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Getting your act together... Partnerships & collaboration for the management of invasive species Dr Jill Key International Training Centre Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Lessons from the Pacific Why do we need partnerships? - Multi-sector committees - Peer-learning network Benefits and challenges from partnerships Why form partnerships? • Strategies rely on partnerships • They offer opportunities for collaboration and coordination • These are not always easy • Invasives management is about people management Introduced species in populated zones, Galápagos The Galápagos Islands • Galápagos is a province of Ecuador • There are 120 islands, of which 15 are large and 4 inhabited • 97% of the province is National Park • 95% of the original biodiversity is intact • Population is around 25,000 * * * * Arrival of species in Galápagos GROUP NATURAL ARRIVAL 1 species each… ARRIVAL SINCE 1535 1 species each… Vertebrates 50.000 years 16 – 20 years Inverts 2.000 years 1.6 years Plants 10.000 years 1 years Introduced species 2500 2000 Native species 1500 1000 Introduced species 500 0 Vertebrates Invetetebrates Vascular plants Introduced species in populated areas • • • • • • • Street dogs and cats Introduced pigeons Rats Mice Frogs Mosquitoes Weeds Expensive problem • For example, rat control in the urban zone is an expensive issue. – Baits – Labour – Supervision – Follow-up and data handling • It is the responsibility of the municipalities, but they do not have the money or man power to do it. Do it together – the “CIMEIs” • In each of the 3 cantons, a multi-institutional committee (“CIMEI”) was created, chaired by the mayor. • A local ordinance was passed to create each one. Key local organisations joined in each case: National Park, Charles Darwin Foundation, Police, Navy, Health, Education, Agriculture, Quarantine, NGOs, Agriculture Centre, etc. United action The CIMEI as an entity can do things which one organisation cannot, for financial, logistic or political reasons. Santa Cruz • Formally created in 2004, but functioning informally since 2003. • 12 members • 1 full time coordinator and secretary Activities – Dengue mosquito – Dengue mosquito control since 2003, together with the National Malaria Control Programme. – Dengue cases have fallen to nearly zero, and they are considering eradication of the mosquito. Activities – rat control • Protocol produced from 2 years experience in San Cristóbal • The first rat control campaign began in August 2005. • Focus is on public areas. Activities – street dogs • All have an owner, but are left on the street • The focus is on “responsible ownership” • Pet register and license • 524 sterilizations • 120 euthanized Reason for euthanasia 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Attack iguana Attack people Owners request Captures Conclusions Collaboration has huge benefits. The future: • Invasive plants • The agricultural zones • But… • Political instability • Insecure funding Blackberry, Santa Cruz Island. Turning Words into Actions: Peer-learning in the Pacific The problem • Lack of technical capacity • Lack of information • Over tasked • Under staffed • Isolation Pacific Invasives Learning Network • • • • • • Launched in 2006 Partnership of 11 Capacity building mission Multi-sector teams Share skills and knowledge Exchanges and attachments • Training courses • Participant driven What makes PILN different • Enables multi-sectoral action at a range of levels • Helps people identify their priorities— the battles they can win—and supports what they want to do • Simple and very cost-effective • Action oriented • Recognises and supports the growing body of expertise within the Pacific • Catalyses action by fostering and sustaining enthusiasm Achievements • Expanded to 13 country teams • 2 network meetings • Strategic action planning in 6 countries • 9 workshops / training events in the priority issues • 14 exchanges / attachments ©NPS Tavita Togia Priority issues for capacity building • • • • • • Rat eradication in tropical island environment Weed management Biosecurity Social marketing Marine invasive species Planning Social marketing • Community involvement is essential • Public awareness is part of a process to change attitudes and behaviour • Part of all projects • Working with RARE for Nature Conservation Marine invasive species • Not recognised as an issue before the network • Tilapia is still being actively farmed... Strategic action planning • Perhaps the main activity which has taken off • 6 countries/states • Establishing national coordination mechanism, using the CIMEI as a model • 3 day workshops, then periodic meetings, annual reviews Process • Usually a 3-day workshop • Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) • Mission, goal, objectives • Action plans – Multi-sector – 3-year vision – 1-year road map • National endorsement • Within existing planning processes PILN as a model • External review done in 2008 found PILN had exceeded expectations • It is highly valued by its country participants and is well-placed to contribute to real outcomes on the ground • Is a good model for other regions or sectors What we have learned • Multi-sector participant teams are excellent • The intangible benefits of network participation are huge • A proactive full-time coordinator is important to build and establish the network. • Communication and facilitation are two of the principal activities of the coordinator—creating awareness of successful projects, showing teams how to follow and supporting them through the process. The future • Expand to all 22 countries, states and territories in the Pacific • Continue to build capacity and confidence – Manage more invasive species – Protect more endangered species – Sustainable livelihoods Some other benefits from strategies and partnerships Leverage funding – at the right scale • Educate the donors – Enough to see it through – Preparation and monitoring, not just eradication • The last individual is the most costly Be more ambitious – ecosystem approach • Step up from species by species • Island restoration • Funding and knowledge issues • Need long-term buy-in Link research, policy and management • • • • Targeted research Political support Pick battles you can win Clear objectives - Why is the invasive species being managed? Support species champions • Invasives have champions too! • Champions are the main reason for project success • Are they born or made? Organisation – or individual? • Long-term • Support through networks, eg ITC Share knowledge - the system is not static • Ecosystems are complex • Every introduction and every eradication is a single, unreplicated experiment • An introduced species undergoes rapid evolution to its new habitat conditions, eg – Changes in life history features – Host shifts in herbivores • This can happen very fast and effects can be unpredictable Conclusions • Partnerships do accelerate actions • Need formal structure and clear roles • Peer learning + encouragement + support • It’s crisis management in a war zone If you want to go fast, go alone If you want to go far, go together Questions?