13 May 2026, Sonsorol, Palau: A significant conservation initiative is now underway in Sonsorol State, 300 kilometers (about 200–300 miles) southwest of the main Palau islands, to restore the health, resilience, and livelihoods of island communities by removing invasive species. 

This initiative is the result of a request made by the Sonsorol community in 2018 to address the growing impacts of damaging, non-native invasive rats and other pests across their islands, particularly on Merir, Sonsorol, and Fanna. These invasive species, including rats, mosquitoes, and coconut rhinoceros beetles, have significantly negatively impacted food security, living conditions, and overall community well-being. Their removal will reconnect vital ecological linkages, resulting in boosted health for the surrounding marine ecosystem, better nesting conditions for seabirds, and greater security for crops such as coconuts that the islanders depend on.  

A community-wide meeting held shortly after the preparation team’s initial arrival demonstrated strong support for the initiative. Additional outreach included engagement with youth, along with the mobilization of all state workers to assist with island-wide cleaning and maintenance efforts by the Sonsorol State Government. 

The team is also conducting interviews with community members to better understand how invasive species are impacting food security and daily life. This information will help guide both implementation and long-term outcomes of the project. 

The operation will use a helicopter-based approach, ensuring comprehensive coverage in areas that are otherwise difficult to access due to the remoteness and terrain of Sonsorol State. A preparation team arrived on Sonsorol Island on 19 March and will remain on-site for one month to support readiness activities. 

The project is being implemented by Island Conservation in close collaboration with the Sonsorol State Government and the Sonsorol community, with support from the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) through the Predator Free Pacific programme. 

Predator Free Pacific is one of six invasive species management programmes under the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience project, led by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United Kingdom International Development.  

Despite the logistical challenges posed by the extreme remoteness of Sonsorol State, strong collaboration between the community, the Sonsorol State Government, and Island Conservation is driving progress forward. Together, they are taking critical steps to restore the islands’ natural ecosystems and improve resilience for future generations. 

Media Contact:

• Sally Esposito, Island Conservation, Senior Communications Director: sally.esposito@islandconservation.org   

• Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer: nitishn@sprep.org  

 About the Partners:

About PRISMSS: The Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) is a service designed to facilitate the scaling up of operational management of invasive species in the Pacific. PRISMSS brings together experts to provide support within the Pacific region with a focus on protection of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem function. As a service provider, PRISMSS provides a comprehensive suite of support services in a cohesive, effective, efficient, and accessible manner to Pacific Island countries and territories. 

Restoring Island Resilience (RIR): The PRISMSS – Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) is a New Zealand-PRISMSS collaboration project that aims to improve Pacific Island Countries and territories livelihoods and resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems through the six PRISMSS programmes.  

PRISMSS Powered by: New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade, United Kingdom International Development, GEF, United Nations Environment Programme & SPREP. 

PRISMSS Partners: Bioeconomy Science Institute NZ, Birdlife International, Earth Sciences New Zealand, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, the Pacific Community and SPREP.   

PRISMSS Programmes: Protect Our Islands (POI), Predator Free Pacific (PFP), War on Weeds (WOW), Natural Enemies Natural Solutions (NENS), Resilient Ecosystems Resilient Communities (RERC) and Protect Our Marine Areas (POMA).  

For additional information please contact Mr Dominic Sadler, PRISMSS Manager on dominics@sprep.org or Mr Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on nitishn@sprep.org 

About Island Conservation: 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.