The two-year project will provide eDNA kits, training, and data-sharing tools to island communities, enabling them to generate actionable insights and advocate for sustainable ocean management and restoration. Phase one of the IslandScope initiative seeks to rapidly deploy eDNA monitoring across a cohort of 20 or more island sites, generating the first comparative snapshot of nearshore ocean health and land-sea connectivity across islands at various stages of restoration. Phase two will seek to establish structured annual eDNA and nutrient monitoring programs led by island communities and governments to guide how and where to implement land-based actions that promote island-ocean health and resilience. 

Penny Becker

CEO, Island Conservation

The IslandScope initiative also directly addresses a longstanding challenge in conservation: the lack of a scalable, cost-effective way to measure the ocean benefits of land-based island restoration. While actions like removing invasive species and restoring native plants and animals are known to improve marine health—boosting fish biomass and coral resilience through revitalized nutrient cycles—quantifying these impacts at scale has been difficult. By deploying eDNA monitoring across diverse island sites, IslandScope will enable communities and scientists to track changes in seabirds, microbes, fish, and threatened marine species across space and time, generating a science-based, holistic tree of life on and around each island 

The IslandScope initiative builds on Island Conservation’s 30-year legacy of restoring island ecosystems and complements its Island-Ocean Connection Challenge, which aims to restore and rewild 40 island-ocean ecosystems by 2030. With Minderoo’s support, Island Conservation will complement existing eDNA expeditions to expand eDNA monitoring in UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other high-priority islands. 

For media inquiries:  
Island Conservation, Senior Communications Director, Sally Esposito, sally.esposito@islandconservation.org

About the collaborators:  

Island Conservation’s mission is to restore islands for nature and people worldwide. We are a United States-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a globally distributed team—often made up of local islanders who bring deep knowledge and connection to the places where we work. Together, we collaborate with local communities, government management agencies, and conservation organizations to holistically restore islands by bringing back biodiversity, the foundation of all healthy ecosystems. We do this by removing a primary threat (introduced, damaging invasive species) and accelerating the return of native plants and animals. We utilize innovative technology and techniques to work more efficiently and showcase the many benefits of holistically restored islands for biodiversity, climate resilience, ocean health, and sustainable development across the globe. Learn more at islandconservation.org.  

Minderoo Foundation is an Australian philanthropy, founded by Dr Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO in 2001, working to forge a fair future. Minderoo defines a fair future as one where every person has the opportunity to thrive in a healthy environment now and for generations to come. Minderoo Foundation has three core focus areas: uplifting communities, supporting gender equality, and safeguarding natural ecosystems. Alongside these focus areas, Minderoo responds to existential threats and urgent challenges in an agile and targeted way through a series of impact missions. Minderoo Foundation backs bold people and innovative ideas driving change across policy, science, advocacy, and grassroots action to tackle complex, long-standing challenges. Minderoo’s work is grounded in evidence and driven by strong partnerships. By standing alongside those already making an impact, Minderoo is ensuring solutions go further to deliver lasting change. To learn more about Minderoo Foundation’s work visit minderoo.org.