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CONSERVATION AREA LIVE LINK Formerly called CASOLINK A newsletter for Conservation Areas in the Pacific Issue no 1 ISSN 1562-4935 CONTENTS Taking the first steps to save our disappearing Pacific birds 1 Taking the first steps Greg Sherley Project Officer, Avifauna Conservation and Invasive Species for saving our disappearing It is sad but true - and has been acknowledged and recognised for a long time - Pacific birds the birds of the Pacific are disappearing, and at an alarming rate. Recently, a Greg Sherley group of people with different backgrounds but all with the common thread of knowledge, interest and commitment to saving the birds, met to address the 7 From the Manager myriad of problems facing Polynesian birds. This was in the form of a sub- Joe Reti regional avifauna conservation workshop for Polynesia, held in Rarotonga, on 26-30 April, 1999. 8 Working on the It was the first of three planned for SPREP Pacific island member countries, convened by Crown-of-thorns SPREP. Future workshops are planned for the Micronesian and Melanesian sub-regions in the Eradication Project Year 2000. Charlene Mersai Twenty five people attended, with one representa- 8 Turtles in Vanuatu and the Non governmental organisation representa- tive each from most of the 10 Polynesian countries, Peter Walker tives involved. as well as representatives from NGOs in the sub- A stimulating field trip was held in the Takitumu Con- 9 Conservation Area region with interest in bird conservation. Four servation Area whose focus is the conservation of Summaries Polynesian ornithologist specialists were invited to the Rarotongan Flycatcher (see picture below). This provide advice and assist with facilitation. This group 10 Staff Changes in project exemplifies good species recovery practice included Drs’ Rod Hay and Hugh Robertson of New Takitimu Conservation in the Pacific. Zealand Department of Conservation; Dr Dick Area Watling from Fiji and Dr David Baker-Gabb from Ian Karika The workshop was opened by Dorice Reid, Te Tika Australia. NZ’s Department of Conservation gener- Mataiapo, who gave an inspiring speech relating 11 Peacemaking - the ously allowed the workshop time free of charge as spirituality and traditions of Cook Island people and Conservation Dividend did the others. BirdLife International sent two rep- their birds to modern day conservation issues and Tamarii Tutangata resentatives and funded the fares of the specialists techniques. 12 Community-driven A mature Kakerori, found only on Rarotonga, like many polynesian birds this species is unique but endangered Biological Surveys Do Work Larry Orsak 14 The Story of Ikataea A story from Tuvalu 16 El Nino Drought Destruction: The Death of Papua New Guinea’s McAdam National Park Larry Orsak & Lawong Balun SPREP 1South PacificCALL RegionalNewsletter Environment Programme Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 The aims of the Polynesian understanding of the needs and benefits of Avifauna Workshop conserving birds and their habitats. 5 Capacity building and involvement 1 To review the 1991 South Pacific Regional To provide training and support for communi- Bird Conservation Programme Plan for Action. ties and other stakeholders to implement the 2 Other main topics covered involved discus- strategy. sions on criteria for assessing the importance 6 Legal Framework of avifauna conservation projects, and decid- To provide models of appropriate policies and ing on priority avifauna conservation projects legislation that take into account traditional on the basis of species, localities and proc- customs and international agreements. esses (threats, generic issues). 1 2 South Pacific Regional Bird Conservation Priority Avifauna Conservation Projects Programme Plan for Action decided by the workshop This plan was originally developed by the The workshop was divided into the same three Avifauna Working Group at the SPREP Biodiversity groups as reviewed the Regional Bird Conserva- Workshop held in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 24-28 Oc- tion Programme Plan for Action (it was discussed tober 1991. This plan was reviewed and updated whether to regroup but the concensus was to stick at this workshop. Three groups reviewed the first to the status quo) and priority topics were identi- two pages of the existing plan then submitted their fied based on the following categories: improvements to the whole workshop. Changes 1 single species, were agreed and compiled for future submission to the other workshops (Melanesia and Micronesia). 2 important bird localities, and The work programme described in the 1991 plan 3 processes, threats and regional topics. was not reviewed because, in effect, this was go- ing to be done by the workshop in establishing pri- The groups reported their topics to the workshop orities. These priorities have been included for your which reviewed and ranked them subjectively (high, information later, as they are relevant for the whole medium and low). As a second tier of recording Pacific situation - not just the Polynesian countries. importance the workshop noted whether a high pri- ority project was “urgent” or “less urgent”. The Goal Priority projects for species and locations were The goal of the 1991 Regional Bird Conservation grouped for each country while projects in the third Programme Plan for Action is: category above were listed separately. The projects were presented as short “project briefs” which in- To ensure the appropriate management of cluded statements answering the following ques- birds and their habitats in order to recover tions: threatened species and to conserve all other indigenous bird species. 1 What is the problem, 2 What is the justification for the project, and The Objectives 3 What are the immediate actions required to 1 Information redress the problem. To compile and obtain information on birds, their habitats and conservation status, and Ranking Criteria make it available in appropriate forms. The workshop discussed criteria which they con- 2 Bird Surveys sidered important in assessing the importance of a To identify priority species and, where conservation project for funding. The following cri- necessary, to carry out surveys to assess and teria are singly or in combination essential and must monitor their conservation status. be addressed by any project: 3 Species Management ❚ Cultural significance, and/or To develop and implement species recovery ❚ Conservation or scientific status. and management plans for those species and areas whose conservation or management is Discussions were held that identified and speci- a priority. fied further details (that fell into the above required criteria) needed for funding, this also included dis- 4 Public Education and Publicity cussing the pros and cons of flagship species. To develop and implement an education and Overall, it was decided that funding should always publicity programme which promotes public ensure some funds went to single species, indi- 2 CALL Newsletter vidual locations and generic issues such as rat Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Participants from the Rarotonga Bird Workshop eradication methods. The project briefs for bird con- tries feel about conserving their birds and what were servation projects are recorded in the workshop If readers would like their issues; and I was left with a clear mandate of proceedings which are available from the author. priority projects for funding. Since the workshop, copies of the Issues comments on the proceedings have been received, and Options Paper for Summary improvements made, and the revised version dis- the conservation of Judging by the questionnaires, the workshop was tributed to participating countries. Also three birds in Polynesia or considered a success by participants. Improvements projects have received funding : Kakerori in the workshop for the future will include better direction in setting Rarotonga, Tahitian Flycatcher in Tahiti and Kaka preoceedings, these ranking criteria and more disciplined timetabling. in Tonga. Others likely to receive assistance include are available from the From my point of view I was delighted with the out- Nina Fo’ou megapode education and monitoring author. comes: I learnt more about how Polynesian coun- and a Polynesian bird guide. ([email protected]) Many of the topics The Kakerori Recovery Programme covered are relevant to ❚ Melanesia and Micro- Greg Sherley took the following photographs dur- controlling the main predator of the birds - Ship Rats, nesia. Proceedings of ing the workshop field trip. They are pictures of the ❚ the Workshop will be endangered Kakerori or Rarotongan Flycatcher colour banding birds during the annual which is unique to the Rarotonga Cook Islands. The published on SPREP’s Kakerori census, and Kakerori recovery Programme had brought the website. ❚ monitoring and recording nesting success of population back from 29 birds in 1989 to 181 in 1999. the birds. (http:/ The successful programme includes: www.sprep.org.ws). Other research activities include testing for bird disease. 3 CALL Newsletter Weighing the bird with a Pesola scale, the condition of the bird may be assessed Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Standard measurements such as bill length may allow sexing individuals on the basis of these measurements Colour-banding allows individual recognition and gathering quality information on demography in the future Blood samples from the brachial artery. Tests for parasites and disease will allow assessments of the risk of translocating if birds are moved to form a new population 4 CALL Newsletter