Island Conservation
After decades of restoration, Big Rat Island is on its way to becoming quality seabird habitat once again. The Abrolhos Islands off the coast of Western Australia have undergone years of restoration aimed to rid the archipelago of invasive species like rats, feral cats, and ice plant, which have inhibited burrowing bird species from nesting. The […]
Great Mercury Island, New Zealand is recovering following removal of invasive predators. In 2014, a population of invasive predators was completely removed from Ahuahu (Great Mercury Island) by the Department of Conservation. Following this intervention, the island’s original predators and keystone species have begun to return. The Pycroft’s Petrel was recorded on the island after […]
NZ taking world leadership role against invasive species. New Zealand is taking action to protect its native species. The country has vowed to remove 100% of invasive rats, stoats, and possums by 2050. New Zealand Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry said: New Zealand’s commitment to Predator Free 2050 is the largest and most ambitious invasive species eradication […]
Following invasive species removal on Macquarie Island, Tasmania, Australia numerous seabird species are rebounding. For decades, introduced predators and grazers wreaked havoc on Macquarie Island, deep in the Southern Ocean. Until recently, globally important seabird populations were at immediate risk of being lost and unique sub-Antarctic ecosystems were being destroyed. However, since the last feral […]
Island Conservation’s co-founder Bernie Tershy reflects on how island restoration programs serve to protect biodiversity and prevent extinctions. An uninterrupted stream of bad news about the environment reminds us that we are in the midst of an extinction crisis, which can leave us overwhelmed with hopelessness. But, hope is not as scarce as you might […]
Conservationists plan to restore Redonda Island by removing damaging invasive species. Redonda, a Caribbean island that is part of Antigua and Barbuda, was once a brilliant ecosystem. The island is home to a variety of plants and animals including endemic lizards. It’s also an Important Bird Area (IBA), meaning that it supports globally significant seabirds. Due […]
A Perfect Storm for Island Restoration? Unprecedented convergence of climate and conservation events herald a tipping point for island conservation 31 August 2016 – Somewhere Over the Pacific May I tell you a story? I’m in seat 8C. Seatbelt buckled. Going 500 miles per hour. Yet, I’m sitting still for what seems like the first time […]
Researchers find that humans have been altering the natural environment for thousands of years, call for conservation action. Recognition and criticism of man’s harmful impact on the natural world is becoming more and more prominent. Though this awareness may seem recent, the fact of human-induced environmental destruction is not. Research from the University of Oxford reveals that humans have […]
Snipe, Penguins, Parakeets, and Petrels are some of the many bird species that live and nest on Antipodes Island. In addition to this impressive variety of winged natives, a diversity of plants and insects call Antipodes Island home. But there used to be more. Since the accidental introduction of mice in the 1800’s, the unique native flora […]
Have you heard of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot? It’s a small furry marsupial that lives in Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. If you’ve never seen one before, it’s not too late. Thanks to a recovery program, this adorable species is rebounding from extinction. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot’s population size had fallen at an alarming rate in […]