Falklands Conservation Annual Review July 2016–June 2017 Falklands Conservation is a full Partner of BirdLife International, making a significant contribution to the BirdLife Global Marine Programme and working closely with the UK Partner, the RSPB. The work we do reflects our mission to work in partnership with the local and international community to conserve nature. Board Of Trustees FC Staff Update: Quilodran Jelbes joined the team as the new Administrative Officer in Mar 2017. Roger Spink (FC Chairman), Henry Full-time staff over the year: Dr Esther We also had the following project Robinson (FC Vice Chairman), Mandy Bertram continued as our Chief Executive staff: Frin Ross completed her project Shepherd (UK Vice Chair), Dr Paul Brewin Officer, and Farrah Peck remained as employment as the Habitats Restoration (FI Vice Chair), Tym Marsh (Hon Treasurer), Office Manager in the Falklands. Dr Officer, and Caroline Weir joined the Keith Biles (FI Hon Treasurer), Thomas Andrew Stanworth continued as the team as Sei Whale Project Officer in Oct Blake, Sally Blake, Tim Carr, Jan Cheek, Conservation Manager, and Sarah Crofts 2016. Throughout the year Helen Marsh Dr Colin Clubbe, Prof John Croxall, Ross as Conservation Officer. David Spivack very kindly provided voluntary support James, Steve Massam, Ian Moncrieff, continued in his role as UK Director, to our charity as the Herbarium Curator, Louise Taylor, Sally-Ann Wilson – Co-opted and Elizabeth Milston continued as the and Susan Thacker continued to provide Aug 2016. Community Engagement Manager. Frin voluntary administrative support to the Ross joined the team as the permanent Vice Presidents UK office in Sandy. Habitats Officer in Jul 2016 following Sir David Attenborough, Julian Fitter, on from her project work as the Habitat Robert Gibbons, Peter Harrison, Rebecca Restoration Officer 2015-2016. Angela With this staff complement, together Ingham, Robin Woods, Mark Carwardine – Clarke was the Administrative Assistant with the assistance of many dedicated as of Feb 2017. up until Jan 2017, Jessica Harte was volunteers both locally and overseas, we Patron Temporary Administrative Assistant for have had a successful year. We thank HRH Prince Andrew The Duke of York. the period Jan – Feb 2017 before Pamela each and every one of them. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Here is an overview of this year’s achievements:

IMPROVING FC EFFECTIVENESS space for Watch Group activities. The EDUCATION AND OUTREACH fundraising appeal for this initiative was People launched at St James’s Palace by our Our Small Grants Scheme supported local conservation efforts of a native plants We have increased our investment in our Patron HRH The Duke of York in Jun 2016. staff, without whom, none of our work garden at Mare Harbour, eradication of would be possible, through individual invasive mammals on Bense and Little and organisational focussed training Governance Bense Islands, and to fence eroded land at opportunities. We have a strong set of This year the Trustees considered West Lagoons ready for tussac planting. Trustees who work hard to ensure we are it prudent to update the charity’s We had a display at the Falkland Islands compliant with the charity commission foundation document, to ensure that Farmers’ Week Expo, had Herbarium and and our organisational objectives. the governance of the charity keeps Habitat Restoration Trial Plot open days, We have a large, worldwide network of pace with changes in UK Charity Law. and hosted an evening meal. We arranged over 50 members through which we The previous Memorandum & Articles of volunteer weekends for the planting of are able to promote our work. This year Association we replaced with completely native tussac grass on eroded ground, we have increased emphasis on new new Articles, which were agreed by and for the removal of invasive thistles. recruitment initiatives, and expanded our Members at the AGM on 1 Dec 2016 and Numerous public talks, community generous group of corporate supporters. taken into use with effect of this date. events, print and radio appearances were held throughout the year. Our members Premises Fundraising received two issues of our high quality magazine, Wildlife Conservation in the Our main conservation operations are We have been working to update our managed from our head office at Jubilee Falkland Islands, as well as two copies of fundraising plan to ensure we have Villas in Stanley. Our two Jubilee Villas our newsletter. We continued to keep our sustainable income streams in place on the waterfront, acquired in 2007-08, social media up-to-date with the news and provide the base from which to run our and have been undertaking associated results of our latest work, and began work activities, with a complementary office for communications planning. Sales from our to redevelop the current website. the UK Director based at The Gatehouse small gift shop at Jubilee Villas, and our in Sandy, Bedfordshire (kindly supplied webshop, continue to supplement our Watch Group by the RSPB). wwe are working hard fundraising efforts. We hosted 160 guests Our efforts to build appreciation towards our vision of a purpose-built at our annual Charity Ball which is our and understanding of wildlife and headquarters in Stanley with a dedicated main fundraising event on the islands. conservation continued through the

6 Falkland Islands WILDLIFE CONSERVATION work of the Watch Group (the junior Islands, incorporate it into industry branch of our charity), which had a record decision making, ensure its protection, number of 60 members this year. With and also to provide mechanisms for the generous support of the Standard facilitating responsible operation and Chartered Bank, we were able to take leaving a positive environmental legacy children to many of the more remote from industry operations. parts of the Falklands, and to maintain a programme of activities throughout Oiled Seabird Rehabilitation Facility the year. Their activities were recorded The charity successfully cared for in the quarterly Rocky’s News newsletter. and released a low number of oiled Future plans to incorporate an education penguins over the year including centre for the Watch Group into our new gentoo and Magellanic penguins. building continue. A number of volunteers were trained to help care for penguins, as well as visits arranged for local school and PROMOTING CONSERVATION youth groups. A community project was AMBITION AND CONSERVATION organised with the British Forces South ACTION Atlantic Islands (MoD) assisting with on-going improvements to the facility. We continued to provide environmental In collaboration with Detroit Zoological advice to government, industry and Society design work started on new other stakeholders in the Falklands and information panels and signs. abroad. We continued to be represented on the Board of the South Atlantic Driving forward habitat Environmental Research Institute (SAERI). restoration and land We commented on several elements of management the oil companies’ operations through the exploration phase to encourage Habitat Restoration and Outreach best practice to be undertaken in This new three-year John Ellerman the Falklands. We maintained our Foundation funded project supports membership of the Falkland Islands habitat protection and restoration work Offshore Hydrocarbons Environmental including youth education and tussac Forum, and the Seabird Bycatch planting. Importantly, it also supports Committee. We attended the Falkland and show-cases practical restoration Island Government (FIG) Environment work led by landowners, with a focus Committee as formal members, and on restoration using native plants. worked with FIG in the development of Outreach included print and social strategies within the Falkland Islands media, public talks, stalls at agricultural Biodiversity Framework. Outside of shows, information leaflets, and planting the Islands, the Conservation Manager trips and field trips. Research continues attended the annual plenary of the Forum to monitor a subset of restoration trials for the Conservation of the Patagonian set up in the Darwin Initiative project Sea, the UK Director and CEO attended and to push forward new trials with the Joint Ministerial Council Reception seed-based restoration and tiller in London, and the UK Director ensured planting using species other than tussac. we had a high profile at the UK’s well- The Cape Dolphin Native Seed Hub is attended annual BirdFair. now established and run by Sonia and Andy Felton with support from Ben Strengthening biosecurity and Berntsen. invasive policy and practice We worked closely with FIG in Rural Environmental Engagement strengthening biosecurity legislation and Funded by the Rural Development encouraging an integrated approach to Strategy (administered by the Falkland invasive management, and with Island Islands Development Corporation), we LandCare to carry out practical invasive have worked with farmers to promote control through thistle eradication visits land management practices that have to Saunders Island with the support of our positive environmental impacts. Detailed volunteers. consultation with the farming community highlighted the importance of proven Ensuring leading practice farm-led initiatives that illustrate local being undertaken for onshore projects and expertise. In response we have shared farm-led conservation- TOP TO BOTTOM: and offshore development Over four hectares of tussac planted at Sea minded projects through the production Lion Island; Bill Dawson and volunteers Developing Hydrocarbon Policy of ‘case-studies’, farm visits, presentations, planting native plants at East Cove Military Frameworks and stalls at the Agricultural Show and Port; Monitoring Beaver Pond tussac With funding and support from the Farmers’ Week. These have been well plantation at in October; RSPB, we have been working with received and generate considerable Invasive spear thistle eradication at Saunders industry and government to develop interest with new farmers. This work is Island in March; Meet the FC team – policy frameworks that recognise the now continued through our Ellerman left to right Esther, Andy, Pame, Caroline, significance of biodiversity in the Falkland project (above). Farrah, Liz, Sarah and Frin.

Falkland Islands WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 7 Practical Management of Sea Lion in the Berkeley Sound candidate Key Environmental Studies Budget (ESB), Island Nature Reserve Biodiversity Area between January and continued into its 28th year. This is a We continued to undertake the practical June 2017, consisting of aerial survey of southern rockhopper, gentoo management of Sea Lion Island surveys, boat surveys and shore-based and king penguin colonies, together Nature Reserve in accordance with our watches. A spatial dataset was collected with black-browed albatross, southern agreement with the Falkland Islands on sei whale (and other cetacean species) giant petrel with the recent addition of Development Corporation. As part of occurrence and will establish a photo- imperial shag and Falkland skua. This this programme, and in collaboration identification catalogue of distinctive year was notable for an overall decrease with the manager of Sea Lion Lodge we individuals. Public awareness through (by around a third) in breeding pairs of implemented: rodent monitoring, non- local media, developing a code of southern rockhopper penguin, gentoo native plant control, habitat restoration conduct for marine users, information penguin and black-browed albatross. It trials with novel native plant species leaflets and informative boards on is likely that associated environmental and techniques, and a very large tussac cetaceans is ongoing. changes in the marine ecosystem led to planting trip (over four hectares of eroded a period of reduced food availability to Genetic sampling of Endangered Sei ground planted by 29 people including seabirds, with some birds deciding to skip Whales British Forces South Atlantic Islands breeding altogether (deferred or abstained With funding support from the RSPB, (MoD), Elephant Seal Research Group and breeding), and helps to explain, in part, the sei whale genetic work can be carried FC Volunteers), and monitored long-term lower numbers of breeding pairs observed out alongside the main BEST 2.0 project. fixed-point habitat restoration sites. We by the programme this year. Breeding Biopsy sampling was carried out under produced four reports on these activities success across the species and sites was a research licence from FIG, with the including a summary report with variable, but on the whole was lower collection of small tissue samples from 13 management recommendations. than the previous year and below the individuals in Berkeley Sound. Additionally, yearly averages. Monitoring data from the genetic material was collected from whale Enhanced marine management programme has already proved invaluable bones, stranded animals and potentially in assessing long-term trends, particularly Developing a Site-based Conservation can be extracted from faecal samples in understanding the significance of short- Approach for Sei Whales at Berkeley collected at sea. Sample analysis will be term declines in seasonal performance, Sound, Falkland Islands carried out via a collaboration with the and for informing IUCN Red List This EU BEST 2.0 project takes a site- British Antarctic Survey. based approach to further understanding assessments. The gentoo penguin was sei whale abundance and distribution The Annual Seabird Monitoring down-listed on the IUCN Red List from in Berkeley Sound, the busiest Programme Near Threatened to Least Concern. shipping harbour in the Islands. The The Annual Seabird Monitoring fieldwork component was carried out Programme, supported by FIG’s Plans for the Future This being an election year we will be The engagement and involvement WE WILL FOCUS AROUND THE working hard with candidates and of the community through outreach, FOLLOWING THEMES: newly elected Members of the Legislative member and volunteer events l Advocating for environmental ambition Assembly (MLAs) to ensure the natural l Under the direction of our Community and best practice with FIG and key environment, on which we all depend so Engagement Manager, Liz Milston, we stakeholders on practices that impact heavily, is considered at the highest levels will be continuing our successful work on the natural environment. of decision making. We will also formalise with the Watch Group and our adult l Championing through our networks our organisational Business Plan 2017–20 volunteer outreach activities, which those taking positive action for nature. which will drive improvements in our this year, once again, will have activities l Building engagement and Effectiveness, and support our education, that are directly focused around our key understanding of our members and the outreach and Conservation Strategy. conservation priorities. local community on key issues affecting l the natural environment. Ensuring improved FC effectiveness Helen Marsh will be continuing as the voluntary Herbarium Curator l With our UK Director, David Spivack, maintaining the National Herbarium THE CONSERVATION PRIORITY AREAS leading our fundraising plans we to increase knowledge of Falkland’s ARE LISTED BELOW: will continue focusing our efforts on species. unrestricted funding for the organisation. Strengthening biosecurity and l With the oversight of our Office invasives policies, procedures and We will continue to focus efforts on our Manager, Farrah Peck, we will ensure management priority conservation activities which the day to day running of the office and promoting conservation ambition: uses a threats based approach to lead its facilities, the organisational financial l We will work closely with government our conservation efforts to 2020. Our management and HR processes are in strengthening biosecurity legislation Conservation Manager, Andy Stanworth, working smoothly. and practice and encouraging an will continue managing our conservation l To increase our abilities to work integrated approach to invasive team and leading our conservation effectively with our Watch Group and management. activities. Our Conservation Officer, the community, we will be focusing conservation action: Sarah Crofts, will continue delivering our fundraising efforts on our new Watch l We will support landowners to carry seabird focussed field-based work and Group and FC office building. out practical invasive action – currently our Habitats Officer, Frin Ross will be l We will continue to benefit from strong focussed on thistle eradication on focusing on habitat restoration. Governance with our committed board Saunders Island with Island LandCare.

of Trustees.

8 Falkland Islands WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Ensuring leading practice for onshore finance and initiatives that support planning is in place to underpin marine and offshore developments that vision. management decision making. l promoting conservation ambition: conservation action: We will strive to ensure there is strong l l We will provide independent, We will continue our conservation community collaboration in Marine science-based scrutiny of large-scale collaborative work with land owners Spatial Planning processes. development proposals, with a special and on FC-owned islands. conservation action: focus on the oil and gas sector and l We will be working with landowners to l To better understand endangered sei look to ensure best practice for all share learning on habitat restoration. whales and ship movements we will developments. be focusing research around Berkeley conservation action: Enhancing marine management – Sound, Queen Charlotte and King l We will respond to oiled seabird This will be an area of growth, George Bays. emergencies. focussed on flagship species l To monitor key indicators of marine and management planning with management we will continue our Terrestrial habitat restoration and land community engagement as a key Annual Seabird Monitoring Program. management component for vulnerable marine We have an exciting election year promoting conservation ambition: species and habitats. ahead of us, and much we want to l We will provide a vision for habitat promoting conservation ambition: restoration and protection and work l We will work to ensure key threats achieve, none of which would be with FIG to strengthen agri-environment are identified and contingency possible without your support!

Thanks & Acknowledgements – We could not have achieved so much without you! Organisations we have been involved Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Corporation, South American Atlantic with over the year are: the Forum for UK’s Department for Environment, Food Services, Redback Consultancy, Lindblad the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Rural Affairs, including their Darwin Expeditions and One Ocean Expeditions and Areas of Influence, the International Plus programmes and the Joint Nature for their generous contributions. Thanks Union for the Conservation of Nature, Conservation Committee, the RSPB, also go to local tourism providers, artists the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Standard Chartered Bank, the John and donors for contributions to auction the Millennium Seed Bank, Wildlife Ellerman Foundation, the Falkland Islands prizes and the raffle, and the Seafish Conservation Society, Royal Zoological Development Corporation, the British Chandlery, The Malvina House Hotel, and Society of Scotland, Hawk Mountain Antarctic Survey, the Government of many other individuals and volunteers Sanctuary, Detroit Zoological Society, the South Georgia and the South Sandwich for their support of this successful event. British Antarctic Survey, Oxford University, Islands, and the International Union for University of Maine, the International Conservation of Nature’s Biodiversity and For substantial donations to the Building Network for Seed-based Restoration, Ecosystem Services (BEST) in European for the Future fundraising campaign to IUCN Peatland Program, the UK Ministry overseas territories programme. date, we would like to thank Standard of Defence, Australian Antarctic Division, Chartered Bank, Falkland Islands Stanley Nurseries, the Elephant Seal Additional supporters of our core Government, Premier Oil, Noble Energy, Research Group, Conservation activities were land managers across JK Marine, Caribbean Alliance, John Trust, Island LandCare, the Falkland the Falkland Islands, The H.B. Allen Hellowell, Henry Kenner, Cotswold Islands Development Corporation, Charitable Trust, The Van Neste Wildlife Park and Gardens, Morrison’s the Rural Business Association, the Foundation, A.S. Butler Charitable Trust, Construction, Frits W Olivier and the South Atlantic Environmental Research Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium, Thrigby Ltd. Institute, Falkland Islands Company Ltd., Hall Wildlife Gardens, Drusillas Park, and Of course, none of our work would be Stanley Services Ltd., Ecotours and Cape the SeaLife London Aquarium. possible without our members, both Dolphin Farm. For the Charity Ball held in Sept 2016, corporate and individual, who support Major supporters of our project work (in we would like to thank our major our important conservation work with terms of funds, help or advice – often all sponsor, Consolidated Fisheries Ltd, generous donations, thoughtful ideas, three) in the past year were the Falkland and additional sponsors; Briggs Marine, advice, and their belief in the work we Islands Government, the UK Government the Falkland Islands Development undertake. We wish to thank you all.

Falklands Conservation is a UK registered charity no 1073859, a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales no 03661322, and registered as an Overseas Company in the Falkland Islands. Registered office: 1 Waterloo Close, Abbotsley, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 6UX, UK.

Cape Dolphin Seed Hub – nurturing native seeds for future habitat regeneration.

Falkland Islands WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 9