Conservation of the main European population of Calonectris d. diomedea and other pelagic birds on Pelagic Islands

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

In Europe, Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea ) has an 'unfavourable' conservation status (vulnerable); it is listed as 'vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List and is also included in Annex I of the Birds Directive and the Berne Convention. The predation of eggs and nestlings by the black rat (Rattus rattus ) has reduced Cory’s shearwater’s reproductive success rate to 40-50%; the estimated population is about 10 000 pairs. Another direct threat to Cory’s shearwater reproduction is the collection of eggs by tourists, most of whom are not aware of the importance of preserving such eggs. Finally, the uncontrolled growth of two of the most invasive alien plant species in the Mediterranena islands – Carpobrotus edulis and Nicotiana glauca – has led to the degradation of many habitats, threatening endemic plants and favouring the expansion of the black rat population The island of Linosa is home to more than 60% of the Italian Cory's shearwater population, over 20% of the European population and some 15% of the entire population of the nominal subspecies endemic to the Mediterranean.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this project are:

To protect the breeding population of Cory's Shearwater in Linosa and the small populations of other species of Community interest that are threatened by black rat predation (Caretta caretta, Puffinus yelkouan, Calandrella brachydactyla );

To restore the natural condition of the island's ecosystems by eliminating the most invasive alien species;

To protect habitats of Community Interest (mainly habitat 1240) threatened by Carpobrotus spp; and

To develop “green” tourism around the presence of Cory's Shearwater and other threatened species outside of the regular tourist season.

Expected results

The main quantified expected results are, amongst others:

Eradication of black rat on Linosa. Its removal will allow the improvement of the conservation status of Cory’s shearwater and the Yelkouan shearwater as well as enabling the Mediterranean storm petrel to become established;

Eradication of the most invasive alien plants of the Mediterranean islands, thus favouring the expansion of endemic plants Limonium lopadusanum Brullo and Pancratium angustifolium Lojac and reducing habitat degradation, and consequently, the black rat population; and

Increased awareness about the conservation value of Cory’s shearwater, which will help stop the collection of eggs.