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Purpose The project will aim to continue capacity building efforts within the new Tristan da Cunha Conservation Department (formed in 2009). The Tristan Biodiversity Action Plan (2006-2010) will be reviewed and updated, and management plans will be developed for Tristan da Cunha (specific areas) and Nightingale (whole island) through an island-led and managed process. Training will be delivered to Conservation Department staff and members of the Darwin team (Tristanians who received training in conservation work during a Darwin project on Tristan). Background The new Tristan Conservation Department was formed in 2009 with a staff of three (Trevor Glass, Head of Department, Kirsty Green, Clerk, and Norman Glass, Assistant Conservation Officer). The latter position will be funded by RSPB during the project, and the other two positions will continue to be funded by the Tristan da Cunha government. The Department has full responsibility for conservation management in the Tristan islands, where there are 11 Globally Threatened bird species, as well as unknown numbers of threatened plants, invertebrates and marine organisms. It is clear that the workload for these three staff is very high. During 2009/10, RSPB seconded a staff member (Brad Robson) to Tristan, primarily to implement the Tristan Invasive Species Action Plan developed in 2007 through the EU-funded South Atlantic Invasive Species (SAIS) project. During his time on Tristan, Brad was able to assist Trevor with many facets of his work e.g. work-planning, producing newsletters, improving survey techniques, and developing techniques for control of invasive species. He also worked to increase the capacity of others in the Department through training and mentoring, e.g. training in use of GPS, presentation skills, report-writing. Since the SAIS project finished in December 2009, the secondment has now ended and the Department's staff has reduced again. In 2010, the Tristan Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is due for review. According to OTEP project TDC602, the Conservation Department will aim to develop management plans for Nightingale and Tristan in 2010. With current departmental resources, this will be difficult, as the staff all have full workloads. This will preclude staff receiving training off-island, or participating in international meetings. There is no available, suitably skilled contract workforce on Tristan that could be hired to do this work. It is important for Tristan's sustainable development that the natural environment in the Tristan islands is well managed, as future economic development may depend on a healthy environment with plentiful wildlife. The Tristan Islands Sustainable Development Plan includes the objective of protecting and enhancing the natural environment, and specific milestone objectives of producing management plans for Nightingale and Tristan islands, and extending the availability of external support to the Conservation Department. The aim of this project is to provide an extra staff member to the Conservation Department for two years, to lead review of the BAP and development of the two new management plans. The process will be inclusive and include training and mentoring a local management plan champion who will then lead review and development of management plans in the future. These skills could be applicable outside Conservation, as Tristan moves towards a strategic planning approach in other areas of operation. A locally trained planner will reduce the need to rely on assistance from outside experts for future reviews of these local plans. The project will also provide capacity and support for Conservation staff (especially Kirsty Green) to participate in training off-island. During this project, opportunities to take up new project opportunities (e.g. cross-Territory projects) will be investigated, and any chances to increase the capacity of the Conservation Department, either through training or additional personnel, will be taken up. Outputs/Main Activities - Updated Tristan BAP - 2011 - 2015 produced
- New management plan for Nightingale and Tristan sites produced
- Capacity at TDC Conservation Department increased
Stakeholder Analysis This project has a high level of support from the Tristan Conservation Department, the Island Council and the Administrator. The Conservation Department already plays an active role in the community through the school and the Environment Committee, and through production of a Conservation Newsletter. These activities will be continued, and opportunities to engage with the community in development of the Tristan and Nightingale Management Plans, and in review of the Tristan BAP will be sought. It is intended that development of the new plans and review of the BAP will be a fully participative, island-led and managed process. In a small community as on Tristan, there is a unique opportunity to involve a very high proportion of the population in decision-making. Risks/Critical Assumptions Risk 1: Berth not secured on S.A. Agulhas for contractor (and family if needed)
Probability: Low
Impact: High
Management: The South African National Antarctic Programme will be informed of the berth requirement as soon as funding is obtained for this work, and with the support from Tristan Government a berth space should be available. Risk 2: Contractor doesn't fit with Tristan Community and Conservation Department
Probability: Medium
Impact: High
Management: Recruitment will involve Tristan as much as possible and aim to highlight any potential difficulties Risk 3: Contractor has to leave Tristan before work is complete
Probability: Low
Impact: High
Management: Recruitment will stress the importance of staying for the duration. If the contractor has to leave, RSPB will find a replacement Cross Cutting Issues Gender The project officer will aim to involve both genders in fieldwork and training opportunities Livelihoods Conservation work is paid on Tristan through ongoing projects, so increasing the number of trained people will open this work up to new members of the community. The economy of Tristan is based on its natural resources (fisheries) so the conservation of its biodiversity is of fundamental importance for maintaining the community on Tristan. The development of a management plan for Tristan and Nightingale will seek to further diversify the island's economy through the promotion of wildlife tourism. Wider Significance (MEAs) Convention on Biological Diversity Island biodiversity is one of seven 'thematic programmes'. In particular, Article 8. In-situ Conservation. Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:&. (f) promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies The Tristan government has already developed a Biodiversity Action Plan which sets out detailed actions and objectives for conservation of Tristan's natural environment. This project would directly contribute to achieving the objectives of the Plan, and to its review in 2010/11. Convention on Migratory Species: Agreement on Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) ACAP is highly relevant to Tristan, because the Territory holds significant populations of five longline-affected seabird species, of which three are endemic. Atlantic yellow-nosed albatrosses still breed in significant numbers on Tristan and Nightingale. The Action Plan that forms Annex 2 of ACAP notes the following. 2.2.1 Where feasible, the Parties shall give protection to the breeding sites of albatrosses and petrels, using existing mechanisms where available. For all such protected areas, the Parties shall endeavor to develop and implement management plans and take other actions which maintain and enhance the conservation status of the species, including inter alia the prevention of habitat degradation, the reduction of disturbance to habitats and the minimisation or elimination of damage by introduced non-native animals, plants, hybrids or disease-causing organisms. The Tristan Islands Sustainable Development Plan includes the objective of protecting and enhancing the natural environment, and specific milestone objectives of producing management plans for Nightingale and Tristan islands, and extending the availability of external support to the Conservation Department. Environment Charter This project will support implementation of Commitments under Tristan's Environment Charter, particularly Commitments 1 (Bring together& a forum to formulate a detailed strategy for action), 2 (Ensure the protection of key habitats, species and landscape features), and 6 (Implement obligations under MEAs). Other Information Funded by FCO/DFID Overseas Territories Environment Programme, 2010, project no TDC 701
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