South Pacific countries face threats from alien invasive species

02/22/2010 at 3:37PM

(Tahitipresse) - South Pacific countries are facing a serious threat from alien invasive species according to a new publication coordinated by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP).

The publication lists a number of alien species as a major threat to life on earth, "and unfortunately a number of these now exist in the South Pacific islands", Regional Director of BirdLife International in the Pacific Don Stewart said. Birdlife is a partner in GISP.

Invasive alien species are plants and animals not native to the South Pacific countries but have been introduced either through trade, or through "misguided" attempts to protect local flora and fauna, a Birdlife press release states.

The publication names 542 species documented as invasive aliens in 57 countries including 316 plants, 101 marine organisms, 44 freshwater fish, 43 mammal, 23 bird and 15 amphibian species. An increase in the number and spread of alien species, which adversely affect the habitats they invade, is attributed to a substantial rise in international trade over the past 25 years.

In the Pacific region, the list of the alien species is substantial and includes rats, snakes, cats, ants, mongooses, freshwater fishes, and weeds like miconia, wedelia and mile-a-minute.

"Alien Invasive species 'take over' space and resources of animals and plants that belong in the Pacific. They also often eat native species, like birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. This can lead to native or endemic birds and other animals going extinct", Stewart said.

Dr. Randy Thaman, Professor of Biogeography at the University of the South Pacific endorsed these comments. "Invasive alien species are highly destructive and have led to the serious deterioration of unique Pacific island ecosystems", Thaman added.

Of all animals that have become extinct since 1800, 90% were island birds and 90% of these were lost to invasive species primarily because of rats.

BirdLife International operates a programme, currently funded by the UK Government Darwin Initiative and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, to primarily remove rats from islands in the Pacific that continue to pose a serious threat to seabird populations.

Together with BirdLife Partner organisations, rats have been removed from 17 biologically important islands in Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Palau.

Mr. Stewart said that these efforts have been a major benefit to the region's wildlife, and importantly have also protected crops from damage and drinking water from contamination.

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