Our Impact

Driven by Impact

What does real, tangible impact look like?

We’re a small but mighty team working to transform ecosystems that are on the brink of collapse. We know the power of our approach and have witnessed islands rebound as a result. With every project we take on, we track recovery from start to finish and then some. But our impact goes beyond numbers; it’s about lasting change for nature and people worldwide.

Restoring islands for global impact

The impacts of island restoration extend far beyond the coastlines of our project sites. We see enhanced community wellbeing, improved ocean health, thriving island biodiversity, increased resiliency to climate change, and millions of carbon sequestered from the atmosphere.

Keep scrolling to see our impact stories.

The Evidence

Restored islands produce outsized benefits.
Here are a few of our success stories

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Our Impact

 

Learn more about our impact

Swipe to check out our impact and success stories

Our Impact

5000% Increase

On Palmyra Atoll, USA we saw a 5000% increase in native trees after the removal of introduced, damaging invasive species. The resurgence of native plants allowed for thriving seabird populations to return, spreading their guano and providing the stepping stones for reduced erosion, larger fish populations, and increased coral health.

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Our Impact

Increased food security

The residents of Ulithi Atoll wasted no time in revitalizing the agricultural potential on the gardening island of Loosiep once restored. Crops such as bananas, sweet potatoes, and breadfruit have been planted, restoring a vital source of food.

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Our Impact

Connector species return

On Pajaros Uno Island, Chile, Peruvian Diving-Petrels returned to the island for the first time in over forty years. Connector species, like seabirds, play a vital role in island health by providing essential nutrients.

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Our Impact

Islands reclaimed

Formerly known as Rat Island, native Aleut people successfully petitioned to restore Hawadax Island to it’s original name. Now, the island is a nesting ground for the Tufted Puffin – a seabird which had previously not been seen there for almost 200 years.

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Our Impact

Extinctions prevented

This was an Extinct-in-the-Wild Pinzon Giant Tortoise. Within a year of removing invasive rats, baby tortoises were being born and thriving. Today the tortoise has been downlisted. In addition to the tortoise recovering, we also documented the return of a gecko thought to be extinct and an endemic snail species that was never before recorded!

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Our Impact

Improved marine health

When we remove invasive species and revive native vegetation, seabird populations can flourish once again. The increase in nitrogen from seabird guano bolsters coral growth rates and enhances reef fish biomass.

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Our Impact

Millions of metric tons of carbon sequestered

Lush, biodiverse island ecosystems can capture millions of metric tons of carbon per year in the form of plants, animals, and soils. Our projects focus on holistic restoration, resulting in restored ecosystems that act as natural carbon sinks.

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Our highlight reel

When we focus on holistic restoration, we see multiple spillover benefits for nature and people around the world. Check out some of our favorite success stories over the last 30 years.

HIGHLIGHTS

I am 54 years old and have been going to Loosiep since I was a boy. That is the first time I have seen turtles hatch on the island.

Salestine Soholfal
Ulithi Atoll Community Member

Impact Stories

Check out our most recent success stories.

November 12, 2024

Endangered Birds Return to Kamaka for First Time in 100+ Years!

Endangered Polynesian storm-petrels returning to Kamaka Island, French Polynesia within one month of social attraction tools being deployed.   Polynesian storm-petrels have not been recorded on Kamaka Island for over 100 years due to invasive rats. These seabirds are able…

Supporting Studies

Learn more about the spillover benefits of island restoration.

March 25, 2024

Island restoration and the vital role of connector species

Penny Becker, Island Conservation’s Vice President of Conservation, wrote an article about connector species that was recently featured by our partners at Galapagos Conservation Trust. Her groundbreaking research has helped uncover the vital connections between land and sea, sparking a…

Restoring Seabird Populations and Coral Reef Resilience

January 18, 2024

Restoring Seabird Populations and Coral Reef Resilience 

As climate change continues to threaten coral reefs globally, a recent study published in Science sheds light on a natural ally in the fight for reef resilience: seabirds. The connection between seabird-derived nutrient subsidies, invasive species, and coral recovery holds…

Seabird Deposits and the Future of Atolls

December 29, 2023

Seabird Deposits and the Future of Atolls

Everything is connected. Atoll islands have often been deemed an inevitable lost cause when it comes to climate change and sea level rise due to their low-lying elevations. A new article in Cell Press aims to bust this myth as…

July 17, 2023

New Study: Invasive Species as Costly as Natural Disasters

A new study in ScienceDirect led by Anna J. Turbelin analyzes biological invasions (invasive species) and natural hazards (storms, floods and wildfires) damage cost data over 1980–2019 and finds that invasion costs are as costly and increased faster over time…

Working smarter and harder

In recent years, we launched our Drone Program which has already resulted in new levels of efficiency and scalability for our projects.

We utilized the power of drones to increase our number of projects by 67%, are employing them in species monitoring, and are now working to see how we can pair them with cutting-edge imaging to classify animals more efficiently.

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