INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES IAS IN SAMOA:

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INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (IAS) IN SAMOA A
SERIOUS THREAT TO THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY, FOOD
SECURITY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN
LIVELIHOODS
By Leatigaga (Maleko) Mark J. Bonin API Seminar
2006
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OUTLINE FOR PRESENTATION

• Case Study Area Description
• Location
• Geology
• Demographics
• Economy
• Biodiversity

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OUTLINE FOR PRESENTATION -CONT-

• What is an Invasive Alien Species?
• Definitions and Terminologies
• Symbiotic Relationships
• Examples in Samoa

• What is being done?
• Who is doing it?
• Conclusions The Way Forward
• Acknowledgements

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CASE STUDY AREA SAMOA (formerly called Western
Samoa until 1997)
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Geographical Location
South Pacific Ocean Between South Latitudes 130
25 140 05 Borders International
Dateline Longitudes 1710 23- 1720 48
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SAMOAN (WESTERN) ISLANDS

• Islands are volcanic in origin and oceanic in
  nature
• Eight Islands (4 inhabited)
• Total Land Area 2,935 km2
• Highest Elevation Mt. SiliSili on Savaii 1859
  meters
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 98,500 km2
• Total Population 174,140
• Ratified 25 out of 28 MEAs for Pacific Islands

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SAMOAS BIODIVERSITY

• Samoas biodiversity is internationally
  recognized through the CEPF sponsored by
  Conservation International and others (GEF, Gov.
  Japan,) and is part of the Polynesia-Micronesia
  Biodiversity Hotspot
• Samoan Islands biodiversity is still not well
  studied or understood or even inventoried
  particularly for the more difficult life forms
  (e.g. arthropods, gastropods, other
  invertebrates, pathogens, marine species, etc.)
• Relatively high rate of endemism but also a has a
  significant number of threatened or endangered
  species

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General Characteristics of Samoan Islands
Biodiversity

• Numbers of endemic and native species high
• Plants (30 2nd largest native flora in all of
  Polynesia, divided up Samoan flora into 6 broad
  groups and 14 plant communities Whistler, pers.
  comm. 2005)
• Land Birds (23)
• Ants (18)
• Land Snails (49-53, Cowie and Robinson, 2003)
• Mammals (30 including R. exulans)

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SAMOAS NUMBER OF THREATENED SPECIES

• TERRESTRIAL
• Plants (_at_ 136 Whistler, 1992)
• Land Birds (14 species)
• Reptiles (4 species)
• Butterflies (1 species)
• Ants (?)
• Land Snails (12 species, Cowie and Robinson,
  2003)
• Mammals (3 native bat species with the
  insectivorous Sheath-tailed Bat Emballonura
  semicaudata now considered functionally extinct)

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SAMOAS NUMBER OF THREATENED SPECIES

• MARINE
• Vertebrates (4 species)
• Invertebrates (14 species)

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• The loss of native vegetation on Savaii from
  1953 to 1990 (Whistler 2005)

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WHAT IS AN INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (IAS) ?
NATIONAL INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES STEERING
COMMITTEE 2003 The National Invasive Alien
Species Implementation Action Plan (NIASIAP SAMOA
2006) (NIASIAP 2006 Samoa) Invasive alien
species are species introduced into an area in
which they do not occur naturally, usually as a
result of human activities, and which threaten
environmental or economic resources, or human
health, due to the damage they cause, or are
likely to cause.
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WHY ARE (IAS) BAD or THEATENING?

• Threatens our island biodiversity
• Loss of forests, plant communities and species
• Loss of wildlife habitats
• Loss of species through competition, predation,
  feeding and grazing
• Threatens our economy, food security and
  sustainable livelihoods
• Damages and/or destroys our property and
  infrastructures
• They are an eyesore to the environment and
  tourism
• Damages and destroys our crops and livestock

• Threatens our human and animal health
• Carriers and vectors of diseases and plants
  pathogens

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KEY POINTS ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES

• With the rapid expansion in international travel
  and global trade IAS have become a problem of
  global proportion and will only get worse
  particularly for SIDS!!

• Not all invasive species are alien, exotic, or
  introduced (example Merremia peltata in Samoa)

• Not all introduced species become invasive and
  many more of these species have sustained
  livelihoods and industries than become problems
  (example Theobroma cacao in Samoa)

• Identifying, ranking and conducting risk analysis
  for IAS is increasingly problematic particularly
  for small island states

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KEY POINTS ABOUT IAS cont.-

• Understanding the biology, life cycle, growth
  habit, etc. is absolutely essential in order to
  effectively implement any eradication,
  suppression or control programs.
• Economic, environmental and social impacts of IAS
  are difficult to quantify.
• Symbiotic relationships (Mutualism, Commensalism,
  Parasitism, Phoresis, etc.) sometimes exist
  between IAS and other species that make them even
  more threatening, difficult to eradicate and/or
  control.
• Examples Coccinia grandis and cucurbit pests and
  diseases especially Bactrocera cucurbitae and is
  a reservoir for Papaya Ring Spot Disease
• Coccinia grandis is known to be spread by birds
  including the Red Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus
  cafer) and rats (Rattus sp.)

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WHAT CAN BE DONE? INTERNATIONALLY REGIONALLY

• INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS SOCIAL MARKETING AT
  THE GLOBAL, REGIONAL, and SUPPORT NATIONAL
  EFFORTS
• ASSIST IN IMPROVING BORDER PATROL QUARANTINE
  TECHNOLOGIES (funding, training, infrastructural
  improvements, etc.)
• IMPROVE STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES TO MANAGE IAS in
  SIDS (Funding, research, training, equipment and
  technologies, etc.)
• FURTHER DEVELOP, IMPROVE AND SUPPORT GLOBAL
  REGIONAL INITIATIVES AND ASSIST IN SIDS
  DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES AND LEGISLATION
• DEVELOP AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR
  IAS MANAGEMENT for NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION

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WHAT CAN BE DONE NATIONALLY?

• THE BASICS STEPS IN DEALING WITH IAS NATIONALLY
• PREVENTION (Both Coming and Going)
• Intentional vs. Accidental
• Border Patrol
• Risk Assessment
• Importation Permits
• Trade Regulations
• Sanitation of Storage Facilities
• Post Entry Treatment Quarantine

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BASIC STEPS NATIONAL LEVEL cont.-

• OPTIONS FOR ACTION
• FIRST DETECTION CONTAINMENT, SUPPRESION,
  MANAGEMENT CONTROL
• Early Detection
• Assessment (What is it? Is it invasive? What is
  the extent of its distribution? Is eradication an
  option? Containment an option?)

• ESTABLISHED MANAGEMENT / SUPPRESION / CONTROL
• Mechanical/Physical Control
• traps, lures, barriers
• hand weeding, hand picking, hunting, slashing

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BASIC STEPS NATIONAL LEVEL cont.- OPTIONS

• MANAGEMENT / SUPPRESION / CONTROL
• CHEMICAL CONTROL
• Chemical pesticides (herbicides, insecticides,
  etc.)
• Fumigants
• Repellants
• Lures

• HABITAT MANAGEMENT
• Grazing
• Prescribed burning
• Changing other biological factors

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BASIC STEPS NATIONAL LEVEL cont.- OPTIONS

• MANAGEMENT / SUPPRESION / CONTROL
• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
• Biopesticides (e.g. Neem extract, caffeine, etc.)
• Pathogens (e.g. Bt, Spinosad, Beauvaria, etc.)
• Insects
• Predators (e.g.. Ducks)

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WHAT IS BEING DONE?

• INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
• CONVENTIONS (World Heritage Convention, RIO, CBD,
  IPPC resulting in 8 MEAs for Pacific Island
  Countries)
• MULTIGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS (UNDP, UNEP, GEF,
  FAO, WB, ADB)
• NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (WWF, IUCN, CI,
  TNC, GISP, CEPF, etc.)
• NETWORK (TECHNICAL) GROUPS (Pestnet, Aliens,
  PILN, etc.)

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WHAT IS BEING DONE?

• REGIONAL LEVEL
• SPREP
• USP
• SPC
• AID DONORS NZAID, AUSAID
• NGOs (FSPI, etc.)

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NATIONAL LEVEL

• Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and
  Meteorology, Division of Environment
  Conservation (MNREM/DEC ) and Division of
  Forestry
• Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)
• Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure
  (MWTI, PUMA Section) Ministry of Education
  (NUS)
• NGOs (Women in Business and Development,
  Siosiomaga Society, METI, etc.)

• COMMUNITY LEVEL
• Youth Groups
• Church Groups
• Village Aumaga
• Womens Committees

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INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES IN SAMOA

• MICRO-ORGANISMS _at_ 7 species
• MACRO-FUNGI _at_ 8 species
• AQUATIC PLANTS _at_ 2 species
• LAND PLANTS _at_ 23 species
• AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES _at_ 1 species?
• LAND INVERTEBRATES _at_ 4 species
• AMPHIBIANS None at present
• FISH _at_ 4 species
• BIRDS _at_ 3 species
• REPTILES None at present
• MAMMALS _at_ 8 species

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EXAMPLES OF (IAS) IN SAMOA
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Scarlet Fruited or Ivy Gourd
Coccinia grandis

• Intentionally introduced late 1990s and first
  recognized as an invasive threat in late 2002
  (Space Flynn)
• Plants are dioecious but unfortunately both male
  and female plants are present in Samoa
• Widespread throughout Apia evirons being
  cultivated by man and now there is evidence being
  spread by other invasives
• Eradication not feasible
• Investigations into existing biological control
  options are being pursued

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• In both Guam and the CNMI Coccinia grandis has
  cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in
  infrastructural damages and is also a host and
  reservoir for several other major cucurbit pests
  and diseases
• Hawaii Department of Agriculture developed and
  established a successful biological program in
  the early 1990s

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GIANT AFRICAN SNAIL
Achatina fulica

• First introduced accidentally to Samoa in 1982
  and was successfully eradicated

• Arrived again in January 1993 and unfortunately
  eradication attempts failed and has now
  established on both Upolu and Savai'i

• Biological control efforts have been disastrous
  to native gastropod fauna
• Carrier of human disease

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TARO LEAF BLIGHT
Phytophthora colocasiae

• First identified on east coast of Upolu in
  May-June 1993
• Early eradication efforts failed and a breeding
  program was required to bring stable food back to
  Samoan tables
• Devastated major taro export industry
• Taro is now back in the market place

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RODENT SPECIES Rattus spp. Mus musculus

• Samoa has three rats species Rattus rattus,
  Rattus norvegicus and Rattus exulans and one
  mouse species Mus musculus
• All four species are carriers of human related
  diseases
• Rattus sp. have directly caused or contributed to
  the extinction of many species of wildlife
  species throughout the Pacific including birds,
  small mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and
  plants.
• MNREM is undertaking an eradication effort for
  two of the outer Aleipata islands Nuutele
  Nuulua for the protection and restoration of
  island native bird species

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ALEIPATA ISLANDS RAT ERADICATION RESTORATION
PROJECT 2006
Funded by PP-CII (through CI)
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THE WAY FORWARD

• FURTHER DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN PUBLIC AWARNESS
  CAMPAIGNS (National, District, Village)
• FURTHER DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN NATIONAL POLICIES
  AND LEGISLATION
• STENGTHEN GOVERNMENTAL CAPACITY TO ADDRESS IAS
  BOTH CURRENTLY PRESENT AND POTENTIALLY
• COMPLETE BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS AND CATALOUGUE
  SPECIES FOR BIODIVERSITY INVENTORIES
• INCORPORATE IAS ISSUES INTO EDUCATIONAL CURRICULA
  
• ADOPT THE NIMBY PHILOSOPHY (NOT IN MY BACKYARD!)

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FAAFETAI TELE LAVA

• Mahalo
• Vinaka vakalevu
• Domo arigato
• Nihwee-Deebiru
• Komapsumnida
• Ah bo u ja

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ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
Dr. Art Whistler (Isle Botanica, Honolulu,
Hawaii) Liz Dovey (Invasive Species and Bird
Conservation Officer SPREP, Apia Samoa) Dr.
Robert H. Cowie (Center for Conservation Research
and TrainingUniversity of Hawaii Honolulu,
Hawaii USA) Francois Martel, Sue Taei, and James
Atherton (Conservation International, Apia,
Samoa) Michael Browne (Database Manager, GISP,
Auckland New Zealand) Philip Ivey (Program
Coordinator, GISP, Cape Town, South Africa) David
Butler (Biodiversity Consultant, Nelson, New
Zealand) Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
(Quarantine and Nuu Research Station) Ministry of
Natural Resources, Environment Meteorology
(Division of Environment and Conservation and
Division of Forestry)