UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES CONSERVATION FORUM
Virtual Tours: British Virgin Islands
The Full Tour
Map
Introduction
Features of Natural Interest
Features of Other Interest, including Cultural
Threats / Problems / Issues
Projects / Conservation Actions
Opportunities
Organisations and Links
Tour Selection
Threats / Problems / Issues

Invasive species: Several invasive animals are causing significant problems and threatening biodiversity. The British Virgin Islands are globally and regionally important for breeding seabirds.Rats are a major cause for the decline in breeding seabird populations. They also cause immense damage to native vegetation. As a rat control method, cats and mangooses were introduced. These last two species went on to cause massive ecological problems themselves, especially for breeding birds.

The Indian Mongoose was introduced to the British Virgin Islands to control rats in the sugar cane fields. 


(Threats / Problems / Issues, 4 of 9 - Slide ref. 535)