Island Conservation
This year, Island Conservation, partners, and researchers around the world revealed new studies showing the cascading benefits of island restoration. Here are just a few of the publications that show the need for and lasting impact of island restoration. Island Conservation biologist finds a 5000% increase in native tree recruitment on invasive rat-free Palmyra Atoll. […]
New research demonstrates a strong positive benefit to native trees following invasive species removal. Media Release New research published in PLOS ONE this week demonstrates dramatic positive benefits for native trees following rat removal at Palmyra Atoll, a magnificent National Wildlife Refuge and natural research laboratory located about 1000 miles south of Hawaii. In one of […]
The science is in. Healthy, rat-free islands mean healthy coral reef biodiversity. Island Conservation’s Director of Science, Dr. Nick Holmes, discusses this new study in WIRED. Invasive rats are one of the greatest threats facing global seabird populations. And, it turns out the presence of invasive rats on an island affects not only terrestrial species, […]
Palmyra Atoll has been declared a Hope Spot due to its diversity of life and critical importance to the health of the world’s oceans. Hope is key to conservation. Hope drives the ability for conservationists to continue working day after day to protect species, especially as species and ecosystems around the world experience drastic effects […]
New research reveals the removal of rodents from Palmyra by Island Conservation, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2011 also got rid of the disease-carrying Asian tiger mosquito. By: Jan TenBruggencate Sometimes — too rarely — happy things happen by accident. On the remote island of Palmyra, directly south of […]
In 2011, Island Conservation, USFWS, and TNC removed invasive rats from Palmyra Atoll to protect native species. Now researchers have found that disease-carrying mosquitoes have disappeared. By: Rob Margetta Palmyra Atoll is a tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 1,000 miles south of Hawai’i and less than 3 square miles in area. Its only […]
Invasive species are a primary driver of extinction on islands, but proven methods are available to address this problem. Island Conservation is an international non-profit whose mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. To date, we have successfully restored 63 islands worldwide, benefiting 1173 populations of 468 species and subspecies. How […]
Holly Richards, Public Affairs Officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shares the story of how removal of invasive species from Palmyra Atoll has led to a thriving ecosystem. By: Holly Richards With its lush rainforest and deep turquoise waters surrounded by some of the most intact coral reef ecosystems in the world, Palmyra […]
Island Conservation Project Director Richard Griffiths presents a study: past invasive species removal projects lend insight and lead to success in the future. An international conference focused on the impacts and management of invasive alien species on islands is taking place at University of Dundee, Scotland July 10-14. In anticipation of this event, we’re sharing research […]
Researchers discover that the Numeniini bird family faces extinction, despite having a very wide distribution. One of the world’s most geographically widespread families of birds is more endangered than researchers previously believed. Distribution is a key factor of a species’ population health. For Numeniini, a family of birds that includes Curlews and Godwits, distribution has not […]