Invasive Species Eradications on the Islands of Mexico: Achievements, Lessons Learned and Challenges Alfonso Aguirre-Muñoz Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. Mexico alfonso.aguirre@islas.org.mx Helping Islands Adapt Auckland, New Zealand 12-16 April 2010
Outline • What’s been accomplished, what's really working? • Why do we do it? • Who is involved? • What have been the challenges? • What lessons have we learned? What would we do differently, what advice would we give to others? • What’s next?
Geography
Total: >1,000 islands Mexico’s northwest region: >600 islands Temperate, desert and tropical islands
Value of Mexican Islands • High biodiversity • Key reproduction sites for seabirds and pinnipeds • Strategic territories: sovereignty and EEZ • High productivity, socio- economic benefits (artisanal fisheries) • Highly threatened (invasive species) • Conservation opportunities
Outline • What’s been accomplished, what's really working? • Why do we do it? • Who is involved? • What have been the challenges? • What lessons have we learned? What would we do differently, what advice would we give to others? • What’s next?
Pending 55 Erradications eradications on 31 Mexican (2010) Islands to 2010
51,195 ha restored
Eradicated species: number of islands and surfaces
Techniques 6 islands 25 islands
Traditional techniques…
Navy boat with platform, special bait, helicopter with DGPS and aerial bucket…
DGPS for rodent eradications
4 000 Ha 192 Ha 85 Ha 1800 1980 2004
Isabel Island: Sooty tern started to nest again after many years...
Isabel Island Years 1-2 post-Rat eradication Post-eradication 100 80 Number of nests Pre-eradication 60 40 20 0 2004 2007 2008 2009 Reproductive season Red-billed Tropicbird nests ( Phaethon aethereus) at Farallón de San Ignacio.
Life quality improvements for local communities
Islas Marías November 2009
Outline • What’s been accomplished, what's really working? • Why do we do it? • Who is involved? • What have been the challenges? • What lessons have we learned? What would we do differently, what advice would we give to others? • What’s next?
A radical change of perspective, a change of spirit. From greed… “Know that on the right hand of the Indies there was an island named California, very close to Paradise on Earth inhabited only by black women, with no single male in there…, women rich in pearls and gold”. Las Sergas de Espladián Zaragoza, Spain 1490
To the caring of biodiversity and natural resources Biodiversity 151 endemic vertebrates 115 endemic plants 38 nesting seabirds 45 terrestrial birds Artisanal fisheries Nature tourism
Endemic plants and vertebrates/100 Km²
It is a priority…
Oceanodroma macrodactyla Neotoma anthonyi Guadalupe Storm-petrel Anthony’s Woodrat 77% of total extinctions in Mexico (17 of 22)
17 extinct vertebrates in Mexican islands due to invasive species Year of last Year of last Invasive species Species Common name Island record field search implicated and status Birds Felis catus (SP) Oceanodroma macrodactyla Guadalupe storm-petrel Guadalupe A A 1912 2000 1 Capra hircus (ER) Felis catus (SP) B A Caracara lutosa Guadalupe Caracara Guadalupe 1900 2003 1 Capra hircus (ER) Felis catus (SP) O C Zenaida graysoni * Socorro Dove Socorro 1972 1981 1 Ovis aries (SP) Felis catus (SP) Micrathene whitneyi graysoni Elf Owl Socorro D D 1932 1981 1 Ovis aries (SP) Felis catus (SP) B A Colaptes auratus rufipileus Northern Flicker Guadalupe 1906 2003 1 Capra hircus (ER) Felis catus (SP) B A Thryomanes bewickii brevicauda Bewick's Wren Guadalupe 1892 2003 1 Capra hircus (ER) Felis catus (SP ) B A Regulus calendula obscurus Ruby-crowned Kinglet Guadalupe 1953 2003 1 Capra hircus (ER) Felis catus (SP) Pipilo maculatus consobrinus Spotted Towhee Guadalupe B A 1897 2003 1 Capra hircus (ER) N L 2 Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum Rufous-crowned Sparrow Todos Santos 1927 2005 Felis catus (ER) Mammals E K 2 Chaetodipus baileyi fornicatus Bailey's Pocket Mouse Monserrat 1975 2003 Felis catus (ER) H L 2 Neotoma anthonyi Anthony's Woodrat Todos Santos 1950's 2005 Felis catus (ER) E E 2 Neotoma bunkeri Bunker's Woodrat Coronados 1980's 1997 Felis catus (ER) I L 2 Neotoma martinensis San Martin Island Woodrat San Martín 1925 2006 Felis catus (ER) Felis catus (SP) J J Oryzomys nelsoni Nelson's Rice Rat María Madre 1898 2002 4 Rattus rattus (SP) Angel de la Guarda Deer G G 5 Peromyscus guardia harbisoni Granito 1973 1999 Rattus rattus (SP) Mouse Angel de la Guarda Deer Peromyscus guardia mejiae Mejía G G 2 1973 1999 Felis catus (ER) Mouse Felis catus (ER) F M Peromyscus maniculatus cineritius Deer Mouse San Roque 1960's 2009 3 Rattus rattus (ER)
Feral goats (x 1000) Cabras ferales (miles) 10 8 6 4 2 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Pine seedlings (x 1000) Renuevos Pino (miles) 12 10 8 6 4 2 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Oct 08 Cypress seedlings (x 1000) Renuevos Ciprés (miles) 120 100 80 Achievements are 60 40 tangible… 20 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Oct 08
Sovereignty Guadalupe MEXICO Revillagigedo EEZ: 3’179,920 km ² Clipperton (13th worldwide) (France)
Sustainable development
Outline • What’s been accomplished, what's really working? • Why do we do it? • Who is involved? • What have been the challenges? • What lessons have we learned? What would we do differently, what advice would we give to others? • What’s next?
A private non-profit organization
ORG CHART 2010 CONSERVACIÓN DE ISLAS POSTGRADUATE STUDIES (x10) DIRECTOR GENERAL ALFONSO AGUIRRE CONTADORA GIS SPECIALIST COORD. GESTIÓN ADMINISTRADOR ISIS CASTAÑEDA CÉSAR GARCÍA FEDERICO MÉNDEZ ALEJANDRO MANRÍQUEZ FAUNA SILVESTRE AVES MARINAS ISLA GUADALUPE ISLAS TROPICALES DIRECTORA PROYECTO DIRECTORA PROYECTO DIRECTOR PROYECTO DIRECTOR PROYECTO MARLENNE RODRIGUEZ MARIA FELIX JULIO HERNANDEZ ANTONIO ORTIZ COORD. PROYECTO COORD. PROYECTO COORD. PROYECTO COORD. CAMPO COORD. EXP. BLANCA ROLDAN YULIANA BEDOLLA NOÉ SILVA R. GONZÁLEZ COORD. CAMPO BIÓLOGO CAMPO ESPECIALISTA BIÓLOGA CAMPO BIÓLOGA CAMPO MARCO ORNELAS JOSÉ M. BARREDO M. Á. HERMOSILLO FLOR TORRES MARIAM LATOFSKI BIÓLOGO CAMPO TÉCNICO CAMPO BIÓLOGO CAMPO ESPECIALISTAS TÉC. ESPECIALISTA DANIELA PEDROZA ENRIQUE SOQUI TÉCNICO CAMPO TÉCNICOS MAYORDOMO CAMPO J. JOSÉ RAMÍREZ CAMPO JORGE TINOCO TÉCNICOS INVESTIGADORES ASOCIADOS CAMPO
Networking / Professionalization Federal government agencies staffs
Federal Government Agencies: • Ministry of the Interior (Segob): Constitutional mandate • Fish and Wildlife - Environment Ministry (Semarnat) • Public Security Ministry (Islas Marías) • National Institute of Ecology (INE) • Biodiversity Commission (Conabio) • Natural Protected Areas Commission (Conanp)
Donors and finances: • US private foundations • Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN) • Natural Protected Areas Commission (Conanp) • National Institute of Ecology (INE) • USFWS • Mexican Navy (in-kind)
Institutionalization process National Conference - Conservation and Sustainable Development of Mexican Islands. June, 2009.
Outline • What’s been accomplished, what's really working? • Why do we do it? • Who is involved? • What have been the challenges? • What lessons have we learned? What would we do differently, what advice would we give to others? • What’s next?
3 main challenges • Finances: Private • Finances: Public • Finances: International Other challenges • Personnel retention • Legal framework • Animal defenders • Techniques
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