25 November 2024, Apia, Samoa - The Pacific region’s battle against invasive species has received a significant boost thanks to funding from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This support, provided through the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme, will enhance the ongoing initiatives of the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) under the Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) project.
The additional funding from the UK FCDO will foster further collaboration and support for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT)-funded and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) implemented PRISMSS RIR project. This will enable stronger actions against invasive species, thereby improving the climate resilience of Pacific communities.
Invasive species, both animals and non-native plants and weeds, which are expected to become more prevalent due to climate change-related disturbances, rising carbon dioxide levels, and increasing temperatures, pose significant threats to ecosystems and communities. They exacerbate erosion, reduce food and fish production, and threaten ecosystem services and human health.
The combination of climate change and invasive species are devastating for some native plants and animals as well as for food security, international trade and other economic activities in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs).
Rapid environmental changes such as increasing temperature or rainfall, or a change in the frequency of disturbance events like cyclones, are having serious impacts on native species while at the same time creating favourable conditions for the invaders.
There is already evidence of such effects in the Pacific. Invasive plants often smother gardens, farmland and forests after destruction by extreme storms. A survey in Niue after Cyclone Heta, a Category 5 storm that caused massive damage to Niue's ecosystems in 2004, found that several invasive species already present on the island expanded their range and abundance after the cyclone.
“The UK is delighted to support SPREP's work on invasive species, one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in the Pacific islands,” said Ms Billie Selby, FCDO’s Pacific Climate and Energy Counsellor. “Promoting this Pacific-led approach ties in with our global goals on climate and nature and our commitment to growth and prosperity in the region.”
“SPREP's ongoing efforts also aligns with what we want to achieve through CARA, the UK's most ambitious regional initiative that prioritises climate adaptation and resilience in the Indo-Pacific.”
“The flexible, demand-driven component under CARA allows us to provide timely support to specific adaptation needs and helps scale innovative work being done by governments and regional organisations like SPREP.”
The UK has been a member of SPREP since 2012 and assumed the role of SPREP Chair during the Fourth Executive Board Meeting held from September 4 to 6, 2024.
The additional funding from the UK underlines the significant implementation of successful on-ground activities facilitated by PRISMSS, in collaboration with technical partners, such as Birdlife International, the NZ Department of Conservation, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Island Conservation, the Pacific Community, and SPREP.
The PRISMSS-RIR project builds on the foundational work of the Managing Invasive Species for Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific (MISCCAP) project, which was funded by NZMFAT and concluded in October 2024. This project laid the groundwork for upcoming efforts.
Islands are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of invasive species, and introduced pests, weeds and diseases are causing biodiversity loss and ecosystem disturbance on islands worldwide. A crucial part of Pacific island adaptation to climate change is to reduce pressures on ecosystems, such as those caused by invasive species.
Adaptation to climate change requires increased efforts to prevent new invasions and to eradicate or control existing invasives and a practical climate-change adaptation action is to improve ecosystem resilience in a sustainable manner.
SPREP Invasive Species Adviser, Mr David Moverley commented,” PRISMSS hosted the opening of the Environment Ministers Meeting following the 31st SPREP Meeting in 2023.”
“The event showcased the benefits of invasive species management for climate resilience in the Pacific and PRISMSS as the key regional and Pacific led service to achieve this”.
“The UK has answered the Pacific’s call to support PRISMSS, and invasive species work, and we are very appreciative of this support as the funding will contribute to the expansion of the NZMFAT funded PRISMSS-Restoring Island Resilience which is focused across the region.”
Launched in 2019 by SPREP, PRISMSS, a Pacific led initiative, aims to enhance the collective efforts of PICTs in combating invasive species that threaten climate change resilience, biodiversity, ecosystems and livelihoods in the region. PRISMSS focuses on knowledge-sharing, technical support, capacity-building, and strategic coordination to strengthen the region’s response to invasive species, ultimately leading to improved livelihoods and more resilient ecosystems across the Pacific.
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About PRISMSS: The Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) is a coordinating mechanism designed to facilitate the scaling up of operational management of invasive species in the Pacific. PRISMSS brings together experts to provide support within the Pacific region with a focus on protection of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem function. As a service provider, PRISMSS provides a comprehensive suite of support services in a cohesive, effective, efficient, and accessible manner to Pacific Island countries and territories.
Restoring Island Resilience (RIR): The PRISMSS - Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) is a New Zealand-PRISMSS collaboration project that aims to improve Pacific Island Countries and territories livelihoods and resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems through the five PRISMSS programmes.
For further information, contact the PRISMSS Project Manager, Mr Dominic Sadler on [email protected]
For additional information please contact Mr Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on [email protected]