News

 

JNCC publishes a quarterly newsletter to provide stakeholders and interested parties with updates on the work that we are undertaking in the UKOTs is  If you would like to be added to the newsletter mailing list, please sign up. Past newsletters are available here>>

 
Newsletters from individual Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies can be found on the webpages of each of the OTs and CDs. Other organisations who provide cross-territory environmental news can be found on the links page.
 
This page provides monthly highlights of JNCC's OT work.
 

November 2016

 

  • Montserrat Territory to Territory (T2T) workshop held 14-18 November.  More detail and presentations can be found here>> 
 

October 2016

 
  • 14th October Overseas Territories Training and Research Steering Group meeting

 

June 2016

 

 

April 2016

 

 

August  2015

 
 

July  2015

 
  • 11th July Overseas Territories Training and Research Steering Group face to face meeting.
  • 21st July OTBG meeting.
 

June 2015

 
  • 23rd June - Defra gap analysis workshop - Natural History Museum - JNCC presentation.

 

May 2015

 
  • May 2015 quarterly newsletter number 15 available here>>
  • 5th May JNCC_OT workshop. More information available here>>
 

April 2015

 
  • Met with stakeholders including RSPB and SAERI
  • 28th April OTTRSG quarterly meeting  - note here>>
 

March 2015

 
  • OTBG meeting held in London on the 20th March.
  • Hosted Derek Henry from St.  Helena – 26th March
  • Met with UKOTA in London – 26th March
  • St.  Helena Marine Mapping Darwin Project completion announcement
 

February 2015

 

 

January 2015

 

  • January 2015 quarterly newsletter Number 14 available here>>.
 

December 2014

 
 

November 2014

 
 

October 2014

 
  • October 2014 quarterly newsletter available here>>
 

September 2014

 
  • JNCC_NGO Meeting held in London on the 12th September. Note available here>>
 

August 2014

 
  • Norman Glass from Tristan da Cunha visited JNCC and met with colleagues getting advice and guidance on a number of work areas.
  • South Atlantic Overseas Territories June 2014 Workshop report available online >>
 

July 2014

 
 

June 2014

 
  • JNCC co-ordinated a South Atlantic Overseas Territories Workshop hosted on Ascension by the Ascension Island Government. The worskhop focussed on Sustainable Fisheries, Marine Protected Areas, Action Planning and Seabird Monitoring.
 

May  2014

 
  • Overseas Territories Research and Training Steering Group meeting held - meeting note available here>>
 

April 2014

 

 

  • The call for requests for contributions to research has been issued. The deadline for submission of requests is 30th May 2014. More information here>>

 

  •  Dr Eric Salamanca from TCI was recently funded to attend the Second International Symposium on mangrove as Fish Habitat in April 7-11 in Mazatlan, Mexico. The report can be found here.

 

  • Unfortunately, for the current financial year (2014/15) there is no funding availabe to support training or participation. We will let you know if the situation changes. 
     
 

March 2014

 
  • 6th - Tara Pelembe and Anne Saunders met with  with stakeholders on the Falklands visited JNCC-funded/supported work, and prepared for the June regional south Atlantic workshop.
 
 

February 2014

 
  • The call for nominations for the 2013 Blue Turtle Award is now out. Please note that the deadline for submission of nominations has been extended to Friday 28th March 2014.
 
  • The pre-meeting document drawn-up for the JNCC's Marine Protected Areas workshop is now available to view. This meeting, held in Peterborough on the 28th and 29th of November, was attended by participants from across the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. More information and online resources should be available shortly.

 

January  2014

 
  • The latest JNCC OT Bulletin was issued, with a revised format. Featuring recent news, events and a forward look at JNCC's OT-related activities. If you would like to receive your own copy, please sign-up to our mailing list.
  •  No 10. January 2014
 

December  2013

 
  • We wish everyone a wonderful festive season and best wishes for 2014.
  • Dr Samia Sarkis returns to Bermuda from her secondment to JNCC.  She has been a great asset to JNCC and organised successful workshops on lionfish and marine protected areas while here. We wish Samia well for the future.
  • OT and CD Programme webpages updated.
 

November 2013

 
  • JNCC hosted a Marine Protected Areas workshop in Peterborough which was attended by participants from across the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies on the 28th and 29th of November.
  • JNCC hosts Overseas Territories Training and Research group meeting held on the 25th November.
  • Tara Pelembe returns to JNCC to work in the OT and CD team after a 2-year secondment to the St. Helena Government

 

October 2013

 

  • Fera's Invertebrate Identification Service - Improving bio-security in the UK Overseas Territories: the identification service for invasive invertebrate plant pests offered by the Food and Environment Research Agency has been extended until 31st March 2014. If you would like to receive support in the diagnosis of plant pest invertebrates please contact them by email at and they will provide you with details of how to preserve samples and where to send them.

 

September 2013

 

 

 

August 2013

 

 

July 2013

 

 

 

  • Workshop to solve the lionfish issue - A short video report (49 seconds) on the Cayman 27 news channel,  about the JNCC Caribbean workshop on dealing with invasive lionfish. Other countries taking part in the workshop include Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos.

 

June 2013

 

 

  • The 2012 winner of the JNCC’s Blue Turtle Award for nature conservation in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies is Bryan Naqqi Manco from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
    Working in nature conservation on the islands for the last 13 years in the private, public and voluntary sectors, Naqqi is deeply committed to his work. He has made a real difference to local neighbourhoods, increasing people’s knowledge about the islands’ rich biodiversity, educating communities and future generations.

 

  • A new FIELD article by Sarah Wilson,  Biodiversity loss, natural disasters and Small Island Developing States, considers the importance of biodiversity to SIDS in providing resilience and adaptability in the face of natural disasters. The article highlights cyclone "Evan", which struck the Pacific island nation of Samoa, and considers the work programme on island biodiversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

 

May 2013

 

  • The OT and CD Steering Group held a face-to-face meeting on March 12th and 13th, hosted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. On the 14th March the OT representatives on the Steering Group met with UK government and NGO representatives to discuss the UK OT Biodiversity Strategy. A report on the March 14th meeting is currently in circulation for comment. In June, JNCC will circulate a summary of the scope, purpose and future priorities for the Programme through to 2015 based on this series of meetings.

 

  • JNCC Report 489 ‘A generic guide for small islands on the implications of signing up to the Convention on Biological Diversity’ has been published and is available for download from our website.

 

March 2013

 

 

  • South Georgia leads where Britain may follow with mass reindeer cull - British-owned island takes drastic action to stop animals destroying native habitat (Indpendent 24th March 2013). Britain’s problem of its woodlands being destroyed by deer, revealed in a recent scientific study, has been echoed and dealt with on the far side of the world.

 

  • There will be a face-to-face meeting of the OT and CD Steering Group on March 12th and 13th, hosted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. There will be a supplemental OTs-led meeting on the 14th March reviewing implementation of the UK OT Biodiversity Strategy. JNCC has funded the attendance of the majority of delegates, from various Territories and Dependencies, and has retained Rebecca Kinnersly, of the States of Guernsey, to act as rapporteur for the event. Her report will be made available through the JNCC website.

 

  • The endemic Cayman Island blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) has recently been mentioned in the international news, with Fred Burton, of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, speaking on how being listed under Appendix One of CITES will assist in the species' recovery.

 

  • Reports have been made available for two recent projects: an investigation of ancient woodland on the Isle of Man and the second phase of the rescue and collection of endemic and endangered plant species for biodiversity conservation on Turks & Caicos.

 

  • Daily Journal of the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, in Bangkok, Thailand, between the 3rd and 14th March 2013.

 

February 2013

 

IMPAC3 logo © IMPAC3 Programme Committee

 

 

  • New Spatial and Temporal Closed Areas added to SGSSI MPA - Following scientific advice and a stakeholder consultation the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is delighted to announce the addition of extra spatial and temporal protection to the existing South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI MPA).

 

December 2012

 

  • The lastest IUCN European Newsletter (December 2012) is available. Among the articles under the banner 'FOCUS: EUROPE'S OVERSEAS' are an interview with Carole Martinez, the new Coordinator of the IUCN EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories Programme;  'Beyond mainland: UK Overseas Territories' - on applying the UK Biodiversity Framework to the UK's OTs; and how the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) has taken a formal step back from extinction with the announcement of the latest update to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

  • The revised and approved IUCN/SSC/RSG/ISSG Translocation Guidelines have been made available (PDF, 1105 kb).

 

November 2012

 

 

  • The UK Oversees Territories and Crown Dependencies: 2011 Biodiversity Snapshot provides a timely update to the 1999 publication. Each chapter in this new publication is authored by an individual or group from each of the Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies, giving a snapshot of its biodiversity and conservation. 

 

  • In light of new funding rounds by Government for the Overseas Territories, JNCC has extended the deadline for the Blue Turtle Award until Monday 21st January 2013, to enable additional time for the preparation of submissions.

 

September 2012

 

  • Blue Turtle Award 2012 - Call for nominations for JNCC's annual award for nature conservation work in the UK's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Closing date 31st October 2012.

 

  • An article on South Georgia  and South Sandwich Islands featured in the latest issue of Samara: The International Newsletter of the Partners of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership. 'Understanding climate change impacts in the sub-Antarctic' is written by Stuart Cable, MSBP Herbarium Team Manager.

 

  • Issue 40 of the newsletter of the Chagos Conservation Trust is available; including reports on the February 2012 scientific expedition to the Marine Protected Area, the Chagossian Community Environment Project and reef damage around Diego Garcia caused by military vessels.

 

  • The journal Sustainability has granted open access to the article 'Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Integrating Local and External Knowledge' by Jessica Mercer, Ilan Kelman, Björn Alfthan, and Tiina Kurvits.

 

  • The Environmental Management Directorate is pleased to announce that St Helena’s National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) was approved by Executive Council on 4th September 2012.

 

August 2012

 

  • A summary report on the 'Environmental Mainstreaming in the Falkland Islands' workshop is now available.
  • Mr Anderson Kirnon has received resources and access to expertise to enable him to construct a model farm at Gerald’s, which would increase the productivity of his current livestock unit and promote semi-intensive livestock farming practices. The Montserrat Departments of Environment and Agriculture are collaborating with Mr Kirnon to establish the model farm, which was made possible through a grant from the UK Overseas Territories Environment Programme.

 

July 2012

 

  • Vacancy on Montserrat - The Ministry of Agriculture on Montserrat have an opening for Special Advisor on Environmental Management to support the on-going development and investment activity on island. This is an international recruitment for a posting of 2 years. Deadline for applications is Friday August 17th, 2012. Details on the vacancy, including terms of reference and how to apply, can be found on the jobs.gov.ms website.

 

  • Endangered sharks will be given greater protection following the signing of an international agreement on the conservation of sharks. The agreement was signed by Richard Benyon on behalf of the UK and a number of Overseas Territories. Adopted under the Convention of Migratory Species it will help develop management measures to protect threatened species such as basking, longfin mako and whale sharks. Many of these sharks are not only found in UK waters, but in the waters of UK Overseas Territories making their involvement crucial in ensuring these animals receive the protection they need.

 

  • The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability - On 28th June 2012 the UK Government published a White Paper setting out its overall approach to the Overseas Territories. Its vision is for the Territories to be vibrant and flourishing communities, proudly retaining aspects of their British identity and generating wider opportunities for their people.

 

  • St Helena invites OT and CD SG members to collaborate on a Darwin bid regarding delivery of frameworks and management plans for 23 proposed National Conservation Areas. The entire process will involve community participation.

 

  • Central Caribbean Marine Institute on Little Cayman is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher, to advance understanding of how changing climate scenarios may impact the tropical ocean's carbon cycle and ultimately biodiversity. The Postdoctoral Fellow will have the primary responsibility for designing and implementing field and laboratory experiments.

 

  • JNCC Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), BOEM Protected Species Observer (PSO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Training Courses
    Intelligent Ocean has set the next JNCC MMO, BOEM PSO (Gulf of Mexico) and PAM training courses in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. Please refer to their website for details of time, location and course content. You will also find details of local accommodation nearby. To book a course please use the online booking system.

 

June 2012

 

  • Mountain Chicken Project: In 2012, the Darwin Initiative funded the Mountain Chicken Project on Montserrat, which aims to develop a long-term strategy to manage this critically endangered species. The project team have produced a poster and related press release.

 

  • The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, Australia’s largest integrated invasive animal research program, are inviting applications for 19 PhD scholarships, offered in research projects covering ecology, virology, molecular biology, natural resource modelling, sociology, socio-economics and herbivore fertility control. Applications for study commencing in 2013 close on 17th August 2012.

 

  • On June 20th the European Commission (EC) adopted its communication on "The outermost regions of the European Union: towards a partnership for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth". This proposes a renewed strategy for eight regions: the four French overseas departments, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion and Martinique, the overseas Collectivity of St Martin; the Portuguese autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira and the Spanish Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.

 

  • The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust have announced two courses based at the International Training
    Centre, at Durrell’s headquarters in Jersey, Channel Islands. Managing Infectious Disease in Conservation Programmes runs between 10th - 14th September 2012; Project Management Skills for Conservation Managers between 1st - 5th October 2012.

 

  • Samia Sarkis (Department of Conservation Services, Bermuda) and Liz Charter (Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, Isle of Man) attended CBD SBSTTA 16 in Montreal, between April 30th and May 5th 2012. They attended as a response to the invitation extended by Defra to join the UK delegation. You can find their reports of the proceedings on their relevant territory page.

 

April 2012

 

  • The St Helena Environmental Management Directorate was officially launched on April 16th, in the presence of His Excellency, Governor Capes, and UK Environment Minister Richard Benyon. The Directorate, headed by Tara Pelembe, is tasked with co-ordinating environmental policy on St Helena.

 

  • University of Reading have announced their new UKOTs and CDs Training and Research Programme Facebook Page! Facebook has become a very popular and modern way of exchanging scientific information and promoting opportunities to targeted audiences. The creation of the Page will hopefully serve the same purpose of the recently created forum, but appeal to more people and be more user-friendly.

 

February 2012

 

 

  • The report from the latest OT and CD Steering Group meeting, a review of the Training and Research Programme work plan, is now available.

 

  • The 2011 Blue Turtle Award went to the Midweek Muckers, who work in support of the Manx Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves, as well as managing three other reserves, which form part of the Ballaugh Curragh, an ASSI and Ramsar site.
  • The CARIBSAVE Partnership is pleased to offer scholarships and bursaries in various areas related to Climate Change at the University of the West Indies and the University of Waterloo, Canada for Caribbean Nationals under the Partnership for Canada-Caribbean Community Climate Change Adaptation (ParCA) Project. This critical component of the project provides an opportunity to build capacity in the Caribbean region to increase resilience to climate change.

 

  • The IUCN report of the conference on “Islands and Overseas Entities’ contribution to biodiversity conservation and the fight against climate change” (held at the European Parliament, 20th December 2011) is now available.

 

January 2012

 

  • Defra have extended an invitation to representatives from the UK OTs and CDs to join the UK delegation to the Convention of Biological Diversity meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). This will be held in Montreal 30th April – 4th May 2012.
  • Kew have launched their UKOTs Online Herbarium. Over 17,000 specimens and 10,000 taxa have been collated; with comprehensive specimen records, including historical as well as contemporary collections.

 

  • Following recommendations made by the UK Government’s National Security Council in 2011, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has produced a paper on the advice and support available to the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) in areas of its competency.
    Defra’s Paper outlines the array of environmental issues in the UKOTs and the advice and support which is available to the Territories from Defra, its Agencies and Civil Society on these issues.

 

  • BEST projects - statistics on the Open Call for proposals in 2011 and the shortlisted project proposals.

 

October 2011

 

  • Standardisation of assessments such as EIA, promoting best practice, was among items discussed at quarterly OT and CD Training and Research Programme Steering Group Meeting held on 7th September 2011.
     
  • Three people from the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have been funded to attend training courses.
  • JNCC made a contribution towards the investigation of ancient woodland on the Isle of Man.
     
  • The closing date for the 2011 Blue Turtle award has been extended until Friday 14th October.
     
  • A JNCC report on Geoconservation in the Overseas Territories of the UK is now available online.

 

August 2011

 

  • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Masters scholarship discussed at quarterly OT and CD Training and Research Programme Steering Group Meeting held on 26th January 2011.
  • 8 people from 6 Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies funded to attend training courses.
  • JNCC are contributing to a Phd on Lionfish in the Caribbean UKOTs.
  • JNCC made contributions towards Nassau grouper research and endemic plant research in the Turks and Caicos Islands and investigation of ancient woodland on the Isle of Man.
  • There were 7 short-listed nominees for the 2010 Blue Turtle award which was won by the St. Helena Millennium forest.

 

July 2011

 

  • The sixth meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee will be held from Monday 29th August to Friday 2nd September 2011, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • ACAP (The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels) is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve albatrosses and petrels by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to albatross and petrel populations. The Agreement is currently ratified by 13 countries, including the UK, whose ratification includes the South Atlantic Overseas Territories of Tristan da Cunha, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Antarctic Territory.

 

December 2010

 

  • Quarterly OT and CD Training and Research Programme Steering Group Meeting held  on 20 October 2010.
     
    Caribbean hub now up and running, everyone is encouraged to join.
     
    The South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands ACAP plan is now available.
     
    A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the University of Reading. If you have projects that you would like Masters students to undertake in your OT/CD contact k.norris@reading.ac.uk.
     
    Funding has been provided for Ascension and South Georgia to attend training courses.
      
    JNCC joined a team of experts from the UK who visited Anguilla between 16-25th September 2010, to undertake a critical review of CITES (Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species) implementation. The visit was funded by  the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) 

 

October 2010

 

  • This year’s  Blue Turtle award  has been launched deadline for nominations 25 October 2010
  • Financial support available for  nature conservation training can be made via the  OT and CD members of the research and training group on a first come first served basis.
  • Action plans for Tristan and the Falklands on the Agreement on the Convention of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) available.
  • One hundred and twenty seven colleagues in seven OTs: St. Helena, Anguilla, Montserrat, Bermuda, Falklands, South Georgia, Turks and Caicos have now been on a  course on writing funding applications for environmental projects.
  • In this International Year of Biodiversity, a suite of JNCC coordinated projects are helping tackle invasives in 12 UKOTs. This work has been funded by Defra and some projects are delivered through regional hubs.
  • UKOT students currently studying environmental courses in the UK were invited to an introductory OT biodiversity workshop hosted by JNCC.
  • The OT and CD Research and Training Steering Group met in July.
  • Stephen Mendes, Rhon Connor, Matt Cottam and Olivia Renshaw have received JNCC funding to participate in international events.

 

 

8th September 2010

 

Henderson Island News

The September issue features an article on how invasive rats are threatening the island's World Heritage status, as they kill an estimated 25,000 Henderson petrel (Pterodroma atrata) chicks per year.

 

7th September 2010

 

The Islander

The latest issue of the Ascension Island Newspaper features an article by Dr Mark Lambert of Fera (Food and Environment Research Agency), on his recent trip to the island and the invasive rat problem.

 

25th  June 2010

 

Ascension Anogramma

Please see below for details of when the Ascension Anogramma (Anogramma ascensionis - a species of extinct fern) story will be released by the BBC, on their World Service 'Science in Action' radio programme.

The first scheduled broadcast will be at 10:32 (BST) on Friday 25 June.

It should also be repeated at the following times:

  • Friday 25 June at 15:32; then 20:32
  • Saturday 26 June at 01:32
  • Sunday 27 June at 04:32


You will also be able to listen to the piece online from Friday - it should be archived on the Science in Action web page for quite a while after broadcast.

 

18th  June 2010

 

Pod of Killer Whales sighted off of North CaicosKiller Whale Pod (photo credit: visiting sports fisherman)

 

A pod of Killer whales were sighted off of North Caicos 24th May by a group of fishermen. When they spotted several whales breaching and frolicking in the water completely unfazed by being watched. Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators. Killer whales as a species have a diverse diet, although populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while other populations hunt marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, walruses and even large whales. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators as they have no natural predators.

 

 

 

8th  June 2010

 

Second Lion Fish Caught

The Conservation and Fisheries Department of BVI announced the capture of a second lionfish in BVI waters north of Tortola on Wednesday, 2 June, by a local fisherman, Mr. Alvin “Kumba” Martin of Jost Van Dyke.

 

South Georgia Habitat Restoration Project

GSGSSI have announced that, following stakeholder consultation, conditional approval has been given to the South Georgia Heritage Trust for the first phase of the Habitat Restoration project to proceed in February-April 2011.

 

19th  May 2010

 

Ascension Scientist recognised by IUCN

 

Stedson Stroud, Ascension Conservation OfficerOlivia Renshaw informs us that the Ascension Conservation and Sea Fisheries Officer, Stedson Stroud was recently contacted by a professional associate of the IUCN Species Programme, based in Switzerland. As 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, they were interested in featuring a range of stories on their website throughout the year, relating to conservation and biodiversity. Stedson was asked to provide information about conservation efforts on Ascension Island, focusing on the importance of what is being done.

 

 

 

7th May 2010

 

Cross Territory Skill ShareGIS trainer with Ascension Conservation Staff copyright Ascension Conservation

Earlier this year, St. Helena and Ascension shared skills between both islands. Len Coleman, the GIS specialist from St Helena visited Ascension for three weeks.  Len trained staff on the use of GIS and AEIOU (Ascension Environmental Information Operations Utility). Various AIG departments, Cable and Wireless, the School and the Police have benefited from Len’s visit. Funding for his trip came from the OTEP endemic plant project (ASC 503).

 

 

 

28th April 2010

 

OT and CD Training and Research Programme Steering Group

The Steering Group for the OT and CD training and research programme held its 4th meeting. Key discussion items included a report from the Food and Environment Research Agency on work they are doing in the OTs on invasive species; a review of the Steering Group work programme 2010-2012; and an update from each of the territories on new areas of research.

 

Two OT research projects awarded support 

In April, JNCC awarded two research projects support under the research contribition funds. One is a cross territory project with the Falkland Islands and South Georgia on algal biodiversity, the second is a terrestrial project in Turks and Caicos on endemic and endangered plant species. The next call for research contribution funds will be in September 2010.

 

29th March 2010

 

Tackling Alien Invaders

Addressing the negative impact of invasive alien species in the UKOTs is a key issue. Recently, Defra has given JNCC £250,000 to focus on tackling this threat. This is a contribution to International Year of Biodiversity, and the Overseas Territories themselves have identified their key prioritie for this funding. A vast range of activities will be supported from survey work to public awareness campaigns, from eradication and control projects to prevention plans.

 

12th March 2010

 

Dr Vin Fleming visits St. Helena Island

In November, Dr Vin Fleming went on an advisory visit to St. Helena. The visit was a response to requests for advice from St. Helena, and focused on providing training in preparing bids for funding to support nature conservation and related activities, especially to funds such as OTEP and the Darwin initiative; raising awareness of the use of economic valuation of ecosystem services as a means of better informing the St Helena government on decisions affecting the environment (and the services it provides to the people of St Helena); providing training in the implementation of CITES to SHG staff and to advise on how St Helena could better implement the Convention.

 

UK Overseas Territories Training and Research Programme.

The UK Overseas Territories Training and Research programme held its most recent Steering group meeting in January 2010. Key areas of discussion included progress on the implementation of the programme of work. The next Steering Group meeting will be held on the 28th April 2010.

 

Rhon Connor - Attends New Zealand Conference.

Rhon Connor, the Deputy Director of the Department of Environment in Anguilla, recently attended a Conference on Island Invasives: Eradication and Management in New Zealand. He presented a paper entitled: Of Rats and Birds: Creating a seabirds paradise on Dog Island Anguilla. Rhon's participation was supported by JNCC.