Download Palmyra Atoll Restoration Project, USA The purpose of the Palmyra

Palmyra Atoll Restoration Project, USA
O U R MI SS I ON
The purpose of the Palmyra Atoll Restoration Project is to rebalance the atoll’s
terrestrial ecosystem and prevent the extinction of this Central Pacific moist
tropical island’s ecotype.
OUR VISION
The atoll is a safe haven once again for thriving seabirds, plants, native
rainforest, terrestrial invertebrates, and other components of it’s terrestrial
ecosystem.
T H E P R O B L EM
Non-native invasive species, including rats and coconut palms, are severely
affecting native seabird, crab, and plant populations on Palmyra Atoll.
T H E S O LU T IO N
OUR I MPACT
• 1 0 SEA BIRD NEST I N G
COLON IES REVIVED
• ONE OF THE LAST
R EMAIN ING N AT I V E
PISONIA FORESTS
RESTORED
• SURROUNDING
CO RAL REEF FLATS—
W H ICH SUP P ORT THR EE
T IMES AS MA N Y COR A L
S P ECIES FOUN D I N
H AWA I‘I, AND THE
E NTIRE CA RIBBE A N—
P ROTECTED
The first step in this multi-phase restoration project was the removal of nonnative invasive rats from the atoll. The removal of invasive rats provides safe
habitat for native species.
P R OJ E C T PA RT NE RS H IP
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Island
Conservation (IC) have embarked on this ambitious program to improve seabird
nesting success and promote the natural restoration of the tropical rainforest on
Palmyra Atoll.
Palmyra Atoll—comprised of approximately 618 acres of
emergent lands—is located about 1,000 miles southwest of
Hawai‘i in the Central Pacific Ocean and is part of the Line
Islands archipelago. Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge,
established in 2001, includes approximately 446 acres of
emergent land and 503,963 acres of submerged lands,
reefs, and waters out to 12 nautical miles from shore. The
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, created
in January 2009, includes the refuge and also extends
protection out 50 nautical miles from the shore.
L E A RN MORE A BOUT T HE P R OJ EC T AT:
WWW.P ROTECTPA L M YR A .OR G
A S P E C I A L P L ACE
Palmyra Atoll has one of the best remaining examples of a tropical coastal strand forest found in the
Pacific and one of the last predator-dominated marine ecosystems in the world. Many nationally and
internationally threatened, endangered, and depleted species thrive at Palmyra Atoll, including sea turtles,
pearl oysters, giant clams, reef sharks, coconut crabs, a large diversity of fish (at least 418 species), and
marine mammals. Palmyra supports 10 nesting seabird species, including one of the largest Red-footed
Booby colonies in the world, and the largest Black Noddy colony in the Central Pacific.
Palmyra is the only moist tropical atoll ecosystem in the Central Pacific whose natural resources are not
being impacted by growing human populations. However, non-native introduced black rats on Palmyra are
severely affecting seabirds, native crabs, and plant populations. In particular, they predate on native tree
and burrow-nesting seabirds and contribute to reducing non-native canopy species cover. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, and Island Conservation removed invasive rats from the
atoll in 2011 to protect native species from extinction. In the absence of invasive species, native animals
and plants are steadily recovering.
A N ECOSYSTEM WORT H RESTOR IN G
1. PA L M YR A ATO LL PROVIDES ESSENTIAL M IG RATORY HAB ITAT for
maintaining global shorebird populations. The rocky shoreline and extensive sand flats that
are exposed at Palmyra during low tide are important foraging areas for several wintering
migratory shorebirds, including large numbers of rare Bristle-thighed Curlews.
2. BE G I N N I N G IN 1 939, Palmyra Atoll was heavily used by the Navy as a base until the
end of World War II. It is believed that black rats were introduced to the atoll by the military
during this time. Approximately 6,000 military personnel were stationed on the atoll for
several years. Rats are well known to have severe negative effects on the ecosystems they
invade.
3. NO N - N ATI V E IN VASIVE RATS on Palmyra have been observed attacking and
consuming land crabs, and eating precious seeds and seedlings of native trees (such as the
Pisonia grandis), thus limiting native tree recruitment. Invasive rats on Palmyra also prey upon
ground-nesting and tree-nesting birds, particularly Sooty and White Terns, eating eggs and
chicks.
4. T HI S M U LTI STAGE PROJ EC T will restore the natural ecosystem, where each
action builds on the next. The first phase focused on the removal of black rats. Following
removal will be the reduction of invasive coconut palm canopy cover and restoration of the
native forest community. Next will come translocation of two endangered, insular bird species
that are at risk in their current ranges and, lastly, the active restoration of Palmyra’s extirpated
seabird colonies.
5. TH E PA RTN E RS are committed to restoring Palmyra Atoll. The USFWS administers
most of the atoll as part of its National Wildlife Refuge System; TNC, which owns CooperMenge Island and operates a small research field camp, is a co-manager. Island Conservation
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing extinctions by removing invasive species
from islands.
©Balint Vekassy
©Balint Vekassy