December 4, 2024
The Ebiil Society: Champions of Palau
Ann Singeo, founder of our partner organization the Ebiil Society, shares her vision for a thriving Palau and a flourishing world of indigenous science!
Our new online shop is live!
Published on
July 19, 2019
Written by
Emily Heber
Photo credit
Emily Heber
New Zealand is no stranger to the threat invasive species pose to island wildlife. In fact, New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 initiative is aimed at preventing extinction through the removal of the invasive species causing the most damage to native ecosystems and wildlife. Equally as important as removing invasive species from islands is ensuring invasive-free islands remain that way.
Project Island Song is an initiative aimed at protecting native wildlife in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. The main seven islands have been free of invasive species for ten years and the islands have been able to thrive. Thousands of trees have been planted and five species of rare and endangered animals have been reintroduced.
Now, the challenge is keeping the islands predator-free explains New Zealand Department of Conservation community ranger, Helen Ough Dealy:
The issue is that the islands are within easy swimming reach of the mainland for Norway rats and stoats. And ship rats and mice can come on boats. But the good news is that so far there’s been no re-establishment of any pest species. Norway rats and the odd ship rat or mouse do turn up and there is the very occasional sighting of a stoat, but there’s been no populations establishing. For 10 years the islands have been pest-free, but with ongoing incursions.”
Protecting the Bay of Islands wildlife means personnel and visitors need to be careful and vigilant to ensure no invasive species are reintroduced. This means any sightings need to be reported immediately and there need to be routine sweeps of the island using detection dogs.
For the past 10 years, this method has been successful and hopefully one day with Predator Free New Zealand, the islands will be less at risk of re-invasion.
Source: Predator Free New Zealand. By: Kate Gutherie
Featured photo: Bay of Islands – Te Rawhiti Inlet. Credit: Dr. Thomas Liptak
Check out other journal entries we think you might be interested in.
December 4, 2024
Ann Singeo, founder of our partner organization the Ebiil Society, shares her vision for a thriving Palau and a flourishing world of indigenous science!
November 22, 2024
This historic agreement aims to protect the marine and coastal areas of the Southeast Pacific.
November 18, 2024
Our projects to restore key islets in Nukufetau Atoll forecast climate resilience and community benefits in Tuvalu!
October 3, 2024
Island Conservation and partners have published a new paper quantifying ecosystem resilience on restored islands!
September 10, 2024
Climate Week NYC: what is it and why is it important? Read on to find out why Island Conservation is attending this amazing event!
September 5, 2024
With sea levels on the rise, how are the coastlines of islands transforming? Read on to find out how dynamic islands really are!
December 14, 2023
Join us in celebrating the most amazing sights from around the world by checking out these fantastic conservation photos!
November 28, 2023
Rare will support the effort to restore island-ocean ecosystems by engaging the Coastal 500 network of local leaders in safeguarding biodiversity (Arlington, VA, USA) Today, international conservation organization Rare announced it has joined the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC), a global effort to…
November 28, 2023
Island Conservation accepts cryptocurrency donations. Make an impact using your digital wallet today!
October 24, 2023
For Immediate Release Conservation powerhouse BirdLife South Africa has joined the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC) – a global initiative aiming to restore, rewild and protect islands, oceans and communities – to support its work to save internationally significant albatross populations…