2009 estimated a starting count of approximately 6000 myna birds prior to the eradication programme. That survey was followed up in May 2010 using two strategies, the transect method and roost counts. Analysis of transect method counts, using the Distance software, estimate there are approximately 3128 mynas on Atiu. Roost counts were at variance with that figure and estimated only 1280 myna birds. The roost counts estimate of 1280 may be the most accurate because all mynas would be in the winter roosts for heat conservation from May to July alleviating the concern that females and young would be nesting away from the roosts during counts, whereas transect counts may involve recounting the same birds numerous times; a problem minimized by repeating transect counts twice daily and using different transects to cover as much of the expected habitat as possible. Only a limited survey of the population of Kura was possible during this visit to Atiu since almost all available time and logistics were focused on myna surveys. An estimate of the Kura population suggests there are approximately 100 birds, which suggests that since the 2007 introduction the Kura population is thriving on Atiu. However, comparisons with the exponential growth rate model of 184 birds suggest this difference could be due to myna bird harassment despite culling. A more comprehensive survey is recommended perhaps using similar strategies to determine whether the myna has any deleterious effect on the Kura. In July 2010 a new myna bounty was introduced and is proving successful as a further 383 myna birds were culled by the end of July. The Atiu Island Council may decide on complete eradication of the myna to give the Kura full advantage of living on Atiu in the absence of the competitive myna bird.

An invasive alien species are known to cause significant economic and environmental damage. Islands are much more vulnerable to the invasion of invasive alien species, and have higher rates of extinction. In the islands of the South Pacific, there are several species Polynesian land birds which are threatened with extinction due to invasive alien species and human interference. Without any intervention from humans, it is likely that these birds will suffer extinction in the next few decades. The island of Atiu in the Cook Islands (South Pacific) supports a range of avian fauna. In 2007 the Rimitara lorikeet (Vini kuhlii), also known locally as the ‘Kura’ was introduced to Atiu, to make a reserve population, as there were only approximatley 1000 left on the island of Rimitara, French Polynesia. There is concern for this species on Atiu due to the existence of the common myna (Acridotheres tristis). The myna is an aggressive invasive which is one of the world’s worst 100 invasive species. It was introduced to the Cook Islands by the government, with the intention to control the coconut-stick insect (Graeffea crouani), but is now a pest itself. A myna control programme on Atiu is being coordinated and controlled by Gerald McCormack (Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust), working through George Mateariki, and using funding from various conservation organisations. Poisioning is being carried out by George in order to reduce myna numbers, and a bounty has been set on the birds or for every right foot so that the locals can help as much as possible. This investigation aimed to estimate the total population size on the island to use as a starting count to determine whether the programme is successful or not. Two methods were used which included roost counts to find an estimate of the population, and a transect method using a Distance programme to estimate the number of birds per hectare as well as the level of abundance in various habitat types. The two methods had overlapping results, giving a total estimated range of 3250 to 8460 birds on the island, although it is more likely to be at the higher end of this estimate at around 6000 to7000 birds. Further investigation will need to determine any change in the population size, any changes in habitat composition as well as the impact on the native species, especially the effect on the Kura and its population size.

The Aleipata Marine Protected (MPA) Management Plan is a partnership between the Government of Samoa and all the villages of the District of Aleipata. Both partners have responsibility for the continuous implementation of this Plan which highlights a collaborative approach to the sustainable use and protection of the Marine resources and environment in the District.

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.