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UNF Invasive species project

Contents

Full project name
Project site
Duration
Project starting date
Funding
Recipient
Project execution
Legal framework
Main goal
Islands chosen for project execution
Species/Ecological interactions chosen for project execution
Other project components

Full project name

Control and Eradication of Invasive Species: A necessary condition for conserving
endemic biodiversity of Galapagos World Heritage Site

Project site

Galapagos World Heritage Site, Ecuador

Duration

Four years

Project starting date

January 31, 2000

Funding

United Nations Foundation (UNF)/United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP)

UNF/UNFIP total grant of US$ 3,.999,850, of which

  • US$ 1,999,850 is an outright grant
  • US$ 1,.000,000 is a challenge grant subject to recipient agency raising and additional US$ 1.000.000

Recipient

UNESCO World Heritage Center

Project execution

UNESCO World Heritage Center in co-operation with the Charles Darwin Foundation, Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park Service

Legal framework

Special Law for Galapagos, enacted by the Ecuadorian Government on March 18, 1998

Main goal

To constitute an example of how to handle the problem of invasive species by

  1. providing proven methodologies for eradicating invasive species and/or mitigating their effect
  2. establishing an effective and participatory quarantine system to prevent new introductions and the spread of existing ones

Islands chosen for project execution

Baltra, Fernandina, Floreana, Genovesa, Marchena, Pinzón, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Southern Isabela and Western Isabela.

Species/Ecological interactions chosen for project execution

  • Eradication of Smooth-Billed Anis (Crotophaga ani)
  • Eradication of Rock Doves (Columba liva)
  • Eradication of feral cats (Felis catus)
  • Eradication of Black Rats (Rattus rattus)
  • Eradication of Little Red Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata)
  • Impact mitigation of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on Dark-Rumped Petrels
    (Pterodroma phaeopygia)
  • Impact mitigation of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on Mangrove Finches
    (Camarhynchus heliobates)
  • Impact mitigation of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on Galapagos tortoises
    (Geochelone ephippium)
  • Impact mitigation of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on sea turtles (Chelonia
    mydas    )
  • Impact mitigation of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on Galapagos Tortoises
    (G. guntheri and G. vicina)
  • Impact mitigation of Black Fly (Simulium bipunctatum) on native fauna
  • Experimental control of Quinine (Cinchona pubescens)

Other project components

  • Communication of invasive species issues to the local, national and international public
  • Training of scholarship students and technical staff in invasive species research and management
  • Establishment of an effective quarantine system for the islands