PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In French Polynesia, 50 bird species have become locally extinct and 20 of the 30 remaining endemic species are threatened by a combination of predators, disease, invasive species and habitat loss. Of the 10 species classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, 5 have fewer than 200 individuals left:
- only 19 adult Fatu Hiva Monarchs (Pomarea whitneyi) survive due to the combined actions of rats, cats and avian malaria
- the Rapa Shearwater (Puffinus myrtae), with an estimated 60 pairs, and the Polynesian Ground-Dove (Alopecoenas erythropterus), estimated at 200 adults, are both the victim of rats
- the habitat of the Rapa Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus huttoni) is disappearing, leaving only an estimated 140 adults
- the Tahiti Monarch (Pomarea nigra), with just 136 adults, faces 10 of the 100 worst Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
OBJECTIVES
LIFE STOP EXTINCTION's ultimate objective is to halt the loss of biodiversity in French Polynesia and to improve the conservation status of 5 critically endangered bird species: Pomarea whitneyi, Pomarea nigra, Ptilinopus huttoni, Puffinus myrtae and Alopecoenas erythropterus.
The project will achieve this by:
- combatting Invasive Alien Species (IAS) by preventing new arrivals, controlling the spread of IAS diseases and eradicating IAS predators
- establishing a number of secure populations for 3 endangered species before 2030
- rehabilitating the habitats of threatened species
- promoting both challenges and solutions through communications, education, coordination with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and LIFE projects
- sharing the main project successes in congresses, articles and with international media
- ensuring the project can be sustained and replicated for 10 other species across 12 sites through volunteering, job creation, self-financing and building the capacity of local NGOs
RESULTS
The main expected result is the improved conservation status of the 5 most critically endangered bird species in French Polynesia. Specifically, the project expects to:
- avoid the extinction of Pomarea whitneyi
- increase the number of Pomarea whitneyi to 48 individuals by 2030
- increase the numbers of the 4 other species by at least 10% per year during the 6 years of the project to:
- at least 265 Pomarea nigra
- more than 95 pairs of Puffinus myrtae
- more than 210 Ptilinopus huttoni
- at least 350 Alopecoenas erythropterus.
- upgrade of status of Pomarea nigra and Alopecoenas erythropterus on the IUCN Red List from critically endangered to endangered
- halt and/or reverse of biodiversity loss on 62 km2 of habitat
- enhance the sustainability of biodiversity on a further 7 sites (42.5 km2)
- ensure the long-term protection of 2 privately-owned reserves on Temoe (4 hectares) and Meetia (30 hectares) by agreeing long-term agreements with the land owners
- protect 33.1 km2 of forest habitat from erosion and improvethe climate resilience of 33.5 km2 across 5 Pomarea nigrasites
- test 6 new methods for the improvement of the efficiency of biosecurity and IAS control on 61.8 km2 of emerged lands
- raise awareness among local people about the value of safeguarding their islands’ ecosystems, including conservation training
- create 10 new positions — making a total of 16 — for the duration of the project, with 15 of them being maintained after the project’s end
