S.Atlantic : Invasive Species Project Takes Off Locally
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 27.02.2007 (Article Archived on 13.03.2007)

This month sees the local inception of the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project with the appointment of two project officers: one on the Falkland Islands and one on St Helena. The EC-funded project is being managed on behalf of the St Helena Government by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK. Invasives are introduced species that have adverse ecological, economic or societal effects.

Invasive Species Project Takes Off Locally

This month sees the local inception of the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project with the appointment of two project officers: one on the Falkland Islands and one on St Helena.  The EC-funded project is being managed on behalf of the St Helena Government by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK.  Invasives are introduced species that have adverse ecological, economic or societal effects.  The South Atlantic project will seek to identify the principal invasive species and will work with local partners to formulate an action plan for their future control or eradication. The project will run until September 2009.

Andrew Darlow, project officer for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is resident in St Helena.  Originally from the UK, he has worked for the island’s education department for the past six years.  Andrew will work on the ground in Ascension and St Helena with local agencies and directly with the very much isolated Tristan Conservation Department.  He is looking forward to combining his biological sciences training with his keen interest in conservation in this challenging project. 

Why did he take this post? “Environmental conservation in the South Atlantic has long been undervalued. The recent feral cat eradication project on Ascension demonstrated what can be achieved with good management and funding. With projects like the South Atlantic Invasive Species I hope that we can establish a sustainable commitment from all users and supporters of these unique islands to cherish and protect the remaining wealth of biological diversity that they hold.”

Brian Summers is the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands project officer.  Brian is a Falkland Islander and his career to date has been in telecommunications; he worked for the British Antarctic Survey on South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula during the 1970’s.   Brian’s key interest is the islands’ wild flowers and he is looking forward to tackling the thistles and other invasive plants that are slowly gaining a foothold on the islands.  Another task of interest to the project is a feasibility study on the eradication of Patagonian foxes from several offshore islands.

So what will the first steps be?  “One of our first tasks is to collect data.  The South Atlantic Territories are not well represented in global environmental datasets.  The project team will initially work at a local level to establish baseline data on the principal invasive species on each island.  Project steering groups will be set up to encourage input and partnership from all interested parties.  Strategies and techniques for the control or eradication of the invasives will be developed and scrutinised.  These activities will lead to the development of an informed action plan for each Territory to deal with those invasive species that are a priority for South Atlantic communities.”  

Anyone with an interest in the impacts of invasive species in the South Atlantic is encouraged to contact Andrew (telephone +290 2848 or email adarlow.sais@helanta.sh) or Brian (telephone +500 22866 or email bsummers.sais@horizon.co.fk) for more information, and to get involved in the project through the steering groups, or through direct action on the ground.

This press release was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of RSPB and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.