Tristan : Tristan's Environmental Laws Now Patterned on Falklands Laws
Submitted by Tristan Times (Juanita Brock) 15.02.2006 (Article Archived on 01.03.2006)
The BBC's Alex Kerby Quizzes Tristan's Administrator and an RSPB official about the new Conservation Law.
TRISTAN DA CUNHA ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS PATTERNED ON THOSE FROM THE FALKLANDS
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands by Alex Kerby (AK) 14/02/06
The Islands of Tristan da Cunha, reputed to be the most remote inhabited place on earth, are home to some marvellous wildlife. To protect the species that live there, Tristan has adopted a new Conservation Ordinance, modelled on Falklands Legislation. The new Law replaces one drafted 30 years ago and it takes a very different approach, as Tristan’s Administrator, Mike Hentley (MH) explains.
MH: It turns a negative into a positive. I believe that John Cooper, one of our honorary conservation officers, who is based with the University of Cape Town, is proud also of the new ordinance. I think he got the idea from the Falklands. Under the new ordinance everything is protected unless we say otherwise. Under the old ordinance we actually had to identify what was protected and specifically this meant a lot of updating if everyone wanted to change the lists of protected species at all.
AK: So, under the new system you are in unless you are out?
MH: Exactly.
AK: One thing puzzles me. You created seven new reserves for Rockhopper Penguins but Rockhopper Penguins are one of two bird species whose eggs and chicks and guano you can take. Is there a bit of an inconsistency there?
MH: I hope not and under the new ordinance we are permitted to take eggs and chicks of the Shearwatrer and eggs and guano of the Rockhopper but only in certain places and at certain times and if the Administrator says so. So, we have been able to find a consensus to allow the Islanders to continue with the traditional collecting but in a controlled way to make sure that we are not doing any harm.
AK: It does sound as if the new ordinance is a definite advance and is going to be an improvement for the species but there is always that question – how is it going to be enforced? And, can it be enforced effectively?
MH: We hope so. It’s going to be a challenge on Tristan because we do have limited resources in terms of manpower and money. One of the advantage we have is that we are a small community with a population of 275 and everyone knows everyone. We all know what each other is doing and as long as we have the community supporting this new legislation, which they do, then we don’t see any problems with enforcing it.
AK: Are you really going to trust one another to respect it or you going to have anyone whose particular job it is to enforce it?
MH: We do have a natural resources department and just last September we appointed our first permanent Conservation Officer. And, it will be his job to keep the community on side and make sure that the rules are followed.
AK: John O’Sullivan (JO), of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, says the new Ordinance would offer Tristan’s birds a more hopeful future.
JO: It’s going to be very important for bird conservation. The previous law in Tristan was adequate but over the years, it’s become outdated as new pieces of international legislation have come into effect. And, a number of the threatened birds of Tristan will benefit from the new legislation. So, it’s great that it is now in place.
AK: So, it’s been brought in rather for legal reasons than because of changes on the ground physically?
JO: Yes and those legal reasons have also resulted from the threats to birds, which have increased world wide, particularly seabirds, for which Tristan is very special.
AK: You have several Albatross and Petrel Species there, don’t you? Is this new ordinance going to mean that Tristan can become a party to ACAP?
JO: Yes, it will. That’s one of the most important affects of this ordinance as far as bird conservation is concerned. It means that Tristan can now sign up to the International Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels and all the protection that that agreement gives can be extended to the rare, endangered Albatross and Petrels that live on Tristan.
AK: Just signing up to the agreement, will that pay dividends on the ground? Is it actually going to do something for the birds?
JO: Yes, it will do. There is a great deal of work being done on Albatross conservation internationally all away around the world, in particular the Southern Hemisphere, where they live. And, all the benefits of the research, the shared experience, the ability to take part in meetings and contribute and to express Tristan’s own particular stake on Albatross and their conservation – all of that will be a benefit of the new ordinance.
AK: Tristan is home to 10 species of found nowhere else in the world – nine of which are in danger of extinction. One of the problems is rats and mice. Is the new ordinance going to do anything to make those endemic species safer?
JO: Yes – mainly through the good offices of the Albatross Agreement, because a lot of research has been done on how to cope with damage caused by rats. In the case of Tristan, rats and rather surprisingly mice, which are killing young Albatross – the experience of others around the world – the research that’s being done by RSPB and others should all be brought to bear and focus on Tristan and allow us to tackle these problems. They are not easy to tackle at all but international experience being pooled should make a difference.
(100X Transcription Service)
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