New resource on managed relocation & OIA award announcement
October 2, 2024
The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) recently released a white paper, “Considering the Risks of Managed Relocation.”
According to the white paper, “Climate change and other stressors like habitat loss, disease, and invasive species are putting species at risk of extinction and causing ecosystems to transform. Managed relocation – or the intentional introduction of a species out of its natural range for a conservation purpose – may be an option to address these challenges, though there are risks to the species being relocated, other species, the ecosystems the species are moved from and moved to, and administrative elements like partner relationships.”
Related to this, check out the Decision Support Framework for Conservation Introductions, USFWS, Pacific Region, and Pacific RISCC’s webinar on this topic When should we move species outside their range as islands change? Taking Smart Risks and Making Good Decisions.
Also sharing the news:
From the article:
“The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) announced $2,526,429 in Fiscal Year 2024 funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda that will provide the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) with vital biosecurity training opportunities and projects that improve island and coastal ecosystem resilience.”
- $497,846 to the Government of Guam to establish a Marine Biosecurity Coordinator position and develop a surveillance and response plan for marine invasive species in Apra Harbor.
- $422,162 to the American Samoa Government for the development of fumigation and incineration capacity on-island to address critical biosecurity gaps. Funds will also support on-island biosecurity training featuring national and international experts.
- $71,417 to the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources for on-island biosecurity training in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
- $50,000 to the University of Guam for on-island biosecurity training and a workshop focused on emergency response planning and invasive species management.
- $48,866 will be provided for invasive species experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide biosecurity training to the territories.