South Atlantic Invasive Species Project

The South Atlantic Invasive Species Project is a three year project (December 2006 - December 2009) funded under the European Union EDF 9. [cite web
title = House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 07 Feb 2008 (pt 0024)
publisher = Hansard
date = 7 Feb 2008
url = http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080207/text/80207w0024.htm
accessdate = 2008-08-24] The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the UK's South Atlantic Overseas Territories to deal with invasive species issues. The territories involved are St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Falkland Islands and Ascension Island. The project is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) on behalf of the partner governments. In addition to the partner governments, two NGOs: Falklands Conservation, St Helena National Trust are key stakeholders.

Project progress

The project started with the appointment of two project officers, Andrew Darlow, for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and Brian Summers for the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. [cite web
last = Juanita
first = Brock
title = S.Atlantic : Invasive Species Project Takes Off Locally
publisher = South Atlantic Remote Territories Media Association
date = 27.02.2007
url = http://www.sartma.com/artd_3953_02_2007_7.html
accessdate = 2008-08-24]

During the course of the project, Dr Phil Lambdon discovered a living example of a type of sedge on St Helena, Bulbostylis neglecta that had not been seen for over 200 years and was previously feared extinct.cite web
title = Lost sedge now on a Knife Edge
publisher = RSPB
date = 27 June 2008
url = http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-193326
accessdate = 2008-08-24]

Claire Miller who manages the South Atlantic Invasive Species project said: :"“St Helena’s wildlife has been ravaged by species introduced to the island. Goats, gorse, grasses, and cage birds have all been liberated on the island where they have wreaked havoc with the native species. St Helena is a noted extinction hotspot, driven largely by non-native species, and the native birds have suffered more here than many other islands. Of eight species of bird confined to the island, seven have become extinct since the island’s discovery in 1502"."

References