Current Links

JNCC plays host to workshop on invasive species in the UK Overseas Territories

On 28th June 2007, 35 people from various UK and OT governments and NGOs gathered at the Peterborough headquarters of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The occasion was a workshop on invasive species in the UK Overseas Territories, with the main body of discussions divided into three sessions.

The first, a general overview, looked at the way in which the work carried out on invasives in the UK might have relevance to the OTs. Potential funding sources, and possible methodologies for strategic prioritisation, were high on the agenda.

The second session considered current and potential future regional invasive species projects in the OTs. Presentations included:

St Helena’s EU 9^th EDF funded, RSPB managed, South Atlantic Invasive species project;
Royal Botanic Garden Kew’s work in the Caribbean; and
CABI’s GEF regional Caribbean project.

Those assembled also considered a review of invasives in the tropical Atlantic that had relevance to the OTs.

The third session looked at tools and cases studies. The main tool under consideration was the OT invasives database, and how it might be improved. Case studies were presented on:

the Gough island mouse eradication feasibility study, where mice are currently eating young albatross chicks alive;
An overview of invasives in the Falkland Islands
invasives in the Cayman islands, where three invasive species have three native counterparts making public awareness incredibly difficult – this example has become known as ‘The good iguana versus the bad iguana’.

Throughout the day, there were lively discussions and interesting thoughts on possible ways forward. All of the information will be fed back to the participants, as well as governments and NGOs in the Overseas Territories. Working groups will be formed to move forward some of the key action areas identified.

Please click on the following for additional information about the workshop:

Outcomes of the workshop
Workshop presentations
Workshop display boards
Programme and participants list
Working groups. If you would like to be a member of any of the working groups please contact Tara Pelembe.

For more information about the workshop or about JNCCs work on invasive species in the UK Overseas Territories, please contact , JNCC Overseas Territories Officer.