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In Western Mexico over 200 islands house a treasure of unique plants and animals, including 10 times more breeding seabirds than California, Oregon and Washington combined. The most ecologically rich of these islands is Guadalupe.   This 100 square mile island is home to more than 34 endemic plants, 7 extant endemic bird species or subspecies, 8 breeding seabirds and more than 29 endemic invertebrates. 

Unfortunately, goats and cats introduced in the late 1800 ’s devastated the island.  Feral cats caused the extinction of three endemic birds and ate all but a few seabirds.  Goats grazed the island down to bare rock, leaving many endemic plants surviving only on inaccessible cliffs.  

The top of the island, once covered with a forest of endemic Guadalupe Island pine and cypress, was denuded.  In a recent count only 120 aging Guadalupe Island pines remained because every year the goats ate the new seedlings.  The endemic Guadalupe Island Junco, dependent on these remnant forests, became critically endangered.  The island became a classic example of how introduced species can devastate an island.

Now Guadalupe Island is becoming a conservation success story.   Our partner organization,  Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas (GECI) is working with Mexico’s Protected Areas Commission (CONANP), the Mexican Navy, the National Institute of Ecology (INE) and the island’s fishing community to save Guadalupe Island and the island’s remarkable fisheries.   

In 2003 goat eradication began and now only a few surviving goats are confined to remote cliffs.  With most of the island goat-free, plants are thriving.   Six plants thought to be extinct have been rediscovered.  Over 2,000 new Guadalupe pine seedlings were found growing around parent trees.   Soon there will be rich new Junco habitat and growing numbers of Guadalupe Island Juncos.