12 December 2024, Tongatapu, Tonga - To help enhance climate resilience and biodiversity conservation efforts, the Government of Tonga, had requested technical assistance for improved management of invasive weeds within sites, including the control of priority weed species and rats. The request follows a pause in the work which began in 2014 due to COVID-19.
Representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) programme responded to this request and engaged with staff from the Tonga Department of Environment and students from Tupou College to further improve invasive weeds management efforts on the Toloa Rainforest Reserve.
The visiting team interacted, over a one-week period in November, with the site visits being facilitated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 Regional Invasives Project (RIP), funded by GEF, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme, and executed by SPREP.
The restoration of the Toloa rainforest has significant benefits for Tonga, given the manageable area of the site, its accessibility and the commitment of partners to restore the forest, the Toloa forest could potentially become one of the most important sites in the Pacific region to raise awareness of the impacts of invasive species and to demonstrate the benefits of invasive species management and forest restoration.
A phased work plan for the restoration of the Toloa rainforest reserve has been prepared based on commencing with simple tasks, such as weed management of vines and shrubs first before moving to more involved tasks. To implement the forest restoration framework the forest or target area has been divided into discrete manageable areas or management units.
This provides a finer scale for which to plan, implement and analyse with each unit capable of being in a different phase of control. It also breaks down each of the tasks into smaller manageable units which allows for a strategic implementation approach and an opportunity to increase both motivation and recordable success.
Tonga National Invasive Species Coordinator, Mr Viliami Hakaumotu shared "the Department of Environment is dedicated to this effort as by safeguarding the Toloa Rainforest, we ensure that endemic species and those of cultural importance continue to thrive in Nuku'alofa.”
“We aim for the Toloa Rainforest to serve as an example of how invasive species management and forest restoration can benefit our communities."
The units are based on existing tracks which are displayed geo-spatially on a map within the GPS unit and on hard copy maps. The boundaries of the units have been clearly marked and labelled with marker tape at regular intervals to ensure easy identification while on the ground.
The work resulted in the management of over 2000 invasive plants, which mainly comprised Kotia (Cordia alliodora), Lakaupouli (Cestrum nocturnum), air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera).
The Project Manager, for the GEF 6 Regional Invasives Project, Ms. Isabell Rasch, commented, “during the visit, we spent three days on the reserve, redefining management units and provided hands-on training to the Environment Department, Toloa Rainforest rangers, and senior students of Tupou College, who have been working on Toloa Rainforest, as well as teachers and members of the community who were also present to assist.”
“SPREP will be working with the Tonga Department of Environment and the Tupou College to continue management efforts in Toloa and will be in Tonga next year to conduct the Restoration Exchange with battlers working on restoration sites in Toloa Rainforest, Mount Talau, and Eua.”
Rev. Dr. Alifeleti Tikisoni Atiola, Principal of Tupou college, and still actively committed towards restoration efforts of the Toloa rainforest, stressed the “Toloa Rainforest is very important, as it homes a wide variety of species endemic to Tonga and we must do our best to manage the threats impacting this forest, including the invasive plant Cortia, which we have seen start to take over the forest in recent years.”
The Tonga country mission also enabled the visiting SPREP team to progress implementation of project activities under the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience, Resilient Ecosystems, Resilient Communities (RERC) and War on Weeds (WOWs) programmes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The GEF 6 Regional Invasives Project (RIP) is funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme, and executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme. The Project works primarily in the Marshall Islands, Niue, Tonga, and Tuvalu and has a regional component. Implementation of the GEF 6 RIP is supported by the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Services (PRISMSS).
For more information, please contact Ms. Isabell Rasch, Project Manager, GEF 6 Regional Invasives Project on [email protected]
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.
For additional information please contact Mr Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on [email protected]