Contact Information
Contact Information
Sarah Sanders,
RSPB,
The Lodge,
Sandy,
Beds,
SG19 2DL,
UK.
Tel: +44 1767 680551;
Fax: +44 1767 683211;
sarah.sanders@rspb.org

Mike Hentley,
Administrator,
Tristan da Cunha,
South Atlantic
TDCU 1ZZ.
Tel: +870 600 245.563;
Fax: +870 600 245 565;
Email: hmg@cunha.demon.co.uk
(note: please do not send emails with attachments to Tristan da Cunha)

Forum News 34 article: Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

Purpose

Tristan da Cunha island group are home to large numbers of endemic plant and animal species, some of which are globally threatened by extinction. They represent some of the least disturbed temperate island systems in the world, as well as supporting the most remote human community. Although almost 40% of the islands' area is set aside as strict nature reserves, with Gough and Inaccessible Islands recognised as natural World Heritage Sites, there is a limited awareness of the global importance of these areas, the rich diversity of species they contain and the threats they are facing.

As there is currently no field guide to the islands or their wildlife, the purpose of the project is to produce a guide that will raise awareness and promote the global importance of Tristan's unique natural heritage.

The field guide will be targeted at both the small local population and the increasing number of tourists visiting the islands on cruise ships each year.

The people of Tristan will benefit by improved understanding of their natural heritage. It will provide an educational resource to the school. Most of the revenue raised from the sale of guides will go to the Tristan Environment Fund to support future conservation work on the islands.

Outputs

1. A photographic field guide to the Tristan da Cunha island group is published.
   The guide will be full colour throughout. Text will be written by scientific experts on the islands and the various taxonomic groups that occur there, and edited by Peter Ryan. Illustrations will be largely photographic, augmented by maps and possibly some pen-and-ink sketches of identification features (e.g. sporangia of ferns)
   -3,000 field guides are published

2. Articles are published in UK and South African birdwatching and wildlife magazines.
   
   -2 articles are published

3. Poster to promote the Field Guide is produced.
   - Number of places poster displayed in UK, South Africa, Tristan and on Cruise Ships

   The field guide will assist in attracting tourists to the island so will contribute to the livelihoods of all those involved in tourism on Tristan, including tour guides and producers and vendors of local handicrafts.

   Most of the revenue raised from the Field guide will go into the Tristan Conservation Fund and support future conservation activities on the islands.

   The field guide will be an educational resource for local people and the school. It will strengthen the knowledge that Tristanians have of their natural environment and therefore improve environmental decision making.

   The field guide will provide an educational resource for the school. It will particularly assist in the delivery of the Tristan studies course and support field studies.

Objectives

The project will result in an increased awareness both on Tristan and internationally of the global biodiversity importance of the Tristan island group. It will assist in building support for biodiversity conservation on Tristan and provide resources to support future conservation work on the islands.

Means