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Campaign to Protect Our Andrea Quail Dove Jacob Parker, Forestry & Wildlife Department, Andrea, May 2008 Introductions 4 Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Department ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Rare ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Plan for Change: Executive Summary 10 Site Overview: Protecting our Heritage .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Campaign Theory of Change: A Strategy For Change ........................................................................................................................... 12 Context for Change: The Environment and People of Serena & Andrea 16 Project Scope& Biodiversity Features .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Protected Area Information ............................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Geography ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Human Stakeholders ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Building a Campaign Strategy 25 Background ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Concept Model ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Threat Rating .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Factor Chain ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Results Chains ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 The People: A Catalyst for Change 32 Project Team........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Key Organizational Support ............................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Key Audiences ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Understanding the Community – Research Approaches ......................................................................................................................... 35 Qualitative Research ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Quantitative Research (Community-based Questionnaire Survey) ...................................................................................................... 36 Understanding the Community – Our Target Audiences .......................................................................................................................... 37 Building a Sustainable Strategy for Protecting Serena Island 42 Summary Change ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 43 Creating Positive Choices: Sustainable Rat Eradication ........................................................................................................................... 43 Reaching the Audience: Creative Brief & Marketing Mix ......................................................................................................................... 51 Messaging Framework ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Managing for Impact: Measures of Success 57 Measures of Success ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 58 Protocol for Social Monitoring ........................................................................................................................................................................... 62 Protocol for Law Enforcement........................................................................................................................................................................... 62 2 Protocol for Biological Monitoring .................................................................................................................................................................... 62 Role of Comparison Sites .................................................................................................................................................................................... 63 Building Momentum through Quick Wins ....................................................................................................................................................... 64 The Budget .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 65 Timeline..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 67 References and Acknowledgments 68 Appendices 69 3 Introductions Jacob Parker Wildlife Officer & Pride Campaign Manager Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Department For the past 11 years, I have worked with the Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Department, where I was responsible for the management of its offshore islands -- in particular Serena -- home to the endemic and endangered Andrea Quail Dove. In the fall of 2007, I was privileged to have been among 12 people chosen from a global pool to attend Rare’s Pride Program, which taught me how to develop and write a project plan for a targeted social marketing campaign. The implementation of this plan would change behaviors that underpin some of the most serious threats to the island and the cherished Andrea Quail Dove. I am not alone in this endeavor, but rather I am part of a group of conservationists trying to protect critical species from the threat of invasive species. What has given me great hope and confidence is the knowledge that this threat has been addressed successfully elsewhere, and that we have our colleagues to support us in this effort. We hope that that our voices will form a chorus that will take our campaigns from a few Pacific islands to sites around the world. To ensure my part of this global movement I have written this Project Plan. It will provide key stakeholders with details about the campaign’s tTeory of Change and summarize the planning process. This includes what the predominant threats are to the site, how and why the campaign is focusing on one of them, who and what drives this nominated threat and what are the strategies (barrier removal and marketing) that need to be deployed to reduce or mitigate this threat. It defines the campaign’s objectives, how progress will be monitored, and the timelines, finances and human resources that will be required. It is a living document, a map if you will, to show how the campaign will inform, change attitudes and provide incentives to behavior change that will reduce key threats to biodiversity and result in meaningful, measurable, sustained biodiversity conservation. Produced during the first and second university phases of the Pride program, the Results Chains, project objectives, creative brief, marketing mix, work plan, monitoring strategies and other key components outlined in this document have been reviewed by experts familiar with the site, and the entire plan has been read and approved by the Chief Forest Officer, Jo Smith. One of the reasons why I am so optimistic about this campaign’s success is because it aligns with many of the initiatives of the Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Department. We have a new wildlife law that improves protection for wildlife and enforcement of wildlife laws. Additionally, we have a national tourism program that emphasizes our unique terrestrial and marine resources, to which I hope to add Serena Island and our Andrea Quail Dove. Finally, this Project Plan, including its appendices and the accompanying EXCEL Work Plan, is also filed as part of my Master of Arts in Communication degree course (COMX 5350) at the University of Texas at El Paso. While I know this plan has so many details that it can seem overwhelming, I hope it also provides you with a sense of the color of the island, the commitment of our people, the urgency of action, and the feasibility of the solution. 4 Peter Arbend Cohort Director, Pride English Program Rare This section is created by the Cohort Director of Rare as part of the curriculum customization process. Conservation ultimately comes down to people – their behaviors toward nature, their beliefs about its value and their ability to protect it without sacrificing basic life needs. Conservationists must become as skilled in social change as in science, as committed to community-based solutions as national and international policymaking. Rare has developed a method for motivating behavior change and community support for conservation that has been tested and refined in more than 50 countries to date: the Pride campaign. By creating a stronger emotional and cultural connection between people and their environments, these campaigns dramatically reduce human-related threats to important ecosystems from the Caribbean to Latin America and from Africa to Asia. We are very excited about this cohort’s potential to address invasive species. Cohort Background A Global Issue The impetus for Rare’s developing and hosting a cohort of campaigns around the theme of mammalian invasives came from Sue Demille of the Pacific Island Invasive Coalition (PIIC),as well as the fact that invasive species appear to have played a role in at least half of all documented extinctions since 1600. Islands appear particularly vulnerable -- some 93% of 30 documented island extinctions of species and sub-species of amphibians and reptiles and 93% of 176 extinctions of species and sub-species of land and freshwater birds can be attributed to invasive species. In particular, the introduction of rodents to islands during centuries of human exploration and colonization have caused untold damage to native fauna and flora. In island countries like New Zealand, whole ecosystems evolved without terrestrial mammalian predators.The introduction of rats and mice have had a significant impact through predation and competition for shelter and food. In a recent study1 which looked at the global literature on the effects of commensal rats, credible reports were reviewed on impacts that involved 173 taxa of plants and animals from 46 distinct islands or archipelagos. Predation by non-indigenous species is the second most important threat and cause of extinction to island birds after habitat destruction.2 Some examples include: In 1918, Ship Rats invaded Lord Howe Island, after the shipwreck of S.S. Makambo. Within 5 years, five species of indigenous forest bird (>40% of all indigenous land birds) had become extinct. In 1943, Ship Rats invaded Midway Island after the establishment of a military base thereWithin 18 months two species 1 Have the harmful effects of introduced rats on islands been exaggerated? By D. Towns, I. Atkinson and C. Daugherty. In: Biological Invasions (2006) 00:1-29 2 King, W.B. 1985. Island birds: will the future repeat the past? In: Conservation of Island Birds (Moors, P.J., Ed.). International Council for Bird Preservation; Technical Publication No. 3: 3-15. 5 of land bird had disappeared. In 1962, Ship Rats invaded Big South Cape Island in New Zealand, resulting in the total extinction of one bird and one mammal species, the local extinction of an additional mammal and five other bird species, and severe habitat modifications. While rodents on their own can inflict serious damage, the combination of rodents and other introduced predators such as cats can be an even more deadly combination. Introduced cat populations can reach dangerously high levels when nonnative rodents are present as a dependable food source. Cats supported by introduced rodent populations caused the extinction of at least two endemic Pacific island birds--the Bonin I. Thrush and Iwo Jima Rail (Atkinson 1985). The Solution Of the 123 major island groups studied by Atkinson in 1982, over 100 had been colonized by commensal rodents with only 22 (18%) being “probably without rats.” Today, around the world, rodents continue to have a devastating effect on native wildlife. Sixty-five islands or island groups within the Pacific have invasive rodents which threaten native avifauna. For as long as rodents have invaded previously rodent-free lands, people have tried to be rid of them. For the most part, people’s desire to eradicate rats has been for selfish reasons – rats eat food and spread disease. A 1925 study conducted by C.E. Pemberton for the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association noted that in the early 1900s, plantation personnel annually removed some 141,000 rats from cane fields “with no apparent effect either on rat populations or on sugar cane damage.” In a desperate and disastrous attempt to reclaim their fields from rats, plantation owners brought in the mongoose in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, rats are nocturnal creatures and mongooses are not. (This is one of the most poignant examples of a well-intentioned mistake in the business of exotic species control – great proof that you need to think your strategies through thoroughly.) The first reports of people attempting to eradicate rodents for the less “selfish” reason of simply wanting another species to survive date back to the middle of the 20th century. In the late 1950’s, scientists noticed a precipitous decline in the population of White-faced Storm-petrels (Pelagodroma marina) on Maria Island (New Zealand) where hundreds were found dead, probably as a result of an earlier invasion of Norway rats. Warfarin bait was laid in an ad-hoc attempt to control the rodent population, a strategy that appeared to be successful as the rats disappeared by the early 1960s. A similar event also occurred in New Zealand in the early 1970s when Norway rats threatened seabird colonies on 32 ha Titi Island in the Marlborough Sound, off N.E. South Island. Again, bait was laid by hand with some success. Rats were not completely exterminated, and further poisoning occurred in 1972 and then again in 1973, an initiative that met with success. Over time, however, we have gotten better at eradicating rodents and other mammalian invasives. Introduced rodents have been eradicated from over 90 islands in New Zealand alone and over 230 sites worldwide (IC analysis, Galvan et al). In May 2007, Rare announced a proposed cohort around the theme of mammalian invasives and invited Pacific Island nations to send representatives to attend a social marketing workshop hosted by Rare in Guam, Micronesia. This workshop brought together participants from 10 SIDS3 around the theme of using Pride to eliminate invasive species. Participants were exposed to the concepts and practical application of social marketing and examples as to how Rare’s campaigns have 3 SIDS – formal acronym for Small Island Developing States – see http://www.sidsnet.org/ 6 successfully driven behavior change around a wide range of human-induced threats on four continents. Experts were invited to present on the impact of invasive species on endemic bird populations; vector transmission, monitoring and control; rodent eradication techniques; and the role of people in the spread of non-native species. Complementary sessions provided by Rare included creating a Theory of Change (ToC) and understanding barriers to shifting behaviors. A Cohort-level Theory of Change resulted (shown on page 9), and from this each site developed its own early draft ToC. A Bright Spot is an example where a conservation solution has been effectively implemented, and where Rare believes the solution can be replicated across many similar sites. Participants in the 2007 workshop were introduced to sites where eradication of rodents and cats had been successfully achieved, including Wilmott Island in New Zealand. Wilmott is a valuable Bright Spot because Black Rats were successfully eradicated from the island using comparatively easy and replicable methods with measurable, lasting conservation results. Managed by the Wauganga National Park Authority, Wilmott Island -- the easternmost and smallest of the northern Wauganga Channel islands -- lies 7 km southwest of Christchurch, New Zealand. Approximately 4.5 km long, with 9.5 km of coastline, this uninhabited island is composed of steep rocky cliffs indented with sea caves. The severe impact on the Xavier Murrelet (Synthliboramphus xavii) by non-native Black Rats (Rattus rattus) has been recorded since at least early in the 20th century (Wilbur 1969, Seig et al. 1977, and McNulty. 2000). A Proven Approach Wilmott Island harbors abundant potential nesting habitat, but only a remnant Murrelet population persisted in the 1990s, (H. Cauler, unpubl. data). In 2001, with funding from the New Zealand Fund for Faunal Restoration, the Wauganga National Park Authority eradicated rats from Wilmott using bait stations and poison pellets (Howard et al. 2005). Breeding seabirds in general, and the Xavier’s Murelett in particular, were expected to greatly benefit from this eradication effort because the potential extirpation of this small remnant colony could be prevented and a much more suitable nesting habitat would be available for restoration of a relatively large colony (McCloony et al. 2000). “Subsequent research has proved this to be the case, breeding effort, hatching success and nesting distribution of Xavier’s Murrelets increased in the years following the eradication of Black Rats (2003–2005) as compared with pre-eradication years (2000– 2002). Within sea-cave study areas, nest-site occupancy increased from 36% to 51%, nesting attempts increased 42%, hatching success increased from 42% to 80% and nest depredation decreased from 52% to 7%. Post-eradication, Murrelets began nesting in habitats previously occupied by rats, including Fiddlestick Rock, where Murrelet breeding was last reported in 1929. Initial post-eradication signs of recovery of Xavier’s Murrelets on Wilmott Island are encouraging for the eventual restoration of this important colony.” After the Rare sponsored workshop, participants were invited to apply for a spot in the Cohort. A total of 25 applications were submitted and these were scored according to Rare’s admissions criteria, including: Forming a Cohort for Change The importance of the site – Being a site with recognized high biodiversity value is a prerequisite for applying to the Pride program, i.e., United Nations World Heritage Sites, biodiversity hotspots, national or regional protected areas, or areas recognized by international conservation bodies as a priority (or that are soon to be placed on endangered lists) Clear threat to the site that fits with theme – Negative human activities are occurring in or around the site that threaten the site’s biodiversity. The principal threat at the site should align with the proposed program theme. 7 Some of the other criteria that Rare uses to determine admission include: A strong implementing partner who views Pride as integral to their long-term site conservation strategy, is committed to achieving project success in the community, and is dedicated to supporting its selected Campaign Manager. A quality Campaign Manager who is a rising star at the Implementing Partner organization, personally motivated to run a Pride campaign, academically strong and a critical thinker, influential in the community, and capable of executing for results. Has a Theory of Change that demonstrates a high likelihood of behavior change linked to a clearly defined target audience with appropriate incentives and measurement. A high potential for conservation impact indicated by a specific and measurable conservation result that has a direct link to the focus threat, a logical Theory of Change, and the potential for sustainability. Our Model of Change From the 25 initial applications, 12 were ultimately successful. The successful applicants were invited to attend the PEP 1 cohort. Eight of the campaigns will be working on rodent eradication and four on cat eradication. Rare is delighted that Andrea and Serena were selected as one of the 12. Uniting this cohort is a common Theory of Change. A Theory of Change is a logic model that explains the causal relationships that need to occur in order to achieve our targeted conservation results. The first stage involves engaging people – changing minds and attitudes, and the dialog about nature. The second step is creating an opportunity for change by removing barriers to change. The third step is validating that change and reducing threats. In the final stage, conservation results are actually achieved and sustained because of the community’s new attitudes and behaviors. 8 Cohort Level Theory of Change K + A + IC + BR → BC → TR → CR Knowledge Attitude Communities know about the economic, environmental, and health problems caused by invasives; how and why eradication should occur; and the role they can play. Communities support the eradication of invasives and agree to play a proactive role in preventing reinvasion. Interpersonal Communications Community stakeholders engage in dialogue about the environmental, economic, and health impacts of invasive species, as well as the need for eradication and their role in it. Barrier Removal Behavior Change Support (financial, technological, and technical) provided to facilitate invasive species eradication & the prevention of reinvasion, including use of snap traps, veterinary support for cat neutering, etc. Vector transmission eliminated by changed behaviors, including setting snap traps in fisher holds, abandoning the practice of dumping unwanted kittens in the bush, etc. Threat Reduction Elimination of invasive mammals (rats and/or cats) and reinvasion prevented. Conservation Results Rebounding of native wildlife populations that are susceptible to rodent and/or cat predation (Social benefit improved health & economic indicators as invasives spread disease & destroy crops). It is our hope that lessons learned from this site and the cohort in general will be shared with other sites and that this will be the first of many cohorts on the theme of invasives. To learn more about this campaign and to follow its activities, go to RarePlanet.org. Respectfully, Peter Arbend Cohort Director, Pride English Program Rare 9 Plan for Change: Executive Summary Note to Campaign Managers This section of the Project Plan should be completed in WORD before the return to the second university phase. 10 Site Overview: Protecting our Heritage Home to the Unique Andrea Quail Dove Serena Island represents the last stronghold of the unique Andrea Quail Dove, Geotrygon andrea. Extirpated from neighboring Andrea because of habitat destruction and predation by invasive species, this endemic dove numbers some 100 individuals. Today, the Serena Island population is also at risk by a complex mix of direct and indirect factors which threaten it with extinction. Loss of this dove would mean the loss of Andrea’s only unique avian species, as well as the loss of a living symbol of nationhood. A Species and Habitat under Complex Threats Over the past decade, experts have evaluated and prioritized the threats facing Serena Island in general and its remnant population of Andrea Quail Doves in particular. The island and its fauna and flora are threatened by a complex array of direct and indirect threats, the most serious and pervasive being predation by non-native Black (Ship) Rats which feed on the eggs and young of birds, recreational hunting of birds, and the invasive Galvin fig. Threat Rating4 exercises have been conducted comparing the impact of various threats on priority biodiversity targets -invasive rodents were determined to represent a “very high” threat to the Quail Dove and a “high” threat in general. Invasive rodents are now breeding on Serena Island and their numbers are on the increase. Unless the Black Rats are eradicated from Serena and their reinvasion prevented, the Quail Dove will be extirpated. A Campaign to Transform the Context Techniques for rodent eradication have been proven elsewhere around the world, including on Anacapa Island (California) which has seen a subsequent rebounding of its resident Xantus Murrelet population, as well as on Wilmott Island in New Zealand. While Andrea’s Forestry & Wildlife Department supports the use of poison and bait traps to eradicate the non-native rats on Serena, permitting has been stalled with Government Ministers being concerned over the possible public outcry that poisoning might bring. Serena has long been used as a weekend and holiday picnic locale by Andeans looking for a tranquil day out. Even if rats were to be eradicated on Serena, repopulation would occur unless every fisher and recreational visitor arriving on the island ensured that their boats were rodent free and set traps to prevent the accidental transmission of new rodents from the mainland. Successful eradication and prevention of reinvasion will require changes in the behavior of fishers and recreational visitors: 1. We will need to convince recreational visitors that rodent eradication is necessary, safe, and should be supported; 2. We will then need to convince the political directorate that the public supports eradication and that permitting should be approved; 3. We will need to ensure that boat owners and operators prevent rodent reinvasion by setting and checking snap traps on their vessels, and that this action is done conscientiously and consistently over time. Only through this three-step process might the invasive rodent problem be solved and the Quail Dove population secured. 4 Using CMP’s threat rating methodology, which ranks each threat’s impact by scope, severity and irreversibility -- See http://www.conservationmeasures.org/ 11 Campaign Theory of Change: A Strategy For Change Note to Campaign Managers To eliminate the principal threat posed to the endemic and endangered Andrea Quail Dove, invasive rodents must be eradicated The diagrams on the following pages can be created in from Serena Island and their reinvasion prevented. Key target groups PowerPoint and pasted in. (fishers and recreational visitors) will be informed of the biodiversity value of the island, the threats posed by rodents and the benefits of eradication. They will be asked to petition the government to approve an eradication program and modify their behaviors to ensure reinvasion does not occur. There will be 100% compliance in adopting rodent monitoring and trapping strategies on their boats prior to their using the island. The Serena Pride Campaign will be deemed successful if rodents are eradicated from the island, reinvasion has not taken place and the population of endemic Andrea Quail Doves rebound from 100 birds in 2007 to 250 by 2010. Similar successes have been achieved on Wilmott Island in New Zealand, offering us hope for Serena and its dove! 12 FISHERS: Final Theory of Change Matrix 13 RECREATIONAL VISITORS - Final Theory of Change Matrix 14 Timeline for Transformation Note to Campaign Managers The initial part of a Pride campaign is scheduled for two years. This two-year This diagram is an indicative way to present the flow of your period includes the training of the campaign team, planning the campaign that mixes results chains and timeline. eradication strategy, community engagement, initial eradication, and training fishers and recreational users about how to stop reinvasion. Once the initial stages of the Pride complete have been executed, there will an assessment and then plans made for how to sustain the program. 15 Context for Change: The Environment and People of Serena & Andrea Note to Campaign Managers The background to your site section of the Project Plan should have been completed in WORD before arriving at the first university phase, in the prework that was assigned to you. The sections on preliminary Concept Models, preliminary Factor Chains, preliminary threat rating, and proven solutions will be completed during the FIRST UNIVERSITY PHASE and then iterated upon during the Planning Phase. 16 Project Scope& Biodiversity Features Project Name Campaign to Protect Our Andrea Quail Dove Project Data Effective Date October 07 (university phase) to July 09 (project completion) Scope/Site Name Serena Island Scope/Site Description Serena Island: Comprises 9 ha and lies 2.7 km off the western coast of Andrea. Serena Island is governmentowned and is managed by the Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Department. For some years it has been proposed as a National Park because of its native fauna and flora. No action has been taken in passing the required legislation, in part because of a lack of political will. Roughly oval in shape, the island has a maximum elevation of 46 m and includes a smaller offshore islet, known as Petite Serena, to the south-west. The island lacks roads, permanent settlements and other infrastructure, although there is a small landing jetty and several huts used by fishers that overnight there. Access to Serena is by boat from Silver Springs Beach that lies south of Woking on the Andrean main island. There are no perennial rivers or sites of permanent agriculture. It is thought that goats once roamed Serena Island but they were probably extirpated from there more than a century ago. Biodiversity Area Serena Island is 9 ha. The campaign will focus on the people living on Andrea. Andrea (544 sq. kms) = 54,400 hectares 17 Biodiversity Background Ecosystem type/Physical Description Tropical Dry Forest [1.5] (Deciduous Seasonal Woodland); with Tropical Dry Shrubland [3.5] (Coastal scrub/Littoral Woodland); Rocky shores [10.1] (Rock pavement formation); Sand, Shingle or Pebble Shores [10.2] (Beach and Dune vegetation). Biodiversity Hotspot Oceania (Conservation International) Flora The vegetation on the seaward side of its windward beaches include plants like the Seaside Xavier (Sesinituvium portulacastris), Lobster grasses (Spacium virginicus and Desarium dischum), transitioning to Dog Leg Ipomoea (Ipomoea caninensis) that dominates the dunes further inland. Serena Island’s leeward beaches tend to be narrower and lack the dunes which may be present on its windward coasts. Pioneer vegetation like Dog Leg Ipomoea quickly gives way to scrub and littoral woodland. This coastal woodland zone comprises predominately evergreen species like Pinkwood (Ciabala rosa), Whitewood (Tabebuia spp.), Sequential (Tiares domicera), and the endemic Hairy Fig (Ficus facolia), interspersed with Coconut (Cocos nucifera). On the exposed areas to the north of the island, clumps of Pipe Organ Cactus (Pilosocereus flavens) and Barrel Cacti (Ferocactus spp.) dominate. Further inland, and especially along the eastern coast of Serena Island, vegetation is dominated by shrubs like Coastal Sage (Croton rosa), Solicia (Croabus heodonii), as well as Agave and vines. Small patches of deciduous seasonal woodland or dry forest remain in the central and southern parts of the island. This has an upper canopy of 15 m height and a lower closed shrub/tree layer. The upper trees are mainly deciduous, shedding their leaves during the dry season (December through April). The include Whitewood (Tabebuia spp.) and Hibiscusum (Hibiscus simaruba). The lower shrubby layer can be quite dense and includes thorny species and lianas. Fauna Serena Island is home to the rare and endemic Andrea Quail Dove (Geotrygon andrea). The Andrea Quail Dove is a small, plump, colorful ground-dwelling bird, measuring approximately 19-28 cm in length. The species is distinguished by having a yellow rump, dark blue-back wings and tail. The bird’s underparts comprise a brown vent with light blue belly and chest. It has a dark crown, pale blue face, white eye ring, black neck markings, as 18 well as a red beak and feet. The sexes are similar, but the female is generally duller in coloration. The Quail Dove is a species of the dense scrub thicket. As a consequence, is among the most difficult birds to study or even observe. The best chance of seeing a Quail Dove is at dawn or dusk when they feed in open areas. Quail Doves are typically shy and wary -- they will normally make their escape on foot but, if startled, will explode into a short, fast flight into dense cover. This species feeds primarily on the ground where they forage for seeds and, occasionally, small invertebrates. They build a solid cup-shaped nest in a low tree or on the ground, in which they lay two flecked, white eggs. Incubation takes 12-13 days with another 12-14 days to fledging. There may be a second brood. Today, the Dove is listed as “Critical” in the 2006 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by Birdlife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for the IUCN) due to its very low numbers and restricted habitat size. Other Fauna Seabirds are commonly seen along Serena Island’s coasts -- including Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens), Queen Terns (Thalasseus miniimus), and Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster). None are believed to nest on the island, although reports from the last century talk of Frigatebirds and petrels using the coastal trees and hillsides for breeding. Petrels and shearwaters are known to nest on similar offshore islands elsewhere in the region, but not on Serena -- possibly because of the presence of commensal (predatory) rodents. There are no known endemic reptiles, amphibians, or arthropods. Anoles are the only lizards that are found on Serena Island. Anolis viridis remains comparatively abundant; it is diurnal, fiercely defensive, and arboreal. Breeding occurs during the summer and the species are egg-layers. Anoles eat crickets, cockroaches, spiders, and moths. Anolis viridis is also abundant on “mainland” Andrea. 19 Protected Area Information Protected Area Categories None For some years Serena Island has been proposed as a National Park, because of its native fauna and flora. No action has been taken in passing the required legislation, in part because of a lack of political will. Red-List Species Andrea Quail Dove is listed as “Critical” in the 2006 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN) due to its very low numbers and restricted habitat size. It is absolutely protected under local legislation (Wildlife Protection Act, Andrea, 1980). Serena is also home to an endemic species of Hairy Fig (Ficus facolia), which is common in the coastal woodland zone. Primary Threats 8.1 Invasive and other problematic species and genes/invasive non-native/alien species Secondary Threat 5.1 Biological resource use/hunting and collecting terrestrial animals Access Information By small craft boat only Visitation Information Although no one lives on Serena Island and there are no settlements, historic sites, or evidence of past habitation, fishers do overnight there and the island is popular with local residents who picnic on its beaches during the weekend. A survey conducted by the Fisheries Department in 2007 estimate that between 50 and 70 individual fishing boats use Serena Island at any point in the year – most coming from the Woking area. On some days more than twenty people may visit hiring boat drivers who operate from Silver Springs’ beach. Most visitors remain on the beaches and do not venture into the island’s interior. On several occasions, the Forestry Department has removed the huts constructed by fishers, believing them to be unsightly and in contravention of local laws. This has caused tension between the Forestry Department and the local fishing co-operative. Huts have been rebuilt and remain to this day. The fishers use the huts and the flat sandy beach to dry and repair their nets. They have been doing this for as long as anyone can remember and are unwilling to change. Current Uses of the Site Open space Serena Island is government-owned and is managed by the Andrean Forestry Department. It is currently afforded only limited protection. 20 Management Resources The management of Serena Island falls to the Forestry and Wildlife Department within Andrea’s Ministry of Natural Resources. The Department was formerly under the Ministry of Agriculture, but a recent reshuffle has seen the establishment of a new Government Ministry. The Forestry Department is headed up by Jo Smith who oversees a team of 47 Forest Officers and some 60 daily-paid staff. The annual recurrent budget of the Department is A$527,000. The department has seven vehicles and a small patrol boat. The Department has a good working relationship with the Andrean University, often accepting summer interns to carry out research and a long-standing Memorandum of Understanding with the Bayleigh Zoological Society which holds a captive population of Andrea Quail Dove. Finally, the Department has recently received a pledge of support from the Stallman Foundation to finance a rodent eradication program and Rodent Eradication International (REI) has conducted a feasibility study which showed that bait station eradication was indeed feasible using Brodifacoum. Sadly, the Minister of Health has refused to grant a permit for eradication to take place on the grounds of “public health concerns.” Sustainability note: Behavior change can regress with the passage of time as people forget or lose interest, or as new entrants that have not been exposed to messaging use SI. Behaviors can also regress when barriers return. To ensure that behavior regression does not take place, the Forestry Department pledges that outreach work on Serena and funds for “barrier removal” will be embedded in all future annual work plans receiving priority support. Indeed, in the upcoming Strategic Review conducted by Andrea’s Ministry of Finance, a call will be made for a 64% increase in the Forestry Department’s outreach budget in 2009. 21 Geography Project Latitude 1821’02.54”N Project Longitude 6207’06.05”W Country/Countries Andrea States/Provinces N/A Municipalities Andrea comprises 7 municipalities Legislative Districts 22 Site Map Reference 22 Human Stakeholders Human Stakeholder Population 0 on Serena Island Size Historical Description Due to a lack of water, Serena Island has never had permanent residents. There is some evidence that the island has been used for grazing goats and may have had seasonal residents. However, for the past 50 years, the island has been uninhabited. The first European arrival on Serena was Andre Gilbert in 1498, who was greeted by native Indians who welcomed him with local fruits and a collection of native fauna. Andrea was first colonized by the English in 1638. During the two centuries that followed, it became a prize fought over by France and England. Ceded to the British by the Treaty of Mercedes, the island remained under British dominion until it gained independence in 1977. Since 1977, society has evolved peacefully with a relatively stable parliamentary democracy. Serena’s main political orientation is directed through its status as a Commonwealth nation. Campaign’s Social Context Ethnic and Cultural Mix Most of Andrea’s 100,000 people live in the coastal belt, with the three principal towns – Rima, Teeboo and Woking – accounting for more than 60% of the population. They are of mostly African descent (upwards of 90% of the population). There is also a small but economically significant biracial minority representing approximately 5%, with an Indian minority of some 3%. Just 1.1% is of European origin (descendants of French, British, and Irish colonists). The official language of the country is English. Demographics A 1990 Survey conducted by the Andrean Statistics Department (comprising 49,620 respondents between the ages of 15 to 65 years) found the plurality of respondents were within the 30 to 40 age group (25%) and the 20-30 age group (20%). Education The results showed that 44% of the sample completed grades 8 or 9, 26% reached secondary school, and 6% completed post secondary. Five percent of the sample had no formal education. When "completed level of education" was crosstabulated with "literacy level," indications were that 54% of the sample was deemed literate, 19% functionally literate, and 27% not literate. GDP - Per Capita (PPP): US$18,400 (2006 Est.) Legislative Context Managed by Andrean Forestry Department. It is currently afforded only limited protection. 23 Andrea is a parliamentary democracy. Forestry Department Management Plan The 2001-2010 Ten-Year Forest Management Plan was approved by the Andrean Parliament on August 14, 2000, and commits the Government, “To strengthen the protection of Andrea’s fauna and flora for future generations of its people to cherish and enjoy.” The following excerpts from the Plan pertain specifically to endangered species and to Serena Island: Section 5.0 Endangered and Endemic Species “Recognizing the special place that endemic species have in Andrea’s natural patrimony, the Forestry Department will develop “Species Recovery Plans” for those animals and plants deemed endangered; conduct censuses for those whose status remains unknown; and work in collaboration with other Government Departments, national NGOs, and the international conservation community to mitigate threats to those whose recovery is at risk. Priority will be given to the Andrean Quail Dove, a species extirpated from the mainland which is critically endangered in its remaining habitat on Serena Island.” Section 6.0 Protected Areas, National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries Section 6.10 Serena Island “Proposed as a National Park, Serena Island serves as a home to unique fauna and flora, as well as a place for quiet recreation enjoyed by Andreans from all walks of life. The Forestry Department will strive to maintain the island’s multiple-use nature while continuing to evaluate its status in line with public opinion and scientific study.” Forestry & Wildlife Legislation The 1980 Wildlife Protection Act provides absolute “Protection” to the Andrea Quail Dove which is listed in the “First Schedule” of the Ordinance. “Except by authority of a license or permit issued under Section 10 of this Act, any person who: i. hunts or takes any protected wildlife or the eggs, fry, or young thereof; ii. damages or destroys the nest, fry, or young of any protected wildlife; …. shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months.” 24 Building a Campaign Strategy Note to Regions All regions need to create some kind of Concept Model in order to build Factor Chains and results chains. However, you do not necessarily need a “perfect” Concept Model. Only insert a Concept Model for the site here if it truly reflects the situation at the campaign site and the implementation partner team has agreed with it. 25 Background The Serena Island Campaign outlined in this Project Plan forms part of Rare’s invasive species cohort (PEP 0). To learn more about the overall cohort, see Peter Arbend’s comments in the Introduction. Concept Model A Concept Model is a diagram of a set of relationships among factors that are believed to impact or lead to a target condition (e.g., the species status). The Campaign for Serena Island is part of the cohort of campaigns that is working to protect endemic birds through the reduction of invasive predators. The Concept Model developed by SafeBirds was shown at a workshop hosted by Rare in May 2007. After stakeholders felt comfortable with the primary process, they then built their own Concept Model for Serena. This model was further refined after the workshop and prior to the formal Pride application process with the help of expert stakeholders. This Concept Model is now the basis of the following conservation planning work. This is a first look at the Serena Island Concept Model after inputting all direct threats and contributing factors (including indirect threats) from the Stakeholder meeting. The connecting arrows highlight the relationship between the factors and how they impact different targets on Serena Island. 26 Contributing Factors/Indirect Threats [yellow boxes] Direct Threats [red boxes] Targets [green circles] 27 Threat Rating A threat rating is a method for project design, management and monitoring that enables you to focus on the key biological threats. In the Open Standards method, it is assumed that if you have reduced threats then you have made progress towards improving the viability of the conservation target. A review of literature, including IUCN Red Lists, conducted by Rare in conjunction with the University of New Halifax showed that top-rated threats to avian species in the tropics were (in order of priority): 5.3 Biological Resource Use/Logging and Wood Harvesting 8.1 Invasive and Other Problematic Species and Genes/Invasive Non-native/Alien Species 5.1 Biological Resource Use/Hunting and Collecting Terrestrial Animals Rare subsequently identified an opportunity to address the threat of 8.1 Invasive and Other Problematic Species and Genes/Invasive Non-native/ Alien Species for a number of reasons. First, there are proven examples of eradication programs. Secondly, throughout the Pacific there were many examples of endemic birds having already been extirpated from the larger islands but critical remnant populations were “hanging on” on smaller offshore islands. Eradication is feasible on these offshore islands and, if successful, would provide a safe sanctuary where the threat of logging and wood harvesting is much less (5.3).Finally, the ability to control hunting (5.1) is much greater. As such, the focal threat (invasive rodents) was selected during Rare’s cohort development process. Sites applying to the cohort were required (during the application process) to validate that the threat of invasives was indeed a priority and to have expert confirmation of this. In the case of Serena Island, Dr. Elisha Camerol from the Ministry of Natural Resources assisted in conducting a Threat Ranking analysis using the Open Standards for Conservation to evaluate the various threats that impact Serena Island by Scope, Severity, and Irreversibility.5 Dr. Camerol confirmed the devastating effects of rodents on terrestrial bird species, ranking this threat as “Very High” with specific regard to the Andrea Quail Dove. Moreover, he provided the Forestry Department with photographic evidence taken by Dwight Carneige from the University of Newtown of a rat having eaten the eggs and young of a Quail Dove. Scope - Most commonly defined spatially as the proportion of the target that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within ten years given the continuation of current circumstances and trends. For ecosystems and ecological communities, scope is typically measured as the proportion of the target's occurrence. For species, it is measured as the proportion of the target's population. Severity - Within the scope, the level of damage to the target from the threat that can reasonably be expected given the continuation of current circumstances and trends. For ecosystems and ecological communities, severity is typically measured as the degree of destruction or degradation of the target within the scope. For species, it is usually measured as the degree of reduction of the target population within the scope. Irreversibility or Permanence - The degree to which the effects of a threat can be reversed and the target affected by the threat restored. 5 28 Dr. Camerol also confirmed that the most likely mode of transmission of new populations of rodents was by boat (fishing boat or yacht) or by overnight campers that bring supplies to the island. Serena Island is too far from Andrea for rodents like Ship Rats to swim there. Dr. Camerol assessed that if rodents could be removed from Serena Island, their reinvasion might be prevented by having boat owners carefully check their hold before landing, placing metal sleeves on the ropes they use to tie up with, and setting snap traps. Victor Holdfast “Snap” Traps cost US$19.90 for a box of 12, excluding shipping. Dr. Camerol stressed that there would need to be 100% participation among all people who arrive on Serena. A single pregnant rat landing on Serena Island could jeopardize the entire eradication program. Gaining 100% participation would require the support and active assistance of groups like fishers and recreational visitors that visit the island. The cost of participation is minimal since Dr. Camerol estimated that 70 snap traps costing US$116 would be required to trap every fishing boat visiting Serena. Dr. Camerol again stressed that the threat caused by rodents was critical. If this was removed, the Andrea Quail Dove population would be secure. If other threats, especially hunting, could be addressed either simultaneously or sequentially, this would be a plus. The Forestry Department’s pledge to increase enforcement should help address the latter. Dr Camerol also assisted in the creation of Factor Chains that helped the project team understand “who” and “what” lie behind the threat of invasive rodents and their impact on Serena’s Andrea Quail Dove population. The Factor Chains shown below were also reviewed by Rare’s staff and subsequently used by the Campaign Manager during the field planning phase to craft Results Chain and design his formative research. Factor Chain A Factor Chain is a diagram that illustrates the causal relationship among a specific group to a series of attitudes and behavior that threaten the conservation target. We have created two Factor Chains, one for each primary audience: Fishers and recreational visitors. FFactor Chain for Fishers The Factor Chain for the fishers audience includes only the contributing factors (including indirect threats) that are caused by this specific audience, related to the direct threat of invasive rats. These factors include: Introduction of rats to Serena Island by boats; fishers visiting the island by boat; (lack of) awareness about how and why to eradicate rats and willingness to do so; and (lack of) awareness that rats are in their boats and may be an environmental problem. Project Scope Serena Island Fishermen visiting island by boat (Lack of) awareness that rats are in their (FISHERMEN) boats and may be an environmental problem (Lack of) awareness about how and why to eradicate rats and willingness to do so Introduction of rats to Serena by boat Rat population on Serena Island Invasive rats (predation of nests & young) Quail Dove population 29 Factor Chain for Recreational Visitors This shows the factor chain for recreational visitors with the contributing factors (including indirect threats) being: Introduction of rats to Serena Island by boat; (lack of) willingness to act in either supporting rodent eradication and/or National Park declaration; (lack of) awareness of threats posed to Serena Island, their causes, and solutions. The simplified factor chain shows a dotted box around recreational visitors, as they also lay behind the threat of invasive rats. An understanding of these chains helped direct our research. Project Scope Serena Island Recreational Visitors camping/picnicing (Lack of) awareness of (RECREATIONAL VISITORS) threats posed to SI, their causes and solutions (eradication/NP) (Lack of) willingness to act in either supporting rodent eradication and/or NP declaration Introduction of rats to Serena by boat Rat population on Serena Island Invasive rats (predation of nests & young) Quail Dove population To eliminate the threat of rodent predation, any successful campaign would have to create an enabling environment to support the elimination of rats from Serena, while preventing their reintroduction. Results Chains Results Chains clearly and concisely lay out (1) the strategies the Pride campaign is going to use and (2) the expected sequence of results that the campaign is expected to create all along our Theory of Change for each of our target audiences. The campaign’s proposed approach can be represented as two Results Chains,6 one for each audience to be targeted – the fishers who would have to adopt new behaviors including the use of snap traps on their vessels to prevent the reintroduction of rodents onto Serena island; and recreational visitors who would need to show support for the eradication program in order for Ministerial permitting to be approved. The Results Chains shown below were “built” from the Factor Chains described previously and illustrate the causal sequence of actions required to achieve the campaign’s desired goals. These Results Chains were also used as a foundation for developing preliminary objectives and ascertaining, through quantitative and qualitative research, the information7 that would be required to design effective social marketing and behavior change interventions. A good results chain shows i: each major strategy that has been identified and where those strategies are expected to impact the results chain; ii: major target audiences; iii: each intermediate result that the campaign is expected to cause; iv: the logical and causal linkage from one intermediate result to the next. 7 For example, prevailing levels of KAP, trusted sources, barriers to behavior change, incentives that might motivate the adoption of new behaviors, media preferences, etc. 6 30 Results Chain for Fishers Results Chain for Recreational Visitors 31 The People: A Catalyst for Change Note to Campaign Managers The sections describing the project team and key stakeholders should be produced in WORD and should have been completed as pre-work before the first university phase. The quantitative and qualitative research, including survey design (Survey Pro) implementation and analysis are completed during the field planning phase, while the drafting of the creative brief and marketing mix occur during the second university phase (Module 3). 32 Project Team The successful implementation of this Pride campaign will take a team of key stakeholders working together in partnership. The Results Chains articulated previously show that a number of interlocking strategies are required including the design and implementation of a social marketing campaign to raise awareness of fishers and recreational visitors about the problems caused by invasive rodents on Serena and the need for a safe and effective eradication program. The campaign will need to gain the support of its target audiences to petition the government for eradication approval and to adopt new behaviors, such as fishers checking their boats’ holds for rodents while setting snap traps to prevent reinvasion. Given Name Surname Name of the organization this person works for Job title or work description (i.e. fisher, stakeholder) Team member, project leader, stakeholder, project advisor, etc. Jo Smith Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Dept Chief Forest Officer Team Leader Jacob Parker Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Dept Team Leader / Campaign Manager Jane Stallman Ministry of Natural Resources Wildlife Officer in charge of offshore islands & Pride Campaign Manager Chief Scientist Sandy Grunt Ministry of Health Duncan Major Andrea Naturalists Society James Waterman Alfredo Nathan Rodent Eradication International Rodent Eradication International Chief Environmental Health Officer Executive Director Senior Eradication Officer Eradication Officer of REI Project Advisor - Environment & Biodiversity Project Advisor - Environmental Health Project Advisor - (Avian Biodiversity & Faunal Monitoring) Project Advisor - (Rodent Monitoring & Eradication) Manages Rat Eradication Program See Project Work Plan for a list of other supporting partners and key stakeholders. Key Organizational Support The Forestry and Wildlife Department The management of Serena Island falls to the Forestry and Wildlife Department within Andrea’s Ministry of Natural Resources. The Department was formerly under the Ministry of Agriculture, but a recent reorganization has seen the establishment of a new Government Ministry. The Forestry Department is headed up by Jo Smith who oversees a team of 47 Forest Officers and some 60 daily-paid staff. The Forestry Department’s head office is located in Rima, the island’s capital (population 60,000). There are sub-offices at Woking on the island’s north coast and at Montreal (just 33 outside the island’s Central Forest Reserve). The Woking office houses the Department’s Protected Areas’ field staff, including Jacob Parker who has responsibility for off-shore islets. Rodent Eradication International Established in 1986, Rodent Eradication International has become the global leader in Rodent Eradication in SIDS (Small Island Developing States). Founded by Dirk Jared and Jason Galvin, formally of the New Zealand Rodent Eradication Program, REI is dedicated to protecting island ecosystems and preventing avian extinctions. Recent successes have included the removal of Ship Rats from McElhinny Island in the Leeward archipelago and the eradication of the House Mouse from Pearce Islet off the south coast of Jamaica. In 2006, REI conducted a feasibility study in the eradication of Ship Rats from Serena Island. Key Audiences While the project team and the other key stakeholders listed in Appendix 1 are key to the project’s success, no group is more important than the two target audiences that have been identified, namely fishers and recreational visitors: Audiences Fishers Recreational Visitors # of People in Audience 199 Audience Summary Andrea’s coastal communities have fished its waters since first colonization. Traditional in outlook and generally older in age, fishers use open pirogues with small outboard engines (or occasionally sails). They fish the onshore reefs, seldom venturing far into open water. Most of the approximately 200 fishers that fish the waters around Serena are from Silver Springs. They occasionally overnight on the island. Around 2,000 With open access, theoretically any resident of Andrea or tourist is unique visitors a potential recreational visitor to Serena. In reality, however, even the modest cost of taking a boat to the island precludes many of the poor from being defined in this audience. For the most part, recreational visitors to Serena comprise Andrea’s middle class. It is, and has for many years, been a favored picnic spot for young families. Role Within the Campaign Fishers that use Serena and who might serve as vectors for the transmission and reintroduction of rodents onto Serena post eradication and whose behavior will need to change, in so much as they need to be willing to check their boat holds for signs of rodent infestation and to consistently set and use snap traps to kill them. Recreational visitors who use Serena for picnicking must be seen to support rodent eradication in order for the Minister of Health to approve the use of bait stations and poison bait in the removal of invasive rodents from the island. 34 Understanding the Community – Research Approaches The purpose of the Pride campaign is to engage the community and the target audience in changing their behaviors to reduce threats. This can only occur if the campaign resonates with the audience’s explicit and implicit needs. These needs may be material, emotional, or communityoriented. Dan Heath, author of “Switch,” would argue the best change movements have a savvy mix between rational arguments and emotional appeals and create a pathway for change. Therefore, the aim of the campaign is get fishers and recreational visitors to care about the change, let them know that change is possible, and then help lead them through a pathway towards change. In order to reveal those needs we have conducted different types of research, beginning with background qualitative research and ending with quantitative research. As a result of this research we can ensure that the campaign’s benefit exchange is positive (that the new behavior is more beneficial than the old behavior) and that the campaign’s message touch the target audiences’ minds and hearts. Qualitative Research In-depth interviews In-depth Interviews are a research method in which an interviewer asks a series of structured questions. These questions may be quantitative, but more generally provide the opportunity for an open-ended exploratory conversation. Focused conversations were conducted with the following key groups: Fishers Recreational visitors Chief Health Officer These conversations helped to build a composite portrait of the target groups and provide information needed to understand the benefit exchange that may be required to effect sustained behavior change. These conversations also helped to design the quantitative survey (questionnaire survey) that was used to sample a larger group. Observational Research There are many terms for observational research, but it boils down to understanding what people do by watching them to do it in their natural setting. Observational research is important because people often say the right answer but do something else (either intentionally or unintentionally). In order to do this, we visited Serena Island on four different recreational boats and spent the day with families picnicking and enjoying the Island (sometimes work is fun!). From this we have a better sense of what type of gear they bring to the island, where they visit on the island and what they do both before and after their visit. To reach out to fishers, we watched them prepare their boats for the day and then launch their boats from the beach or piers. For two days we worked as day laborers with the fishers to understand exactly how fishers acted and interacted. As part of this work, we landed and camped on Serena one night. This was not just a great chance to observe them at work, but also an opportunity to build some relationships with them. 35 Quantitative Research (Community-based Questionnaire Survey) Survey Design After conducting qualitative research, the Forestry Department conducted a quantitative survey of adults living in Andrea. This pre-campaign survey was conducted in March 2008 to establish a baseline for the Pride campaign’s SMART objectives relating to the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) components of the campaign’s Theory-of-Change (ToC). A second post-campaign survey will be conducted at the end of one year of the campaign activities being implemented in May 2009 to measure any change in these KAP variables in order to assess the level of attainment of the SMART objectives. A full description of the results can be found in the Project Plan Appendix which is available on RarePlanet. The following table summarizes the number of people interviewed and the geographical distribution of the survey. District Rima Montreal Woking Teeboo Silver Springs Total Adult Population Size Target Area Pop Sampled 36,904 17,116 23,008 11,996 10,980 100,004 Number Of Enumerators 369 171 230 119 109 998 Names Of Enumerators 12 6 7 4 4 33 Mildred Juno, Duncan Reed Derek Maxwell, Phil Johnson David Brooks, Carol Fina Liz Christensen, Charles Oliveri Adrienne Cutler, Lona Kipnis Establishing a “comparison” group is a powerful means of demonstrating “attribution” of Pride campaign impact. It is considered to be the “gold standard” for Pride campaign evaluation. Unfortunately it was not possible to establish a comparison group in Andrea because the media used by the campaign (radio, newspapers, other press) reached everywhere on Andrea and it would be difficult to isolate a single control (comparison) population. There is only one similar island within a reasonable distance from Andrea, but (1) it is very different culturally from Andrea, and (2) it is logistically difficult and expensive to reach. Thus, the pre-post project survey design is the best design that we could implement to measure the impact of the campaign on changes in knowledge, attitude, and practice. Respondents were asked where they gained new information, as well as information that may have resulted in modified behaviors, in an attempt to attribute changes to our campaign. 36 Understanding the Community – Our Target Audiences Using the quantitative and qualitative data collected, we are able to describe the two audiences. For more information on this quanatitative research, see the Project Plan Appendix available on RarePlanet. Composite Portrait: Fishers Between 50 and 70 different fishing boats use Serena Island. A series of focused conversations was held with the fishing community [n=12] to begin to build up a composite portrait of this group. When not overnighting on Serena Island, fishers rise early, often before 5:00 a.m., leaving their villages and hamlets along Andrea’s north west coast to collect their boats which are anchored in the sheltered bays of Anse Pouvert, Anse Cochon, Anse De la Rage, and Glean Beach. Each boat is typically operated by two or three fishers. One man handles the engine while the other(s) cast the nets or drop lobster pots or wire mesh fish traps. They fish throughout the day a mile or two offshore, focusing their efforts on catching reef fish, sea urchins, and lobster which are sold in the markets of Rima and Teeboo. Small quantities of lobster are exported to St. Cristobel. The catch is landed mid-morning with wives or other family members charged with transporting the catch (often by bus) to the markets and either selling it themselves or through vendors. Fishers may venture out a second time mid-afternoon, especially if sea conditions are favorable. If sea conditions change, or if the fishing is especially good on the ocean side of Serena, the fishers will overnight on the islet, sleeping in the small wooden shelters that have been there for generations. This is as much a social tradition as it is anything else. The fishers use the opportunity to clean and repair their nets, to drink rum (away from their wives), and play dominoes. In former times they would collect mangrove wood to take back to their houses for fuel wood, but this tradition seems to be declining as more of their houses have gas stoves. Fishers worry about the price of fish as they cannot compete with cheaper imports, and they worry about the ever-increasing cost of nets, fue,l and other supplies. They are proud of their fishing tradition. For many, their fathers were fishers, as were their grandfathers, and they feel that they are the keepers of important traditional practices of Andrea. They feel a special connection to the sea and nature. They view themselves as “good businessmen” that will make investments of time or money if they think that they will improve their business of fishing. They want to provide for their families. They are very concerned about the health of their families and themselves. The fishers confirmed that most were unaware that their actions were causing problems--that rats were colonizing Serena from their boats. They had little knowledge of the site’s biodiversity value as habitat for the Andrea Quail Dove. Fishers unload their nets in the evening, so searching their nets at dusk may prove problematic. They also wondered why we would bother to stop more rats coming to the island when there were already rats on the island. Some even said they saw them in their shelters. When informed that it was the Forestry Department’s intention to eradicate the existing rats with poison, there were some concerns of the poison going into the water and killing fish. They know that rats spread disease, but had little knowledge that rats eat the eggs of the Andrea Quail Dove. While poison on the Island was a concern, when shown a snap trap for their boats they expressed a willingness to use them, as long as they did not have to spend money buying them. 37 Primary Audience – Fishers (data from quantitative and qualitative research conducted for this campaign, see Appendix C) What do we know about this group? Knowledge Attitude Practice Comments Trusted sources Media sources The fishers that currently overnight on Serena Island tend to be older (45-60) in age, very traditional in outlook, and heavily reliant on fishing as a source of income. Conversations with the Andrean Fishing Co-operative report that the tradition of overnighting on SI goes back many generations. Fishers use the site to clean and fix their nets (laying them out to dry on the beaches), to conduct simple repairs to their boats, and as a place for socializing among themselves. Their huts are simple affairs without water or electricity. Literacy levels are low, as are levels of biodiversity knowledge. Many fishers have seen rodents on the island, but they assumed that Ship Rats are a natural part of the local fauna. They are generally unaware of the possible role they themselves play in rodent invasion, wary of enforcement officers, and generally ambivalent when informed about the proposals to declare SI a protected area or to eradicate rodents. While most had not heard of the park proposal, when asked they felt that it might mean that the government would stop them from using the island, something they were strongly against. Surveys showed they were in the pre-contemplative stage when it comes to the behavioral changes needed to prevent rodent invasion, support eradication, and endorse park establishment. Most had not considered any of these aspects. Few understand the biodiversity importance of Serena Island (19%); are aware the threats posed by rodents on native wildlife populations (33%); know that the Andrea Quail Dove is an endangered and endemic species (17%); know about ways in which rodents get to the island (4%); know about the proposal for island-wide rodent eradication program (19%); know about Protected Area proposal (11%). They are more aware that rats pose an economic threat to them by damaging their nets (62%) and are a health threat (48%). Believe that biodiversity conservation is important (29%); believe that Serena Island should be protected (40%); supportive of rodent eradication program (33%). When questionnaire respondents were asked about the rodent eradication proposal, most had not heard of it, but when told that it involved poisoning rats, were concerned that poison may go into the sea and affect fish. They do not trust government and think that the declaration of a protected area on Serena Island will adversely affect their way of life and livelihood. Almost no fishers (17%) currently check their boats and tackle for the presence of rodents before landing and disembarking. 53% of fishers questioned regularly use SI for overnighting; a further 19% use it occasionally. Researchers confirmed that fishers play an important role in vector transmission. A survey of boat holds and tackles showed that 1 in every 73 boats surveyed had evidence of rodents (Harvey, 1991). With over 30 fishers using SI daily (each making 2-3 forays to the island), the potential for rodent introduction is high. Very respectful and highly trusting of religious leaders, as well as peers. Target population likes music. Little access to TV, but 81% listen to radio at least once per week. Preferred listening times are before 6:00 a.m. and between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Preferred stations are “Reef Radio and KQRS,” preferred programming is music. Preferred music style Country & Western 38 Composite Portrait: Recreational Visitors8 Up to 20 recreational visitors per day visit Serena Island in the high season. A series of directed conversations were held with campers, (members of the Andrean RV Society [n=9]) to begin to build up a composite portrait of this group. The campers had greater knowledge of some of the issues facing Serena. While fishers tended to be older and to visit Serena Island either alone or with their peers, those recreational visitors visiting Serena to picnic tended to be younger and to visit with their families and friends. Some had heard about the proposed eradication program, but were also concerned about poisoning. Many had heard of the Andrea Quail Dove, often from their children. Several of those questioned supported the declaration of Serena Island as a Protected Area Others were concerned that this might prohibit visitation. Once informed of the nuisance of unleashed dogs, most said that keeping their dog under control was not a problem. Parents tended to worry that in the hustle and bustle of daily life they were spending less and less quality time with their children. They worried that drugs and drink were increasing and that their kids might become involved in these activities. They viewed family trips such as to Serena Island (most visited with their children) as an important way of providing quality time in a place of beauty. Many recalled with affection visiting the island with their parents when they were younger. The majority had heard of the Quail Dove (from their children) but knew little about the threats it faces and its plight. Both groups had probably thought little about rats and how their own actions can help or hinder rodent transmission. Those spoken to were thus believed to be in the pre-contemplative phase of behavior change. 8Full composite portrait built from these conversations and the results of the questionnaire survey described in sections 7.0 and 8.0 are available upon request. 39 Secondary Audience: Campers & Recreational Visitors (data from quantitative and qualitative research conducted for this campaign, see Appendix C) A survey conducted by “Andrean Heritage” in 2001 indicated that Serena Island was a popular recreation spot on Andrea for local people wanting to get away on day trips. The typical profile of an “average visitor” is a young married couple with two kids. Discussions with Park personnel indicate that families tend to stick to the beaches and shore line. Most What do we know respect park regulations although sometimes they let their pets (dogs) off the leash and leave litter. Surveys conducted for about this group? this project show that the majority of respondents are well educated (high school or above), would likely support the establishment of a protected area, but were very concerned about access restrictions and the use of poison in the eradication program. This segment appears to be somewhere in the early phase of contemplation: They have heard of and discussed the key issues involved in the project (eradication and enhanced site protection) but have not fully understood their role nor the benefits these actions might have. 68% of respondents had heard of plans to declare Serena Island a Protected Area. 53% could name the key biodiversity Knowledge value of the island – a refuge for endangered species -- but only 28% identified invasive rodents as a threat. Most cited fire and litter as the biggest threats to the island. 33% of survey respondents supported the concept of protected area (National Park) status for SI. Of those that were “not in favor,” the main reason was “additional protection might prohibit visitation.” A comparatively high percentage indicated Attitude that they had heard of plans for rodent eradication (surprising insomuch as they do not equate this action with a biodiversity threat). As with fishers, there are concerns about eradication and with the use of poisons, principally to children. Practice Most visitors visit during the summer season. Numbers drop dramatically after September, although there is a small spike around the school half-term in early October. Most were unaware of how they could help. If rodent eradication were to be sanctioned, it would mean closing off the island for several months, while bait stations were laid. Broadcast baiting is considered too risky because of the terrestrial Quail Dove population. Baiting would occur during the winter, with bait stations remaining in place for about 12 months. Since winter is when there are the fewest Comments visitors, inconvenience should be minimized. Visitors arrive to SI mainly by ferry from the dock at Silver Springs. Most daytrippers pose little risk (since they bring minimal supplies and equipment); more of a threat are those that overnight and especially those that arrive by their own yacht. In many ways these users pose the same threat as articulated for fishers (see above). Trusted sources Survey respondents listed family, mass media (news, newspapers) and the scientific community. 83% of this target group sampled in the campaign’s questionnaire survey watched TV (favorite times are between 8-10 Media sources p.m.); 69% listened to the radio daily (6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. being preferred listening times); 86% read the Andrean newspaper. Preferred music styles include Rock, Soft Rock, as well as Country & Western. 40 Composite portrait: Environmental Health Officer Conversations with the Chief Environmental Health Officer, Sandy Grunt, and with the other stakeholders confirmed that the benefits of rodent eradication on Serena Island extend beyond simply helping the island’s biodiversity. They include benefiting the lives and livelihoods of the target groups (fishers & recreational visitors). Behavior change is more likely if targets see a personal benefit to behavior change, rather than simply one that revolves around biodiversity in its abstract sense. Benefits that might be conveyed to user groups include: Rodents spread disease. They are known to carry nearly 70 diseases, including cholera, typhus, bubonic plague, and leptospirosis – the latter is a bacterial illness spread by rodent urine contaminating water or food. There have been 13 cases of leptospirosis in Andrea (including two thought to have been contracted from Serena). One patient died. Rodents damage stored food and bait. The Ministry of Agriculture estimates than 10% of all agricultural foodstuffs held in storage on Andrea are lost to rodent pests. Fishers report rodents living in their overnight shelters on Serena Island and having damaged stored foods, nets, and other equipment. Rodents bite. While incidences of rat bites are rare, there are several reports made annually, most often to children but occasionally to adults. The parts of the body found to be bitten most often were the hands and arms (48%), followed by the face (20%),and the legs and feet (19%). Young children and babies seem to be the most prone to rodent bites. There have been three reports of rodents biting people visiting on Andrea. All were treated at Silver Springs Medical Center. In two cases, rats bit fishers while sleeping, while a third incident occurred when a visiting tourist tried to kill a rodent scavenging around a picnic site. 41 Building a Sustainable Strategy for Protecting Serena Island Note to Campaign Managers The sections describing barrier removal strategies and complementary interventions should be produced in WORD during the field planning phase and endorsed by the Implementation Partner Director. SMART Objectives should also be drafted during the first field planning phase, but can be refined during the second university phase (Module 3) at the same time as the Marketing Activities Plan (and accompanying Work Plan) are being produced. 42 Summary Change As discussed, the Pride campaign is a powerful proven social marketing tool that is geared to enable a change in the benefits exchange between environmentally destructive behavior and sustainable behavior. The campaign will target two key audiences: fishers and recreational visitors. Each will be presented with realistic and value-enhancing choices through a dynamic set of outreach activities. Creating Positive Choices: Sustainable Rat Eradication Goal Step Objectives What Who Will Lead the Project Who are the Target Audiences When The goal of this project is to eradicate invasive Ship Rats from Serena Island in order to preserve native wildlife populations, including those of the Andrea Quail Dove and to prevent rodent reinvasion. The expected conservation result is the rebounding of dove populations from 100 to 250 by 2010. Step 1: Stop Reintroduction & Monitor Results Step 2: Eradication Program Get all fishers to Serena Island to use rat traps on their boats and Eliminate all rats from Serena Island through a rat to check for rats. eradication program Rat will be kept from the Island through a program targeted at On-island eradication will be accomplished using fishers to deploy rat traps and check their holds Protecta bait stations baited with Talon 50WB (50 ppm brodifacoum). The Forestry Department is committed to supporting Crisobel-based REI, a global leader in rodent eradication deployment and training on rats traps and leading the has agreed to oversee the eradication program with regulatory change. financial support from the Stallman Fund. The Andrea Naturalists Society is committed to monitoring the dove population. Key target audiences influenced by the eradication Government officials in the Department of component of the project will be the owners and employees Environmental Health that will need to write and of the 70+ fishing vessels that use Serena Island. advocate for statutes for an eradication program The Pride campaign will focus on other audiences, including Recreational visitors and fishers to advocate for recreational users who will be solicited to sign a petition program encouraging government approval of the eradication General public interested in the Quail Dove protection program. Rat Traps – subject to final approval of the Department of Rat Eradication - Subject to permit approval, (the focus Environmental Health, fishers will get trained on how to use and of the Pride campaign), armed bait stations will be in check rat traps by January 09. place on Serena Island as of May 09. It is anticipated that by June/July 09 all rats will be eliminated. Stations will 43 Rat Traps – The Forestry Department will provide all the needed rat traps. A Forest Officer will visit the major points of departure for boats on Andrea. He/she will talk to fishers about the benefits of using rat traps. How remain baited and will be periodically visited for a following twelve months. Rodent reinvasion strategies will be in place on local fishing vessels by Mid-April 2009 and will remain in place forever. Rat Eradication - The Stallman Fund has committed resources to eradicate rodents on Serena Island (estimated at $30,000), while the Forestry Department will finance project oversight, the snap traps, and the outreach campaign (with support from Rare) needed to change behaviors, including permitting approval and reinvasion prevention. From a long-term perspective, the Forestry Department has committed to the sustained impact of the project; to this end, the Department has pledged to include continued outreach work on Serena and funding for barrier removal in all future annual work plans. Step 1: Stop Reintroduction & Monitor Results If any rats enter Serena it would obviate the benefits of a rat eradication program. Therefore it is essential that no rats get onto Serena via fishers and recreational visitors. Consequently, the first activities will focus on their adopting snap traps. There are several activities that will help ensure that rats no longer enter Serena. 1. Providing all visitor andfishers other boats training and access to rat traps It is estimated that 70 snap traps costing a total of US$116 will be required to cover every fishing boat visiting Serena and 45 flashlights costing a total of $450 will be required (total budgeted under miscellaneous expense line item). Use of snap traps is simple and fishers do not require extensive training in their use. However, the Forestry Department plans to have one staff member dedicate two days a week to visiting the major points of departure of vessels from Serena. During these visits he will reinforce the message of the campaign and teach people how to set traps. Searching boat holds and setting traps – Legislative Action to Create Incentives for Compliance Forest Officers will search all boats and inform fishers and other water users of new regulations and how they can help. Early adopters of new practices will be awarded certificates of compliance. Those found not complying will be warned. Gaining 100% compliance with new behaviors must occur before eradication takes place if rodent reinvasion is not to occur after eradication. Pending administrative approval, fishers found to be in full compliance will be able to file for a reduction in fish license fees from $150 44 annum to $50 from the Department of Fisheries. 2. Increasing Patrols of Serena Chief Forest Officer Jo Smith has expressed a willingness to request that the Government of Andrea amend the 1980 Wildlife Protection Act to include new penalties for people found to be introducing invasive species (including rodents) onto Andrea or Serena Island. Current penalties are outdated (A$50) and it will be proposed that they be raised to A$1,000. But with a very limited staff, Smith cautions, penalties alone are unlikely to be seen as real deterrents. Smith is encouraged by the idea of a Pride campaign which will increase societal support for the Quail Dove’s protection. Further, the Ministry of Natural Resources will donate two-way radios to selected fishers to facilitate reporting of rodents on Serena Island. These will be donated by the Stallman Foundation as part of the proposed eradication program. 3. The Andrea Naturalists Society will monitor Quail Dove populations bi-annually using transect surveys to measure impact of rodent eradication The Andrea Naturalists Society will assist in using its expertise and volunteers to conduct a bi-annual census of the Quail Dove population on Serena Island using transect surveys. Step 2: Rat Eradication How Eradication was selected Using topographic maps and knowledge of the site, the REI BROP team designed a bait station grid (Figure at right) with each station being located approximately 40 m apart. A compass was used and the proposed location of each station marked with flagging tape. It was estimated that a total of 73 stations will be required and approximately 3000 meters of line need to be cleared. It is important to note that the eradication program would be clearing lines only to enable access, not to create a highway through the undergrowth. In addition to ground bait stations, small quantities of bait may need to be placed in coconut tree canopies in secured stations, as Ship Rats are arboreal. There are an estimated 120 such trees along the shore line of Serena Island which will require baiting. 45 Proposed Implementation Methodology Rodent Eradication International (REI) conducted a feasibility study in the eradication of Ship Rats from Serena Island. This study proposed three options for eliminating rats from the Island: 1. broadcast baiting using a helicopter; 2. broadcast baiting by hand; or 3. the use of bait stations. When cost and safety were considered, the Department’s preferred option was using bait stations. Other advantages of using bait stations include: They keep non-target animals away from bait; They protect bait from environmental extremes (rain, sun etc.); They attract rodents to a safe and reliable food source; They provide easy access for checking and re-filling throughout the baiting campaign. Aside from the prohibitive cost, broadcast baiting would have required the Department to trap and temporarily house or re-locate all the Quail Doves on Serena. Being granivorous -- eating seeds and grain -- there would have been a danger that the doves may have eaten some of the pellets and died. By placing the bait inside a bait station one dramatically reduces the chance that a species like the Quail Dove will be accidentally poisoned. While this method of bait delivery takes substantially longer than a broadcast bait application, it is no less effective at delivering bait to all the island’s rodents. The Stallman Foundation subsequently agreed to finance the eradication program. Using the grid in the figure above, Protecta Rat Bait Stations9 will be placed at 40 m intervals along the cleared lines across Serena Island. The stations will be placed flat on the ground, so that the ends are relatively level and the station will not flood. Wherever possible they will be placed near cover or along an escarpment. The location of each station will be flagged and marked with a unique number or code (e.g., A1). Once all stations have been installed, they will be left untouched for the next two weeks. This waiting period will give rodents a chance to become accustomed to these new objects in their territory. The Serena Island landing dock will serve as a baiting staging area. Equipment will be transported from Andrea via the Forestry Department boat. A total of 6 baiters will be required. Each will be equipped with protective gloves and overalls, as well as a shoulder bag to hold the bait. Each bait station will be baited with two 15 g Talon poison baits, each bait containing 0.005% brodifacoum. Activity at bait stations is likely to take several days to a week to begin as rodents need to overcome their wariness of the station itself. Despite this, bait stations will be checked daily. Poison baits will be checked and replaced each morning, for at least the first 7 weeks, and then every other day for the next four months. Once bait uptake starts at any individual station, it usually continues uninterrupted for several days. Uptake may begin slowly, but increase over the first ten days as rodents learn from one another’s experience about the bait. Dominant rodents may keep more submissive rodents away from a station. However, once the dominant rodents have succumbed to the poison, less dominant individuals will 9 Protecta Rat Bait Stations: Protecta tamper-resistant bait stations protect rodent bait from moisture, dust or other contaminating elements while keeping rat baits out of reach of non-target animals. Locking lid is opened with Protecta key included with purchase of bait stations. These rodent baiters keep bait fresh while providing a prime feeding station where rats and mice consume rodenticide. 46 adopt the station and feed. The time between the start of poisoning and last bait take typically takes 7-21 days. REI recommends that baited stations be left in place and periodically checked (every couple of months) for a further year. Bait stations, secured with wire, will also be placed in all coconut trees as rodents can live for protracted period in the crown of coconut trees where there is food (nuts), shelter and often water. It is important that bait be delivered to coconut palms to preclude the chance of rodent repopulation from this source. Trees will be marked when they have been successfully “treated” to ensure that no trees are omitted. A record of bait usage/replenishment by station will be kept. This will be facilitated by having numbered each station. Health & Safety Issues Type of Risk Risks & Mitigation Strategies For Rodent (Ship Rat) Eradication On Serena Island Brodifacoum (Talon WD50) Using Protecta Bait Stations Cause of Risk Likelihood Severity Risk Management Strategy (1-5) (1-5) Health & Human Safety (Public) Health & Human Safety (Staff) Safety to domestic animals and pets Habitat disturbance Accidental ingestion and handling of poisonous bait 1 1 Accidental ingestion and handling of poisonous bait 1 1 Accidental ingestion and/or secondary poisoning 1 1 Disturbance to vegetation from clearing bait lines, camping, etc. 5 2 Native wildlife. At risk, nontarget species of special interest Native wildlife. At risk, nontarget species that are abundant within and/or outside targeted area Pollution of water courses Ingestion and/or secondary poisoning 2 4 Ingestion and/or secondary poisoning 3 2 Accidental spillage and run off 1 1 Warning signs will be posted at access points and media coverage will announce baiting program. Use of bait stations will minimize access to bait. Baiting will take place in the off-season for visitation. Staff engaged in baiting operations will wear nitrite gloves, overalls, and use masks when transferring bait. The delayed action of brodifacoum and the ready availability of an antidote means effective intervention is available in case of accident. There are no domestic animals (cattle, goats, sheep, etc.) on Serena Island. Use of bait stations will negate the risk to domestic pets. The camp site will be located in an area long used for overnighting. No fixed structures will be erected and all litter and other articles will be removed from the islet after the study has been concluded. Water and other supplies will be brought from the mainland. Line clearing will be minimal. The Andrea Quail Dove is endemic to Andrea and a granivorous species. To minimize the risk of accidental poisoning, Protecta bait stations will be used. These preclude entry by this species. A captive breeding population of Quail Doves survive in Bayleigh Zoo. Use of Protecta bait stations should preclude most species. Some bait may be taken by land Crabs, lizards and invertebrates, but adverse effects at the species level are minimal. Timing the bait release (December) to coincide with seasonal movements and migrations of non-target species: Baiting will take place outside bird breeding seasons when migratory birds are away from sites and seabirds forage offshore. Bait will be wrapped in plastic cling film to minimize intake by invertebrates. The use of bait stations should minimize the possibility of runoff. Brodifacoum degrades rapidly in soil and water. 47 Type of Risk and marine environments Soil contamination Other forms of contamination Risks & Mitigation Strategies For Rodent (Ship Rat) Eradication On Serena Island Brodifacoum (Talon WD50) Using Protecta Bait Stations Cause of Risk Likelihood Severity Risk Management Strategy (1-5) (1-5) Accidental spillage and leaching Surplus/spoiled bait 1 1 1 1 Brodifacoum is relatively immobile in soil and the potential for groundwater and surface water contamination is low. Trials have shown that there is no significant transfer of this rodenticide from soils to vegetation even at very high application rates. Bait which is surplus or spoiled and the containers which it was sold in will be disposed of by returning them to the mainland and burying them in the hazardous waste section of the Andrea Likelihood – Almost Certain: 5, Likely: 4, Possible: 3, Unlikely: 2, Rare: 1. Severity – Severe: 5, Major: 4, Moderate: 3, Minor: 2, Negligible: 1 Note: The following alternatives were considered but rejected: No action: If no action is taken to remove Ship Rats from Serena Island, they will increase in number threatening not only the remnant population of Andrea Ground Doves on Serena, but also any hope of translocating the surviving mainland population there. The species will become extinct. Captive breeding of Ground Doves: Bronxville Zoo has tried for more than a decade to breed Andrea Ground Doves to no avail. Fencing using rodent excluder fencing for either mainland or Serena Island Dove populations: Fencing is deemed impractical due to the expense which will exceed A$150,000. The actual eradication of rats is only one part of managing an effective invasive rodent eradication program. Follow-up monitoring to check for reinvasions is an equally important component. Post-broadcast monitoring encompasses two very different kinds of monitoring: Monitoring the efficacy (and safety) of the eradication effort Monitoring the site to ensure rodent reinvasions do not take place and that strategies are in place to minimize the chances of them doing so. In the first instance, the Forestry Department will want to monitor the success of the eradication program. Monitoring the efficacy of the eradication program also means conducting periodic post-eradication trapping sessions to ensure that complete eradication has occurred. This means resetting traps, tracking boards, and chew sticks in areas where rodents were formerly abundant to ensure that the program has indeed eradicated them all! The Forestry Department will also need to monitor the safety of the eradication program to determine if other populations will be affected either positively or negatively over time. It will monitor any sudden declines (from baseline) in a species like land crabs or corvids (crows) that are prone to poisoning. Similarly, over time the Department will track increases in species (fauna and flora) that have rebounded because of the eradication of rodents that formerly impacted them. 48 Rodent eradication is likely to result in significant short- and long-term changes in fauna and flora. These need to be monitored to record the effects of the eradication program. Likely changes include: Short-term responses: Invertebrate (insects, land crabs, etc.) abundance Seedling abundance Abundance of annual plants Medium-term responses: Invertebrate diversity (newly successful colonization from nearby islands) Bird, reptile abundance Changes in general vegetation community structure Long-term responses: Bird diversity (new species colonization, breeding attempts) Secondary ecological impacts (stemming from changes in vegetation structure, organism abundances/diversity). In the second instance, the project team will need to be ever-vigilant against reinvasions of commensal rodents. These are most likely to occur from boat landings, cargo unloading etc. It is proposed that a Rare Pride campaign be launched to encourage local fishers to set snap traps on their vessels to trap those rats that might “stow-away” in the holds of their boats (see section 10). Impact Assessment The Forestry Department will need to have eradicated every single rodent before it can declare success. That’s 100%, not 99%! Because rodents are very hard to detect at low population levels, the Forestry Department will need to monitor Serena Island for several years before it can be sure that all rats have indeed been eradicated. If rodents have survived, they will breed rapidly and signs of a failed eradication program will quickly become evident. To help reduce the chance of this, the Forestry Department will place permanent bait stations10 in “vulnerable” locations on Serena, particularly around known landing areas, heavily-used beaches, and near buildings. Similarly it will strive to prevent reinvasion from external sources. As Serena Island lies outside the swimming range of commensal rodents, the most likely route for rodent reinvasion will be with the unwitting aid of man, most often by fishing boats offloading visitors and/or supplies. Reinvasion can be minimized by: 1. Identifying possible reinvasion routes and then taking action to mitigate against them. Leaving in place permanent bait stations (193) provides both a secure reservoir of bait to kill rats that attempt reinvasion and an early warning that reinvasion may have taken place. Stations need to be checked regularly – at least monthly. 10 49 The Forestry Department has pledged to launch a complementary program of action to provide all fishers with Victor snap traps (estimated two traps per boat x 70 boats) and train fishers in their usage. 100% compliance means that every boat will use a simple Victor snap trap (provided free by the Forestry Department) every day. Compliance will be monitored by the Forestry Department through inspection of boat holds and by counting carcasses collected. Snap traps are simple to use. Fishers will be taught how to use them by the Campaign Manger during hisor her community visits.11 The Forestry Department has confirmed their commitment to this complementary initiative and all funding is in place (see attached correspondence). 2. Launching a publicity campaign to generate community “Pride” in the successful eradication program and to alert the public as to the adverse effects of reinvasion, the channels by which this may occur, and what they can do to help. A Pride campaign has been approved and funded by Rare (see attached correspondence). It is proposed that this focus on: a. Building awareness of the health and environmental impacts of invasive rodents b. Encouraging Andrean citizens to petition the Government to support and approve an eradication program c. Encourage fishers to monitor their boats for invasive rodents and to use snap traps consistently. 3. Monitoring the Quail Dove population The Andrea Naturalists Society have pledged to monitor Quail Dove population bi-annually for the next decade using transect surveys conducted during the species’ breeding season (August-November). These surveys will be conducted by knowledgeable volunteers from ANS who have been screened and approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources. (See attached correspondence.) Other Risk Factors Risk Factors Government does not approve eradication plan Consequence Eradication program not allowed. Rodent populations on Serena Island will continue to impact Quail Dove population. Species extinction deemed probable. Some fishers refuse to employ snap traps Reinvasion may occur, rendering eradication ineffective and the need for a re-eradication program Government cuts Forestry Department funding Compliance and other forms of monitoring may cease. Risk of return to previous normative behaviors increased. Mitigation Strategies Ensure broad-based public support for the program through a Pride campaign that emphasizes the need for action and the lack of risks involved with the eradication plan. This strategy (and the petition that will result from it) will place significant pressure upon government officials to authorize permitting. Lobby key political leaders who are likely to be receptive to environmental activism and encourage them to drive the plan through the legislative process. Collaborate with the government on a system of “sticks and carrots” that will incentivize usage. For example, offer free traps, training on how to use the traps, and waiving of fishing fees. If the fishers do not comply, establish a ban on landing on the island as a last resort. Secure other sources of funding for traps, such as nonprofit organizations or private donors. To use a Victor snap trap, you 1: Remove small staple holding locking bar to wood base; 2: Place bait inside curl found at end of bait pedal; 3: Remove excess bait protruding from pedal; 4: Pull back bow and hold down with thumb; 5: With other hand, engage curved portion of the locking bar under small, V-shaped lip on bait pedal; and 6: Place trap against wall with bait pedal facing the wall. Fishers will also be taught how to handle dead rodents. 11 50 Reaching the Audience: Creative Brief & Marketing Mix Marketing Mix is the set of tools that marketers use to pursue their objectives in their target markets. It is commonly known as the the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotion, and Place.12 A creative brief is a document used by professionals and agencies to develop deliverables: Visual design, copy, and collateral, such as posters and bumper stickers, as well as other written and audio-visual material. The Creative Briefs produced below will provide the strategy for the creative and conceptual direction for the campaign to those individuals and businesses that will partner with the project to produce collateral. Fishers Problem Statement: Conservation issue and campaign goal(s) Target Audience 12 Recreational Visitor Rats frequently get into fishing boats. When they do, they destroy nets and equipment, eat and contaminate the catch, bite fishers and expose them to diseases that may affect their families. Additionally, these rats eat the eggs and young of the endemic Serena Quail Dove which is a point of Pride for local fishers. Serena Island is home to the rare and endangered Andrea Quail Dove, which has recently declined in population (fewer than 100 birds remain) due to the introduction of rodents, which prey on adults, nests and eggs. A Rare Pride campaign is launching on Andrea with the goal of eradicating existing rats and preventing the reintroduction new ones to preserve the population of the Andrean Quail Dove. A Rare Pride campaign is launching on Andrea (the mainland where the people live) with the goal of eradicating rats and preventing their reintroduction to preserve the population of the Andrean Quail Dove by getting fishers to always use rat traps. The Ministry is reticent in granting a permit for rodent eradication. It is afraid recreational visitors and picnickers to Serena may disapprove, costing them votes in an upcoming election Predominantly male 45-60 years old, fishing is their sustenance. Traditional in outlook, and very religious Low levels of literacy and/or knowledge about biodiversity When overnighting on Serena, they use the time to clean/repair their nets and socialize with other fishers. They know that rats are a problem, but consider it more of a nuisance and not a threat -- pests that damage their nets. They associate rats with health risks (disease), not environmental ones. They don’t know that rats eat Quail Dove eggs. They do not know that they, themselves, are a part of the problem. They do not know why one would bother to stop more rats from coming to the island when there are already rats on the The campaign has a specific objective with regard to this target audience: To encourage recreational users to sign a petition urging the Andrean Government to approve a rodent eradication program to keep the island, and the Andrean Quail Dove, safe from the rats. These are young, married couples with an average of two children. Target audience is well educated (high school or above). Many have domestic pets that they bring to the beach with them. They view family trips to Serena Island as a means of spending quality time together, away from life’s daily distractions. They care about the Island and would like to protect it. They rarely venture into the interior of Serena (where the doves are) and stick to beaches and shoreline They mostly respect park regulations but will sometimes let their dogs off the leash or leave litter. They have heard of and discussed the key issues around rodent eradication, but have not fully understood their role or the benefit of these actions. Kotler, Philip “Marketing Management – the Millennium Edition” page 15. 51 Fishers Desired Action: What do we want target audience to do? Barriers to Action: What might prevent the audience from taking the desired action? Note this may also be the same as “Price” (below) BenefitExchange/Reward: What reward(s) should the message promise the consumer? Support: How can we make the promise credible? Product island. They are not against getting rid of the rats, but are concerned about poison seeping into water and killing fish. Their lives are full of obligations; the main one is providing food for their families. They face many competing demands, which are perceived to be more important than saving biodiversity or eradicating rats. Set traps in their boats and check their holds for rats before landing on Serena Island, thereby preventing rodent reintroduction after on-island eradication has occurred. Fishers’ main concern is providing for their family. They would be willing to check their nets for rats and to put traps on the boats to get rid of rats but they are not willing to pay for the traps. It will take time to set traps and check holds and remember to do it every single day Knowing that they are “smart” fishers. By adopting rodent monitoring and trapping strategies, they will be: o Protecting their nets (and, the costs of nets has increased significantly) o Receiving traps for free o Saving $100 on their fish license renewal fees o Avoiding sizable ($1,000) penalties for introducing invasive species Feeling like they are protecting their own health and health of their families by minimizing the risk of bringing an illness spread by rats home By adopting rodent monitoring and trapping strategies, they will be protecting/saving national identity – the Andrea Quail Dove and a place they love and cherish – their fathers and grandfathers have used Serena for generations. Ministry of Natural Resources believes that the proposed rat eradication is essential. Faith leaders say it is important. Forestry Department assures them that rat poison used in eradication will not seep into the water and kill fish. Community leaders and peers support the initiative. There will be stiffer fines for people found to be introducing invasive species and there will be increased patrols by Forest Officers. Potentially, if the problem is not resolved, the Government may ban anyone from going to Serena. The literal product is rat traps. The campaign is asking fishers to Recreational Visitor Sign the petition to approve rodent eradication Most would likely support eradication program, but are concerned about possible restricted access to the beach and the consequences of using poison to remove the invasive rats. Their lives are full of obligations to their jobs, their spouses, their parents, and their children. They face many competing demands, which are perceived to be more important than saving biodiversity. These people are pressed for time, so the petition signing must be made “convenient.” Knowing that they are being good parents by protecting their children from the rats which spread disease Feeling like responsible adults/good citizens They are protecting the Island for the sake of their family and future generations Protecting/saving national identity—the Andrea Quail Dove Scientific data indicates that rats present a serious health and environmental threat (including damaging native fauna). Ministry of Natural Resources believes that the proposed rat eradication is safe and necessary. The proposed eradication plan won’t inconvenience the recreational visitors as it would take place during “off season” time. Community leaders and peers support the initiative. For this audience the product is the petition in support of the rat 52 Fishers check their boats and set traps for rodents before landing on Serena Island. At a higher level the product is a solution to allow fishers to protect their gear and catch while protecting their country’s heritage. Price Promotion Although fishers are not opposed to setting traps, they are not willing to purchase them, so the Forestry Ministry will provide the traps to fishers at no cost. Fishers will be trained in using the traps and will be provided with an incentive to use the traps, i.e., savings on license renewal to compensate for their time. Furthermore, government will be petitioned to amend the Wildlife Protection Act to increase penalties for introducing invasive species and Forestry Ministry patrols to check for compliance will be increased prior to eradication. The other cost associated with the new behavior is the worry whether the eradication program is going to have negative impact on their daily catch by poisoning the water. This barrier will be addressed by providing testimonials from trusted sources (e.g., religious leaders) about safety of the proposed program. The campaign is going to promote the fishers’ sense of being good businessmen. By adopting rodent monitoring and trapping strategies, they will be: protecting their nets; saving money on their fish license renewal fees; and avoiding sizable ($1,000) penalties for introducing invasive species. The campaign will also stress that by adopting the new behaviors (setting traps and checking boats for rats), the fishers will be protecting their own health and health of their families by minimizing the risk of bringing home an illness spread by rats. In addition, the campaign will emphasize that adoption of rodent monitoring and trapping strategies will help to protect/save national identity – the Andrea Quail Dove. Recreational Visitor eradication program and declaring Serena Island a National Park. The campaign is asking residents of Andrea who participate in the political process (i.e., vote) and visit Serena Island for recreational purposes to sign the petition. The campaign is going to appeal to audiences’ desire to be good parents and their sense of being responsible citizens. By signing the petition they will be: protecting their children from the health risks associated with rats and protecting the Island for the sake of their family and future generations. The campaign will also emphasize that rat eradication program will help to protect/save national identity – Andrea Quail Dove. Essentially, the cost to signing the petition is the time out of the person’s day to locate and sign the petition. The other cost is worrying whether the eradication program is going to harm their children by poisoning the environment. These costs will be minimized by: Placing the petition in places frequented by audience members and testimonials from Health and Forest Ministry officials and other credible sources about the fact that the program is safe and all precautions will be made to minimize any negative consequences of the eradication program. Individuals who sign the petition will receive a colorful button as a token of appreciation (which will also foment interpersonal communications). Research shows that TV and radio are preferred media channels for recreational visitors. Visitors are well educated, mobile, and generally supportive of environmental issues. They are geographically spread throughout Andrea. Communication strategies will focus on tailoring messages for recreational visitors to their stage in the behavior-change process. For those in early stages, proactive media relations strategies (including TV, radio and RV & Camping magazine) as well as an island-wide poster campaign will be used to explain the threat posed by rats and benefits of the eradication program. All materials will feature the call to action -- “Sign the petition.” For those in later stages, messages will emphasize where to find a petition Research shows that radio is the preferred media channel. Fishers also have low levels of literacy. They are religious, have a keen sense of community, and rely heavily on peer-to-peer networks. Communication strategies will focus on tailoring messages for fishers to their stage in the behavior-change 53 Fishers Recreational Visitor process. For those in early stages, radio talk shows, billboards and bush theater will be used to explain the threat posed by rats and benefits of new behaviors. For those in later stages, messages emphasizing how to acquire traps and necessary skills will be promoted using the same media with addition of religious sermons and one-on-one community meetings between fishers and Forestry Ministry staff. Messages targeting fishers at final stages of the behavior change process will urge them to action. Placement (aka Openings) What communication openings and vehicles should be used? Image and Tone: What image should distinguish the action? What is the voice of the campaign? At this point, additional support (e.g., training, compliance certificates) for the new behavior will also be provided. Forestry Ministry staff will train fishers in using traps as well as provide guidance on how to check the nets for rodents. In addition, the Campaign Manager will work with owners of businesses frequented by the fishers to help promote the traps and new behaviors. In this later stage, channels will shift from impersonal (e.g., media) to interpersonal (face to face). Campaign Manager and Forestry Department staff will distribute the traps at various landing sites, popular gathering places and through the fishers’ association. Forestry staff will also distribute traps right on Serena Island during the evening hours when fishers relax. Mandatories: What are some creative, message and/or campaign elements that MUST be Routine Common sense Responsibility Urgency Ease of doing Empowering/inspiring – this a simple action that you can take (at relatively low cost) to help your “business” and your Island Other fishers are doing it and, if you don’t, your peers might start questioning your practices. Include image of Andrea Quail Dove Good to include national coat of arms or flag and logo, if possible, as the target population represents one specific region and culture Must give credit to the organizations that financed the posters by including their logos at the bottom of the poster When they are visiting the Island When they are visiting/going to drop off or pick up kids at school When they listen to the radio (while doing housework, in car, etc.) When they see others like themselves signing the petition When they see the petition in places they frequent (e.g., grocery store, church, schools) When talking to someone they trust, whether a peer, their spouse, or a friend about this issue When they hear about impact of humans on nature Common sense Urgency Caring Empowering/inspiring – this is such a simple action that you can take (at such a little cost) to help your family and your Island Everybody is doing it and, if you don’t, your friends might start questioning your values Signing the petition and protecting the island is a “responsible” thing to do as parents and citizens of Andrea Include image of Andrea Quail Dove Good to include national coat of arms or flag and logo, if possible, as the target population represents one specific region and culture Must give credit to the organizations that financed the posters by including their logos at the bottom of the poster 54 Fishers included in creative execution? Campaign Materials: What materials do we want the creative to produce? Recreational Visitor Universal campaign theme/slogan Forestry Department contact information Universal campaign theme/slogan Forestry Department contact information Poster Bumper sticker Flyer/factsheet Sermon sheet Poster Bumper sticker Fact sheet Song Note to Regions Some regions may prefer to present this information more graphically – either as a message box or as flow charts. So long as the information is there, the presentation is not standardized. Messaging Framework Our messaging strategies for fishers and recreational visitors will help guide all messaging to achieve our campaign goals. These strategies include the target audience, desired action (and competing behavior), reward, and support. Core Message Summary of Key Campaign Objectives Messaging Strategy Supporting Points Fishers Recreational Visitors Based on our messaging strategies, we were able to create core messages that sum up our campaign while making compelling cases for the target audience. With these messages we included potential slogans that help summarize our message in memorable phrases. More slogans will be developed during the creative development phase and tested with key audiences before choosing a final version. By the end of the Rare Pride campaign, the target audience will believe that: Rat eradication is safe and necessary Support rat eradication Use rat traps Rats will be eradicated If I set up traps on my boat and check for rats instead of just If I take a moment to sign the petition instead of rushing past disembarking, then I will feel like I’m a good fisherman and a then I will feel like I’m a good parent and a responsible citizen responsible adult because: because: People I respect and scientists say this is important and it is safe Scientists and people I respect say this is important and it is My peers do it safe There are financial incentives My friends who lead busy lives like me do it It is easy to do – petition signing can be done in places that I visit on a regular day Solution messages Solution messages Rat eradication program is safe. Rat eradication program is safe. Preventing reinvasion is necessary. Action messages 55 Fishers Action messages Receive FREE rat traps from Forestry Department. Set rat traps on your boat every day. Check your boat for rats before disembarking on Serena. If you overnight on Serena, take special care to check your gear for rats. Seek information from the Andrea Forestry Department on setting rat traps. Threshold messages Rodents have been introduced to Serena Island through the many fishing boats that dock on the island and accidentally carry rats in their cargo holds with their nets and equipment. Rodents carry disease and pose serious health risks. Because of the rats, the symbol of our island – Andrea Quail Dove – is at threat of extinction. Proposed Slogans Targeted Message Reinforcement messages Ministries of Health and Natural Resources, faith leaders, and community leaders say that rat eradication is important. Rat poison will not seep into water and kill fish. There will be stiffer fines for people found to be introducing invasive species to Serena. Fishing license renewal fees will be reduced for fishers who set rat traps on a daily basis. “Do your part to keep Serena rat free!” “Why are YOU saving Serena?” “Protect your family. Protect your trade. Protect our Serena.” “Do the Rat Trap” “Don’t take the Serenity out of Serena – Remove the Rats!” “Stand firm on Serena – Remove the Rats now.” Be a smart, successful fisherman. Protect your nets and tackle from rats, while also protecting Serena’s heritage. If you set rat traps daily on your boat, you can save $100 on fishing license renewal. Your FREE traps are available at Joe’s Bait Shop. Recreational Visitors Sign the petition If there are not enough signatures on the petition, the island may be declared off limits. Threshold messages Rodents have been introduced to Serena Island through the many fishing boats that dock on the island and accidentally carry rats in their cargo holds with their nets and equipment. Rodents carry disease and pose serious health risks Because of the rats, the symbol of our island – Andrea Quail Dove – is at the threat of extinction. Reinforcement messages Establishment of protected areas will not stop visitation but allow an access zone ensuring success of rat eradication and continued protection of endangered species. Rat eradication will take place during “off season” times to cause minimal inconvenience. Be a good parent and responsible citizen by getting rats off Serena Island. You can protect your family’s health, while also protecting Serena’s heritage. Sign the petition today at your local grocery store to eradicate rats on Serena. 56 Managing for Impact: Measures of Success Note to Campaign Managers This section is completed in phases: The qualitative research helps you to create questions that will help to prove your Theory of Change. From those you write draft SMART objectives without baseline data. Then, after conducting quantitative research (i.e., a KAP survey) and a review of historical trends from Rare, you set your final campaign objectives. The baseline biological monitoring should also be conducted in the Planning Phase. This section of the Project Plan should be largely done before returning to the University so that you can validate the key points with your colleagues and Pride Program Manger. 57 Measures of Success The Theory of Change is the cornerstone of the monitoring plan. The ultimate goal is to enable a stable Andrea Quail Dove population of at least 250 by 2010. However, each stage of the Theory of Change will be monitored for success showing the campaign’s progress, long-term community support, and likely impact. Note to Campaign Managers This can be copied and pasted, with only minor adjustments, from Tab 1 (Set Objectives) of your Work Plan. Monitoring Plan: Fishers Category SMART Objectives By May 2009, 70% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will be aware of its biodiversity importance (up from 19% in the pre-project survey) By May 2009, 100% of fishers will know that rats pose a health risk to them (up from 48%). By May 2009, 100% of fishers will know that rats pose an economic risk to them (up from 62%). Knowledge Attitude By May 2009, 70% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will know that rats are a serious threat to native wildlife (up from 33% in the pre-project survey) By May 2009, 90% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will know how rodents get to SI (up from 4% in pre-project survey) By May 2009, 80% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will agree that rats pose human and environmental problems (up from 40% in the pre-project survey) By May 2009, 80% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will support rodent eradication (up Baseline (Treatment) 19% Target (Treatment) Fishers Baseline (Comparison) Target (Comparison) N/A N/A Pre/post KAP survey 70% N/A 48% 33% 4% 80% Enumerators N/A Aug 08 to April 09 Aug 08 to April 09 Aug 08 to April 09 Enumerators Enumerators Aug 08 to April 09 Pre/post KAP survey Enumerators Aug 08 to April 09 Pre/post KAP survey Enumerators Aug 08 to April N/A N/A When Aug 08 to April 09 Pre/post KAP survey N/A 33% Pre/post KAP survey N/A 90% 80% Enumerators N/A 70% 40% Pre/post KAP survey Pre/post KAP survey N/A Enumerators N/A 100% N/A Who N/A 100% N/A 62% Method 58 Interpersonal Communications Barrier Removal Barrier Removal Barrier Removal Behavior Change from 33% in the pre-project survey) By May 2009, 80% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will have talked to one another about rat issues and solutions By June 2009 the Government will have authorized a rat eradication program on Serena island By Mid April 2009, 100% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will have been taught how to check their holds and set traps for rats (up from 0% in pre-project survey) 0% 80% N/A N/A Directed conversation Jacob Parker 0 1 N/A N/A Decree passed Jacob Parker 09 Aug 08 to April 09 April 09 0% 100% Observation and discussion Forestry Officers/ Enforcement Staff Aug 08 April 09" By Mid April 2009, 100% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will have access to free rat traps (up from 0%) 0% 100% Observation and discussion Forestry Officers/ Enforcement Staff "Aug 08 April 09" By Mid April 2009, 100% of fishers overnighting on Serena Island will have been taught how to check their holds and set traps for rats. By end of June 2009, 100% of fishers will check their boats and set snap traps (daily) for rodents before leaving Andrea and before landing on Serena Island. By end of June 2009, fishers will report the location of rodent sightings to the Forestry Department 0% 100% N/A N/A Observation and discussion 5% 100% N/A N/A Observation and discussion Forestry Officers/ Enforcement Staff Forestry Officers/ Enforcement Staff Aug 08 to April 09 Aug 08 to April 09 0 10/mo N/A N/A Forestry Department log book Forestry Officers/ Enforcement Staff Aug 08 to April 09 59 Monitoring Plan: Recreational Visitors (RV) Category Knowledge Attitude Interpersonal Communications BR Metrics Behavior Change Baseline Target Baseline (Treatment) (Treatment) (Comparison) Recreational Visitors Target (Comparison) By May 2009, 60% of RV to SI will be aware that rats are a major threat to biodiversity & health (up from 28%) By May 2009, 70% of RV to SI will be aware of the critical steps needed to protect SI for future generations including need for rodent eradication & NP declaration (up from 32%) By March 2009, at least 70% of RV to Serena Island will support rodent eradication and its declaration as a National Park (up from 33%) By May 2009, at least 70% of RV to SI will have talked to one another about rats and the steps needed to protect SI (up from 21%) By mid March 2009, 5,000 RV’s will have signed a petition to the Minister of Health supporting a carefully planned and implemented rodent eradication program 28% 60% N/A 32% 70% 33% By June 2009 the Government will have authorized a rat eradication program on Serena island By mid April 2009, 100% of RV boat owners) will check their boats and set snap traps (daily) for rodents before landing on SI and will report rodent sightings to the Forestry Department (up from 0) SMART Objective Method Who When N/A Pre/post KAP survey Enumerators N/A N/A Pre/post KAP survey Enumerators 70% N/A N/A Pre/post KAP survey Enumerators Aug 08 to April 09 21% 70% N/A N/A Dedicated conversations Enumerators Aug 08 to April 09 0 5,000 signatures N/A N/A Petition (5,000 signatures) March 09 - 1 N/A N/A Legal Decree Collected by Volunteers, presented to PM and Minister of Health Jacob Parker 0 All N/A N/A Observation & Discussion Forestry Officers/ Enforcement Staff From April 09 Aug 08 to April 09 Aug 08 to April 09 April 09 60 Monitoring Plan: Measures Common Across Both Audiences Category SMART Objective Eliminate invasive rodents from Serena Island Baseline (Treatment) Target Baseline Target (Treatment) (Comparison) (Comparison) Both Audiences N/A Permit approved N/A N/A N/A Complete eradication, 0 rats N/A N/A NP Declaration approved N/A N/A 250 N/A N/A Threat Reduction Declaration of Serena Island as a Protected Area Conservation Result 13 To secure the population of the endemic and endangered Andrea Quail Dove such that its numbers increase from 100 to 25013 by 2010 100 Method Who When Permit approved in Gazette Post eradication survey of rodent numbers on Serena Island using snap traps and stick boards NP Declaration approved in Gazette Transect surveys on Serena Island Forestry Dept to confirm By April 09 Forestry Dept trained by Rodent Eradication International Quarterly from July 09 Forestry Dept to confirm By December 09 Forestry Dept in collaboration with Andrea Naturalist Society Bi-annually during breeding season (AugNov). Ongoing for ten years Deemed by Andrea’s scientific community to be a secure and viable population number 61 Protocol for Social Monitoring There will be two primary methods for monitoring social change. 1. Survey - The pre-project (baseline) survey outlined in section “Understanding the Community” will be repeated after the project to determine changes in knowledge, attitude and practice. Respondents will be asked where they gained new information and information that may have resulted in modified behaviors in an attempt to attribute changes to our campaign. Behavior change (fishers) will be measured by compliance in use of snap traps. The Forestry Department will conduct random checks on fishers using Serena Island. Boats will be checked for the presence of rodents and the correct use of snap traps. Log books recording compliance and infractions will be maintained and open to scrutiny. 2. Observation – The Forestry Department has agreed to provide attendants who will inspect boats for the usage of rat traps. Through unannounced visits to key fishing boat docking areas, they will check whether (a) fishers have enough traps; (b) they are in use; and (c) they are properly placed. Under Section 37C of the Wildlife Law these acts are within the full jurisdiction of the Forestry Department. Additionally, since a major funding source of training funds for the Forestry Department is through fines, the agents have an incentive to inspect and collect fees. Protocol for Law Enforcement Forest Officers will search all boats and inform fishers and other water users of new regulations and how they can help. The Forest Department will develop log books of these inspections. Early adopters of new practices will be awarded certificates of compliance. Those found not complying will be warned. Pending administrative approval, fishers found to be in full compliance will be able to file for a reduction in fish license fees from $150 annum to $50 from the Department of Fisheries, and those found not in compliance may be fined. The outcome of this will be checking the level of compliance per visit. Additionally, the Forest Officers will track enforcement laws regarding introducing invasive species. Their records will track: accused, found guilty, found guilty and pay fine. Protocol for Biological Monitoring Monitoring for Presence of Rodents Snap traps, sticky boards and chew sticks will be used to monitor rodent reinvasion on Serena Island. These will be placed randomly along the bait station transects and checked at the same time as bait station monitoring occurs. The absence of dead rats, consumed bait, or evidence of rodent presence from chew marks or footprints will be indicative of successful eradication. Monthly rodent monitoring reports will be available from the Forestry Department. 62 Monitoring Andrea Quail Dove Populations Line transects will be used to monitor changes in the population of Andrea Quail Doves. The Andrea Naturalists Society will set up line transects in accordance with methodology described by Buckland et al. (1993, pp. 301-308). Transects will be walked at dawn and dusk and evidence of doves seen or heard will be recorded. Note: Well-marked and straight lines are required for line transect surveys. Upon detection of a Quail Dove, the observer must know the exact position of the line in order to determine the distance from the line or point to the observation. The observer will walk slowly in dense cover and faster in open or less suitable cover, and stop frequently to observe. Surveyors can leave the centerline, provided they record the distances to observations from the centerline of the transect. Observers will occasionally look behind in case a hidden object is not observed. Even though it will be difficult in dense forest, observers can ensure that they are collecting reliable data by moving as quietly as possible to avoid creating disturbance. Role of Comparison Sites Unfortunately it was not possible to establish a comparison group in Andrea. There is only one similar island within a reasonable distance from Andrea, but (1) it is very different culturally from Andrea, and (2) it is logistically difficult and expensive to reach. Thus, the pre-post project survey design is the best design that we could implement to measure the impact of the campaign on changes in knowledge, attitude and practice. Respondents were asked where they gained new information and information that may have resulted in modified behaviors in an attempt to attribute changes to our campaign. Secondly, on the biological monitoring front it also was not realistic to create a comparison site largely because the species is endemic to Serena and we could not find a comparable situation and species nearby. That said, at the end of the cohort Rare will conduct a review of all campaigns in the cohort. This review will provide some insight into the relative effectiveness of the campaign. 63 Building Momentum through Quick Wins Note to Campaign Managers While the Theory of Change is our ultimate measure of success, most of those metrics Quick Wins help you build momentum for your cannot be easily captured and many only happen after the initial phase of campaigns. campaign by demonstrating success is possible. This means that our stakeholders need to wait a long time to see results. Consequently They can either be one of your existing milestones or we have devised some Quick Win metrics that act as the leading indicators of success some other event you would like to use to that we can communicate quickly to build and reinforce commitment to the communicate to your community. campaign. Additionally, while successful completion of these indicators is no guaranty of ultimate impact, not accomplishing them is a sign that we are not on track to meet our objectives. Status Indicator Approximate Date Key stakeholders attend first workshops May 2007 Public endorsement from head of Forestry Department for the campaign June 2007 Public endorsement from head of Health Department for the campaign July 2007 Project plan signed off by Forestry Department and REI September 2007 Mini-market test reveal that fishers support traps December 2007 First 500 signatures on the petition for eradication within 1 week of petition launch March 2008 First 5000 signatures on the petition for eradication within 1 month of petition launch April 2008 Participation of at least director-level staff from Ministries of Natural Resources, Tourism, and Health at public events At least 100 requests for more posters or bumper stickers May 2008 Campaign song among Andrea’s top 10 most requested on Hit Radio 101 August 2008 June 2008 64 The Budget The total 2-year cost of the campaign will be A$28,961. A complete detail of the budget can be found in the Campaign Work Plan, which can be found on http://www.rareplanet.org/en/campaign/serena-island-andrea-fictitious-teachingcase/milestones. Note that these costs only reflect the costs to the Forestry Department and do not reflect costs incurred by our partners such as Rare and REI that are not billed back directly to the Forestry Department. Revenue by Funder Rare Funds Rare (Inkind) Peddy Funds Forestry Department REI Restrictions on Funding Technical support Rat Eradication Total Note to Campaign Managers This budget can be cut directly from Tab 6 Track Funders Amount Funded 20,000.00 249,000.00 50,000.00 2,500.00 16,000.00 337,500.00 Amounted Budgeted 19,587 7,500 337,500 Total Amounted Budgeted 19,587 7,500 1,875 28,961.80 Expenses by Category Community Outreach & Social Marketing Monitoring Barrier Removal Computer, software & equipment Project Mgt & General Admin Regional offices Regional networking Other Total 65 Recurrent Costs The Forestry Department will have to monitor compliance by fishers.14 It is proposed that the associated Pride campaign promote incentives for compliance and disincentives for non-compliance. These might include: Incentives Waiving/reducing annual fishing fees (A$100) for fishers found to be in full compliance after 1 year. This can be done on a rolling basis Providing replacement snap traps free of charge as required Flesh this out a bit Disincentives Amending the Andrea Fisheries Act to include fixed penalties for non-compliance of setting traps Threatening to close off all access to Serena Island if rodent reinvasion takes place Flesh this out a bit The Forestry Department has committed itself to this and increased monitoring will be included in future years’ enforcement budgets. The cost of replacement snap traps is minor (est. A$ 20/annum). 14 66 Timeline NOTE TO CAMPAIGN MANAGERS The first two years of the campaign are outlined below. A complete detail of the time can be found in the Campaign Work Plan, which can be found on http://www.rareplanet.org/en/campaign/serena-island-andrea-fictitious-teachingcase/milestones. Once this initial phase of the campaign is completed, it is expected that we will revise our plan based on lessons learned. The full timeline should be complete by the end of the second university phase. This should be a very simplified version of Tab 5 (Organize Work Plan). Year 2008 Activities Core Planning Activities Core Outreach Activities Workshops Materials Petition Drive Rat Eradication Training Fishers Traps for Fishers Bait stations on Serena Island Monitoring Social Monitoring Survey Biological Monitoring Min-market tests Q1 Q2 Year 2009 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 67 References and Acknowledgments 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Biodiversity of Serena Island; J. Biological Science; A. Martin. 2005 Margoluis, Richard A.; and Niklaus Salafsky [1998] Measures of Success, Island Press, Washington DC. An island under threat; B. Jenks; 2001 96pp Searon Press Andrea’s Unique Quail Dove; Alan Jackson. Article in Birdlife, 1998 Forestry Dept. Management Plan (Serena Island), 2001 Forest & Wildlife Protection Act, Andrea. 1978 Proposal to declare Serena Island a National Park (FD, memo) Miradi Software: Courtesy of Conservation Measures Partnership The author of this Project Plan would like to acknowledge the assistance given by Jo Smith (Chief Forest Officer) and Susan Dikins (Chief Education Officer), Forestry & Wildlife Department, as well as all the various stakeholders who participated in the drafting of this document. The Forestry Department acknowledges the generous assistance provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Rare who are the principal sponsors of this project, as well as Jeremy Blanchore of the Silver Springs Hotel who donated refreshments for the stakeholder meeting. Finally, the Department must acknowledge the generosity of the Stallman Foundation that has pledged more than A$200,000 to support Rodent Eradication International’s work in eradicating Ship Rats from Serena. It is the writer’s sincere hope that the campaign outlined here will not only garner ministerial approval for this eradication program, but will also prevent rodent reinvasion once the removal of commensal rodents occurs. This plan has been read and approved by Jo Smith, Chief Forest Officer, Andrea Forestry & Wildlife Department May 2008 68 Appendices FULL APPENDICES CAN BE FOUND ON RAREPLANET.ORG 69