LATEST NEWS! - Report of WG Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico - 20 July 2007

Present:
Jean Anderson, Ruth Blyther, Andrew Dobson, Jim Goetz, Jervaine Greenaway, Claudia Lombard, Will Mackin, Lloyd Martin, Jeremy Madeiros, Clive Petrovic, Judy Pierce, Sarah Sanders, Carolyn Wardle

Mission statement: To assist with invasive species problems concerning birds in the Caribbean, by acting as an information resource.

Objectives:

1. Gather information on which animal and plant invasive species are impacting on birds
2. Provide an information resource on the SCSCB website as to how invasive problems might be tackled
3. Provide support to other working groups as necessary

Actions required:

• Provide a list of unpublished material, produced by, or known to members
• SS to seek guidance and assistance from invasive specialists (e.g. Karen Varnham)
• Publicise workshop opportunities as they become available
• List current links to useful information and websites
• Use SCSCB newsletter to gather and disseminate information
• Make list of current efforts and projects taking place in the region
• Publicise any existing educational resources on invasives

Andrew Dobson (Co-chair) & Sarah Sanders (Co-chair)

Invasives Resources and Reports

Invasive Species in the UK Overseas Territories Report (Word, 880 kb) - pre-workshop document, includes comment on a number of territories in our region. Very useful and interesting summary highlighting the islands' importance for biodiversity; the extent of the problem; the need for greater research; successful and on-going projects; bio-security concerns; the need for legislation; training requirements; and funding needs.

Invasive species Workshop Outcomes - UK Overseas Territories (Word, 63 kb) - The WG commentst that "this is particularly pertinent to our own discussions. We do not have the capacity to undertake information gathering, research, eradication methods etc - let alone the funding. The document states "use of current networks is preferably than creating new ones" - something we recommended in terms of providing a resource base informing people where they can go to obtain information."

Anguilla Invasives Workshop Report (PDF, 5.2 MB) - excellent report and shows a procedure that might be replicated in over countries. If you read though this document, you will notice that there is much information available on the JNCC website.

Invasive Species Threats in the Caribbean Region: Report to the Nature Conservancy. 2003. Prepared by Moses Kairo et al. CAB International. 132 pages. (PDF, 460 kb)

Solving The Mystery Of Centuries-old Caribbean Ant Plagues - Jan. 2005 Science Daily Article about Harvard entomologist Edward O. Wilson's on Caribbean-island ant plagues.

Invasives Species Working Group Report from SCSCB Meeting in Guadeloupe, July 2005 - published in Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 18: 107-108.

Report from Workshop on Invasive Species and Other Problem Birds in the West Indies, SCSCB Meeting, Tobago, July 22, 2003 (Word, 33kb)

The Science of Invasive Species: An Information Update by the Union of Concerned Scientists, November 2001. (PDF, 100 kb)

What You Can Do to Prevent Species Invasions - Union of Concerned Scientists (prepared by L. Sorenson). (PDF, 88kb)

Invasives Links

Island Conservation - science-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to preventing extinctions and protecting natural ecological and evolutionary processes on islands. Main focus is on eradicating harmful introduced species from islands.

National Invasive Species Information Center - gateway to invasive species information; covering Federal, State, local, and international sources. - a wealth of information!

Global Invasive Species Database - aims to increase awareness about invasive alien species and to facilitate effective prevention and management activities. Website is managed by the Global Invasive Species Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission f the IUCN-World Conservation Union.

The Antiguan Racer Conservation Project - The amazing story of how a vanishing species (found only in Antigua) was saved from extinction through an invasives eradication project.

Union of Concerned Scientists Invasive Species Program - information on invasives science and UCS' policy work.

Seabird and Invasive Species Database

Environmental Protection In the Caribbean (EPIC) announces the release of seabird and invasive species data in an interactive, map-based format at OBIS-SEAMAP (Ocean Biogeographic Information System - Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations). This global program seeks to organize marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle spatial data to advance conservation and collaboration.

Caribbean Lesser Antilles Seabird Colony Atlas 2001-04. Results from breeding colony surveys from 2001-2004 are available at: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/datasets/detail/418

The database is part of EPIC’s goal to create a seabird breeding atlas for the Lesser Antilles region using standardized field surveys. Funding is needed to complete the collaborative surveys and share the information. Undocumented colonies have certainly disappeared without notice. For more information, visit: EPIC or contact Natalia Collier at EPIC.

 

Please send additional resources and links for this webpage to the webmaster: Lisa Sorenson

 

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