Island Conservation’s COP 16 Position Paper
Island Conservation attended the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity!
Restoring islands for nature and people worldwide.
Published on
November 5, 2015
Written by
Bill
Photo credit
Bill
Do you think of a bad movie from the early nineties? Maybe you wonder why that title hasn’t been repurposed for a new Hollywood blockbuster about unlikely heroes enduring some global apocalyptic disaster.
Or, maybe you get the direction I’m going with this.
I’m thinking about the multitude of ways that the word impact applies to you, me, and our work to prevent extinctions. Island Conservation exists to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. We know that the greatest risk of extinction is on islands, but so is the greatest opportunity to prevent them! When you remove invasive species from islands, you eliminate the destructive impacts they are having on native island species, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
But don’t forget about our conservation impact – the multiplier effect that our collective conservation investments have for people, species, and vulnerable island ecosystems. Here’s a current example that needs your immediate attention!
In the heart of the Caribbean, 140 feet below sea level, in searing heat, our team is working feverishly to protect two threatened rock iguanas, the Critically Endangered Ricord’s Iguana and the Vulnerable Rhinoceros Iguana; double impact! This natural wonder, Cabritos Island, Dominican Republic, is actually an island within an island; double impact! As our crew trains local partners and residents in science and art restoring islands by removing invasive species, they are not only removing an imminent threat but increasing local conservation capacity and jobs; double impact! Together, we are removing invasive burros that have trampled native rock iguana burrows, eggs, and hatchlings for years and pressing the reset button on the island’s natural ecosystem; double impact!
This is one of the many Island Conservation projects that has inspired us to launch new communications tools to better tell the incredible restoration stories that we are achieving with our partners; double impact!
This year, our annual hard copy Impact Report has a complementary, interactive online site; double impact!
What’s more we just launched this new website at the same time as our Where the Real Wild Things Are, a campaign to save the imperiled rock iguanas of Cabritos Island. Dare I say it one more time? No, I think you’ve gotten the idea.
We hope you’ll check out these exciting new tools and stories about the impacts we are creating together—real conservation heroes saving the world, one island at a time, from invasive alien species…now there’s a movie idea! But, we wouldn’t have these heroic tales without friends like you! You can join our Where the Real Wild Things Are campaign cast today by donating online or sharing this campaign with a friend
And as we roll the closing credits, we extend our deepest gratitude to you for everything you do to help prevent extinctions.
Warmest regards,
Check out other journal entries we think you might be interested in.
Island Conservation attended the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity!
Island Conservation and partners have published a new paper quantifying ecosystem resilience on restored islands!
Climate Week NYC: what is it and why is it important? Read on to find out why Island Conservation is attending this amazing event!
With sea levels on the rise, how are the coastlines of islands transforming? Read on to find out how dynamic islands really are!
Join us in celebrating the most amazing sights from around the world by checking out these fantastic conservation photos!
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…
Island Conservation accepts cryptocurrency donations. Make an impact using your digital wallet today!
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…
Video captures insights and hopes from the partners who are working to restore Lehua Island, Hawai’i. In 2021, Lehua Island officially became free from the threat of invasive rodents. This is a huge accomplishment that has enriched the region’s biodiversity…
Carolina Torres describes how the project to restore and rewild Floreana Island signals hope for a future where people and nature can thrive together in the Galápagos.