Although we only became a formal entity in 2013, members of our team have been working on invasive ant activities in the Pacific region since 2002.
From 2013 to 2019 we led biosecurity and invasive ant management capacity-building work primarily in Tokelau and Kiribati, including workshops and on-the-ground control. We developed toolkits for invasive ants and pests and diseases of coconut for the Pacific. Since 2019 we have co-led the Protect our Islands programme, and are working on a GEF 6 funded regional invasive species project. As well as implementing several Protect our Islands sub-projects, we assisted Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Tonga and Niue develop National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plans, and helped Pitcairn develop a Territorial Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan. Recently, we have conducted several biosecurity baseline assessments for partners, including Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Wallis and Futuna, and in 2024 we are working on a biosecurity review for American Samoa, in partnership with Island Conservation and New Zealand Biosecurity Services Limited. Our work would not be possible without the support of our funders, colleagues, and our in-country and regional and international agency partners. |