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This quarterly newsletter is an initiative to share information on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), a pragmatic and sustainable option for securing resilience in social and ecological systems impacted by climate change.

This quarterly newsletter is an initiative to share information on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), a pragmatic and sustainable option for securing resilience in social and ecological systems impacted by climate change.

This quarterly newsletter is an initiative to share information on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), a pragmatic and sustainable option for securing resilience in social and ecological systems impacted by climate change.

Factsheet on the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change project

This study describes the biodiversity values of Malden Island, Kiribati, and assesses the potential benefits, feasibility and costs of removing key invasive species. Malden is relatively pest-free, but two significant invasive species are present - feral house cats and house mice. We believe that the most cost-effective and beneficial conservation action in the short term for Kiribati is to undertake a cat eradication programme. This would take pressure off nearly all of the 11 species of seabirds which currently breed at Malden, and allow for the natural and/or enhanced recovery of a further 5-6 species including the Phoenix Petrel (EN). This petrel and other sensitive species occur as foraging species in the seas around Malden and occasionally visit the island, where they are currently susceptible to cat predation. By removing the cats, this population "sink" effect on a number of species could be almost completely removed and the island would ultimately provide a secure breeding site for 15+ seabird species.

This plan covers the proposed operations to eradicate feral cats (Felis catus) from Malden Island, an uninhabited Wildlife Sanctuary within the southern Line Island group, part of the Republic of Kiribati. The removal of cats from this island should allow significant recovery of populations of many seabird species present on Malden including various noddy and tern species, whilst also potentially allowing the successful recolonistaion and/or reintroduction of cat-sensitive seabirds such as the IUCN 'Endangered' Phoenix petrel (Pterodroma alba) and the white-throated (Polynesian) storm petrel Nesofregatta albigularis, and various shearwaters and petrels. This work is urgent because of the perilous state of the Phoenix petrel and some other seabird populations.

PACC reports