The project involved the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds working with the five South Atlantic UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) in order to build capacity for addressing the damaging impacts of invasive species. The five Territories involved were the Falkland Islands, Tristan de Cunha, St Helena, Ascension and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Background

Although only a small group of islands spread across a massive expanse of ocean, the South Atlantic UKOTs are extremely valuable places with diverse and unique ecosystems from the cloud forests of St Helena to the glaciers and penguins of South Georgia. The predominant threat to endemic invertebrate, bird and plant species in the UKOTs, are invasive alien species. Being only small islands and having small populations means that the South Atlantic UKOTs are restricted in the resources that they have available for dealing with invasive species. With the native species of the South Atlantic UKOTs having evolved in isolation, they are often unable to cope with the impacts of predators, herbivores and competitive weeds, among others, that are brought over from other islands or continental land masses. This makes them particularly susceptible to the invasion of alien species. Additionally, with invasive species paying no respect to boundaries of a local, national or international nature, issues need to be addressed at each of these levels.

Objectives

The specific objective of this project was to increase the capacity of the South Atlantic Overseas Territories for reducing the adverse impacts caused by invasive species in this region. This links in to the overall objective of conserving the native biodiversity of the South Atlantic UKOTs, therefore contributing to the enhancement of economic prosperity and quality of life for people living in the region.

Main Activities

Resources, training and manpower were provided for kick-starting invasive species control. In order to encourage continuation of the work following the completion of the project and to provide the base for a regional approach to dealing with invasive alien species, strategies and plans were also developed.

So as to target those issues that people felt were the most important, the project involved working with local communities and stakeholders in each of the UKOTs. A multi-disciplinary approach was required for addressing a wide variety of issues covering areas from policy to capacity-building and training. The focus of the project varied within each territory depending on specific needs. Invasive issues tackled in the UKOTs ranged from combatting invasive plants such as the Mexican thorn on Ascension Island, to attempting to eradicate mammalian predators, e.g rats and foxes in the Falkland Islands.

Results and achievements

• The completion of island-wide botanical surveys on Ascension Island and St Helena. This led to the rediscovery of Bulbostylis neglecta, a sedge endemic to St Helena, that had not been seen for 200 years.
• Island surveys were carried out in the Falkland Islands. Through these, new populations of the endemic Cobb's wren were discovered.
• Fox surveys and garden plant surveys were also carried out in the Falkland Islands.
• Botanical surveys were completed on Tristan da Cunha
• Training was delivered on Ascension, the Falklands, and Tristan da Cunha
• Educational materials related to invasive species were produced in the Falkland Islands,
• Through a visit to New Zealand, staff from the South Atlantic UKOTs learnt about aerial eradications and restorations from the Pacific Invasives Initiative and IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group.
• Border/quarantine staff training took place in the Falkland Islands.
• South Georgia saw the implementation of baseline plant and invertebrate surveys.
• Development of management plans for key invasive plant species for St Helena and Ascension were commenced.
• Support for working towards rat and fox eradication on islands in the Falklands was provided.
• A programme for eradicating wavy bittercress commenced on South Georgia.
• A review of the legislation related to invasive species for each Territory was carried out.
• A South Atlantic Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan was produced. It's aim is to guide any future work addressing invasive species issues in the South Atlantic.

Stakeholders

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Inhabitants of each of the five South Atlantic UKOTs
• Conservation Organisations working on/for the five South Atlantic UKOTs
• Anybody who visits the South Atlantic UKOTs for work or leisure
• Anybody whose activities provide opportunities for potentially invasive species to be introduced to the Territories, e.g. shipping or aviation operators.

Wider Significance

The South Atlantic Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan was developed as a working document for the South Atlantic community. The aim is to engage anybody who can assist in the prevention and management of invasive species in the South Atlantic UKOTs and thus contribute towards constructing a future for the islands and their inhabitants, that is more sustaianble and dynamic.

The European Commission’s European Development Fund (EDF-9) funded the project, awarding 1.9 million euros over three years.

Information Sources

The South Atlantic Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan can be viewed here.