PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
LIFE TETIDE focuses on the conservation of Mediterranean Islands (in Italy, Malta and Croatia), through:
1) Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Biosecurity, to prevent IAS (rodents and plants) arrival, efficient detection and rapid response for potential incursions, to maintain results achieved in this and previous projects
2) Upscaling experiences from previous LIFE projects through further interventions of IAS management and attraction of seabirds
3) Upscaling the involvement of island communities in active conservation efforts.
The main expected results are: protection of about 50% of the populations of two endemic Mediterranean taxa, Puffinus yelkouan and Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis, from rat invasion/reinvasion of rat-free colonies; protection of EU habitats, species and ecosystems through rat removal on Italian Palmarola and small islands of Croatia and Malta; protection of the largest EU colony of Calonectris diomedea and of a population of Brachypterus megacephalus (first project on this Vulnerable and Annex II species) through innovative permanent rodent control on a sector of Linosa; improvement of conservation status of 10 EU habitats through the release from the pressure of plant IAS (mainly Opuntia stricta); establishment of new breeding sites of P. yelkouan and H. pelagicus on rat-free islands of Italy and Malta through attraction and nest boxes; increase support of island communities through community engagement in projects with relevant socio-economic benefits, increasing the long-term sustainability of maintaining IAS-free status. Activities aimed to replication and catalytic potential include the strengthening of networking between EU groups active in seabird conservation, drafting of shared (among beneficiaries and supporting organization of other EU MS) guidelines and protocols and of a Mediterranean islands rat-free strategy concerning the next phase of rat eradications and biosecurity.
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) have a stronger impact on native species richness on islands, often leading to the reduction or extinction of endemic and endangered species. The Mediterranean basin, with its complex system of islands, is a significant area of species diversity. Seabirds, particularly the four breeding species of Procellariiformes, are threatened by predation of chicks and eggs by the Black rat.
In Italy, excluding Sicily and Sardinia, 65 islands host at least one of the three species of Procellariiformes. Efforts have been made to reduce the impact of Black rats, resulting in significant conservation outcomes, especially for Puffinus yelkouan. Maintaining these results is crucial, particularly on islands where rat removal has led to local population increases.
The Maltese islands host colonies of three endemic procellariiformes. Previous projects have aimed at reducing rat populations, but no targeted control or eradication attempts have been made for all colonies. Given the large proportion of H. p. melitensis nesting on Filfla, maintaining its rat-free status is a fundamental conservation objective.
In Croatia, two shearwater species breed on small islands and islets in two SPAs. Almost all these islands are inhabited by black rats, but with better biosecurity practices and support from local stakeholders, it is possible to maintain a favourable conservation status.
Additionally, the second general threat project aims to address the widespread presence of invasive alien plant species on inhabited islands. Some of the IAS plants present in the project areas are: Opuntia stricta, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Nicotiana glauca, Agave americana and Chasmanthe floribunda, Carpobrotus spp. (Carpobrotus acinaciformis and C. edulis) and Ailanthus altissima
OBJECTIVES
The actions foreseen in LIFE TETIDE will be achieved in the following Mediterranean islands and the general objectives are:
The project aims to strengthen biosecurity measures on 15 Italian islands, 8 Croatian islands, and 4 Maltese islands/sites, reducing the risk of rat incursions by at least 50%. This will enhance seabird populations and maintain or increase breeding success to 75% for P. yelkouan and up to 70% for C. diomedea.
Biosecurity implementation on Filfla will protect the largest colony of H. pelagicus, ensuring breeding success and adult survival. The project also plans to remove invasive species like Carpobrotus spp. and Ailanthus altissima from Capraia Island and implement a geo-referenced database of eradicated plant species distribution in 6 Italian islands.
The conservation status of 7 habitats of EU interest at sites IT5160006 and MT0000034 will be improved by releasing pressure from invasive alien plants and eradicating plant IAS Opuntia spp. and Carpobrotus spp.
Rat eradication on Palmarola island will restore insular ecosystems, habitat, and endangered/endemic species, improving shearwaters’ breeding performances. Rat control on Linosa will be strengthened through an innovative activity of rodent control, eliminating predation on C. diomedea nests and B. megacephalus individuals.
The project will protect the most important colony of the Mediterranean subspecies melitensis of Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus by maintaining Filfla’s island rat-free status. The available breeding habitat of H. pelagicus and P. yelkouan will be expanded, and the number of sites occupied will be increased through the installation of artificial nests and acoustic attractors in new rat-free islands.
Lastly, the project will define a common strategy and guidelines on rodent eradications and biosecurity measures targeted on Mediterranean islands, updating the Database of Island Invasive Species Eradications (DIISE).
RESULTS
- Draft of Biosecurity guidelines for Mediterranean islands
- Removal of Opuntia stricta and O. ficus-indica on about 68.5 hectares in Capraia.
- Eradication of Zantedeschia aethiopica and Nicotiana glauca from the island.
- Local control of Chasmanthe floribunda in public areas of Capraia Isola.
- Planting of native species in areas subjected to removal of IAS.
- Protection of breeding populations of Puffinus yelkouan and Calonectris diomedea in Palmarola island.
- Predation of shearwater nests by rats less than 5% in Lampione island.
- Maintenance of natural reproductive success for the breeding populations of Scopoli’s shearwaters on Lampione.
- Deployment of up to 50 artificial nests for H.pelagicus in 3 sites and up to 110 artificial nests for P. yelkouan in 6 sites.
- Reproductive success of 380-620 pairs of Yelkouan shearwater and 175-265 pairs of Scopoli’s shearwater on targeted islands in Croatia.
- Education of 50 local fishermen and boats operators about the importance of biosecurity in Croatia.
- Keeping waste secured from rats and reducing lights during 2 summer months in 3 restaurants on Lastovo, Croatia.
- Feasibility study outlining steps for rat removal from the 3 main shearwater colonies in the SPA Pučinski otoci, Croatia.
- No recorded predation of nests or adults of H. pelagicus and P.yelkouan in all Maltese sites.
- Reduction of invasive plant species, Opuntia ssp and Carpobrotus ssp, at Ta’ Ċenċ, Malta by 100%.
- Installation of closed disposal bins at Il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri sal-Ponta ta’ Ħarrux, Malta.
- Implementation of a rapid response board and staff.
- Training of 4 canine units for early detection.
