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Bacground Tristan is the most remote inhabited island in the world with a current permanent population of around 275. The people of Tristan are totally dependent upon the sustainable use of their natural resources. The island is the largest and most biologically diverse in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago with many terrestrial species which are endemic to the islands. Very little is known of the status of the native plants on Tristan (Gremmen 2009, unpublished) as only basic knowledge of broad habitats has been established across the island. The new Tristan Conservation Department, formed in 2009, has full responsibility for conservation management in the Tristan islands, where there are 11 Globally Threatened bird species and unknown numbers of threatened plants and invertebrates. With a total staff of four, the Conservation Department is stretched to implement the Tristan Biodiversity Action Plan and fulfil Tristan da Cunha's commitments under the CBD and GSPC 2011-20. While human impacts have been limited at the uninhabited islands of Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough, the main island of Tristan has sustained huge environmental changes. Grazing livestock have completely transformed the vegetation on the coastal lowlands which now mainly consists of alien pasture species. Concerns have been raised about the spread and establishment of alien invasive plants on the cliffs and uplands, and the negative impact of grazing pressure on native vegetation. The numbers of nesting seabirds have been greatly reduced, with extirpation of several burrowing species and the Tristan Bunting and Moorhen have become extinct. It is likely that changes in terrestrial ecology are occurring through the consequent reduction in input of guano with effects on soils and drainage patterns, and that natural seed dispersal and vegetative patterns are being altered with unknown consequences. More than any other ecosystems around the world oceanic islands are threatened by non-native invasive species. The long-term impacts of these environmental changes are unknown but a warming climate is likely to favour alien species that compete with the native flora and fauna. High mountains are particularly at risk of species loss as a result of global warming because there is nowhere else for the higher altitude communities to go. Accurate information on the status of native vegetation as well as the extent of threat from alien invasive plants is urgently needed in order to develop conservation strategy and implement effective biodiversity management on Tristan. The aim of the project is to set up and carry out a systematic, accurate vegetation survey of Tristan. The survey will include the rarely visited Peak (the cone of this volcanic island rising to 2,060m), the Base (upland plateau surrounding the peak) and the seaward cliffs (which abruptly terminate the base). It will incorporate information collected under earlier vegetation surveys (Wace and Holdgate 1958; Gremmen 2008, unpublished), but will provide a fully geo-referenced baseline from which changes and trends in the vegetation can be monitored at appropriate intervals in the future. The survey will be conducted using proven techniques adapted from the successful 2008 Botanical Survey of Ascension Island and St Helena. It will be conducted on a 1km grid-square level to map distribution and abundance of plant species with point surveys conducted at endemic plant priority sites. It will identify keystone and indicator plant species. Using GPS and basic GIS software accurate mapping can be carried out; in the future this data can be loaded onto a national GIS system when in place on Tristan. Data collected will inform the accurate identification of important plant areas for conservation based on the diversity of plant species and communities. This information will significantly contribute to conservation planning by enabling the global conservation status assessment of Tristan's native plants through the IUCN Red List. Bryophytes are a very important component of plant communities but are much less well known than other taxa. In order to understand the ecology of the plant communities on Tristan, this project will document both higher and lower plants. This information will be crucial for future habitat restoration efforts. To prepare for this, seed from native plants will be collected to safeguard the genetic diversity. Bryophytes will be stored using accepted methods until full identification takes place at a later date. The floristic documentation will include voucher specimens for plant identification with geo-referenced locations, supporting field notes and digital photographs. A duplicate set of voucher specimens will be lodged on Tristan as an on-island reference resource. Specimens will be digitised at RBG Kew and made available via the UKOTs online Herbarium at a later date. Digital photographs of Tristan's flora will be catalogued for use locally in plant identification. Outside expertise will be brought on island to lead the survey: Dr Phil Lambdon carried out the 'Botanical Survey of Ascension Island and St Helena 2008' under the South Atlantic Invasive Species project. This survey yielded the discovery of an endemic species thought to have been extinct and new populations of other rare endemics; previously unrecognised invasive species were identified raising the profile of their potential serious impacts. Plant related conservation on Tristan has been limited due to the lack of capacity in the Conservation Department. Some ad hoc invasive plant control has taken place for a few alien species. Under the project, Conservation Department staff and members of the Darwin team (a team of ten persons trained under the Darwin Biodiversity Action Plan project) will receive training in plant fieldwork skills and use of basic mapping technology during the 8-month fieldwork period. Together with Conservation staff, a practical and realistic monitoring protocol will be developed that can be used by the Conservation team to monitor changes in the distribution of native and alien plant species. This knowledge will be used to inform conservation planning and implementation on Tristan. This project will provide an excellent opportunity for Head of Conservation Department, Trevor Glass, to take on the full management of a medium-sized conservation project while being fully supported throughout its duration. Support in managing the planning, implementation, budgeting and reporting of the project will be given from the Biodiversity Management Planning Project Officer, Katrine Herian, currently on island until September 2012 under TDC701. Further support will be provided by Lourens Malan, (previously Horticultural Support Officer on STH501, currently working as a volunteer in the Conservation Department and on island until Sept 2012), through assistance with the surveying and training of staff. This timely extra support will contribute to the successful delivery of the project while supporting an increase in capacity on Tristan to manage biodiversity projects on-island, Objective 3 under the Tristan Biodiversity Action Plan. Objectives - Systematic geo-referenced baseline vegetation survey of Tristan set up and carried out;
Practical vegetation monitoring protocol developed and produced with TDC Conservation team; - Digital photographic catalogue of Tristan's flora produced for on-island use;
- Capacity at TDC Conservation Department increased
Main Activities Under Output 1: - Engage suitable surveyor;
- Procurement of equipment;
- Preparatory study of Tristan plant specimens and literature at RBG Kew;
- Setting up survey protocol, database and GIS system;
- Fieldwork on Tristan;
- Analysing data;
- Writing report and publish
Under Output 2:- Workshop for Conservation staff and Darwin members to develop a realistic and practical vegetation monitoring protocol;
- Test protocol with Conservation team;
- Finalise protocol and endorse as part of Conservation work plan;
Under Output 3:- Digitally photograph Tristan's plants as part of vegetation survey documentation;
- Label and catalogue photographs;
- Distribute catalogue on island and RBG Kew
Under Output 4: - Engage suitable surveyor's assistant/plant fieldwork trainer able to pass on skills needed;
- Deliver practical plant fieldwork skills training programme;
- Establish mentoring programme in conservation project management with TDC701 Project Officer with regular 1:1s;
- Assess impact of training
Risk Analysis Risk 1:Failure to recruit surveyors
Probability: Low
Impact: High
Management: Suitable candidates identified and available with proven experience of working on small islands and of surveying mountainous and volcanic terrain Risk 2: Bad weather for being on the uplands and Peak
Probability: High
Impact: Low
Management: Sufficient time built in to allow for bad weather when data management and preparation for report writing can be done Risk 3: Project overruns
Probability: Low
Impact: Medium
Management: Experienced local guides employed to efficiently cover the terrain. Effective project management Stakeholder Analysis Organisations or stakeholder groups directly benefiting from the project: - People of Tristan da Cunha;
- Tristan Conservation Department;
- RBG Kew
Cross-cutting issues Gender
The project will aim to involve both genders in fieldwork and training opportunities. Livelihoods
Conservation work is paid on Tristan through ongoing projects, so this project will contribute to the livelihoods of Darwin team members and of the wider community through the employment of local guides and boat crew. The sustainable grazing of sheep is paramount for supplementing the subsistence element of the economy and future diversifying of the island's economy through the promotion of wildlife tourism. Water use on Tristan is dependant on balanced hydrology, largely sustained through native vegetation cover. Other
The project will engage Conservation staff in areas of Tristan very rarely visited. This will provide opportunities for staff to identify important areas for biodiversity and assist the shift from species-driven conservation management to habitat-focused, whole-site efforts. Wider Significance Multilateral Environmental Agreements Convention on Biological Diversity This project is in line with the new strategic vision for the CBD in the post-2010 period 'Living in harmony with nature' where 'By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people'. It will contribute to the implementation of the following articles of the CBD: Article 7(a): Identify components of biological diversity important for its conservation and sustainable use - the project will identify important/threatened species, communities and their habitats naming their indicator species. Article 8(a): Establish a system of areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity - the survey will identify important plant areas for conservation. Article 9(a): Adopt measures for the ex-situ conservation of components of biological biodiversity - seed collected during the project will secure germplasm that would be needed for on-island habitat restoration work. Article 13(a): Promote and encourage understanding of the importance of, and the measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity - Conservation Department staff and members of the wider community will be closely engaged in the implementation of the project Global Strategy for Plant Conservation 2011-20 The project will make a important contribution to the implementation of the following targets: Target 1: An online Flora of all known plants. Target 2: An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species to guide conservation action. Target 5: At least 75% of the most important areas for plant diversity of each ecological region protected with effective management in place for conserving plants and their genetic diversity. Target 8: At least 75% of threatened plant species in ex-situ collections, preferably in the country of origin. Will enable Target 10: Effective management plans in place to prevent new biological invasions and to manage important areas for plant diversity that are invaded. Target 14: The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes. Target 15: The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities sufficient according to national needs. Through international partnership with RBG Kew, Target 16: Institutions, networks and partnerships for plant conservation strengthened at national and international levels. Tristan Biodiversity Action Plan 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, particularly Objectives 3 (Tristanians have the capacity to manage biodiversity effectively), 4 (The impact of alien species is reduced), and 6 (The knowledge of Tristan's key habitats and species is increased). The Tristan Islands Sustainable Development Plan includes the objective of protecting and enhancing the natural environment, and specific milestone objectives of implementing Tristan's Biodiversity Action Plan and extending the availability of external support to the Conservation Department. Environment CharterThis project will support implementation of Commitments under Tristan's Environment Charter, particularly Commitments 2 (Ensure the protection of key habitats, species and landscape features), 6 (Implement obligations under MEAs), and 7 (Review the range, quality and availability of baseline data for biodiversity). Other Information: Funded by FCO/DFID Overseas Territories Environment Programme, 2011, project no TDC 801
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