For the first time ever, an Audubon’s Shearwater nest was recorded on Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. Photo credit: Island Conservation.
Rewilding is happening now all over the world, both on land and at sea, bringing back key species and restoring entire ecosystems at all scales. We are now an alliance of over 200 organisations that are restoring nature around the world. We are part of a growing, global and hopeful movement!
This week we introduce you to Island Conservation, who are rewilding entire islands that host a massive amount of our planet’s biodiversity and unique endemic species despite their relatively small land mass.
Rewilding entire islands
Islands support unique plants, animals, and human societies that cannot be found anywhere else on the Earth. These irreplaceable ecosystems often face a multitude of challenges at both global and local scales; therefore, rewilding efforts specific to our planet’s islands are as exciting as they are crucial.
Our newest Alliance Partner, Island Conservation, is devoted to restoring islands for nature and people worldwide, envisioning a world filled with vibrant biodiversity, resilient oceans, and thriving island communities.
Nukufetau Atoll Bolsters Pacific Conservation and Enhances Community Resilience by Removing Invasive Rats. Photo credit: Island Conservation team.
The ecosystems of islands around our planet harbour special endemic species of flora and fauna, found nowhere else on the planet. For this reason, islands have seen some of the highest extinction rates of any ecosystem, and therefore are particularly significant to protect and restore. Island Conservation was created specifically to do just that, preventing extinctions, accelerating recovery, and holistically restoring entire ecosystems.
Island Conservation’s nature-based solutions go beyond protecting terrestrial species—they revive the entire ecosystem. Healthy islands support local island communities, increase the health of the oceans, and act as a natural defence against extreme weather and climate change.
For example, a year ago the Kingdom of Tonga made the ground-breaking decision to restore and re-wild Late Island by removing invasive rats, which could make it the largest rat-free island in the Pacific. In just a short window of time, their mission has already been delivering signs of monumental recovery. A recent bird point-count survey found the number of birds on Late Island had doubled in just nine months following the removal of rats.
It’s been nearly a year since the Kingdom of Tonga carried out a ground-breaking mission to restore and re-wild Late Island by eradicating invasive rats, potentially marking it as the largest rat-free island in the Pacific. Photo credit: Island Conservation team.
And they are not stopping there. Once the island is declared rat-free, the partnership is planning the re-introduction of threatened endemic species such as the Malau (Tongan Megapode), a unique land bird that roosts on Tonga’s volcanic steam vents to warm its eggs. With only two other extant populations of this species in the world, establishing a third population on Late Island would be a significant win for conservation.
Since their founding in 1994, Island Conservation and partners have successfully restored 71 islands worldwide, benefiting 1296 populations of 499 species and subspecies. They are always looking for ways to increase the scope and scale of island conservation efforts around the world.
We believe Island Conservation’s advocacy will inspire others to continue increasing the scale, scope and pace of restoration and rewilding.
If you would like to read more stories of incredible nature recovery supported by Island conservation, check out this wonderful list of hope:
- Returning the cacophony of Seabirds and inspiring intertidal community change to Hawadax in Alaska’s Aleutian island chain.
- Rare birds nest on restored Chilean island, Pajaros Uno, for the first time in decades.
- How rat-free Lehua Island in Hawaii is transforming into a seabird paradise once again.
- Seabird rewilding on Desecheo to restore one of the largest historic seabird colonies in the Caribbean.
As they close their 30th year, you may want to delve into their hope-and-island-filled 2024 Impact Report.
Following the removal of invasive rats from Hawadax Island, Aleutian Arhcipelago, native birds were able to successfully rear chicks. Photo credit: Island Conservation/ Rory Stansbury.
If you would like a deep dive into their work, visit their website: Island Conservation
If you are part of a rewilding team, we would love to welcome you to our growing network, please get in touch with our team.