EUROPEAN OVERSEAS REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM PROFILE South Atlantic Ascension Island Saint Helena Tristan da Cunha Falkland Islands (Malvinas) This document has been developed as part of the project ‘Measures towards Sustaining the BEST Preparatory Action to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in EU Outermost EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories’. The document does not represent an official, formal position of the European Commission. JUNE2016 2016 Service contract 07.0307.2013/666363/SER/B2 Prepared by: South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) And with the technical support of: IUCN CEPF Drafted by the BEST team of the South Atlantic hub: Maria Taylor Under the coordination of: Dr Paul Brickle and Tara Pelembe Assisted by individual experts and contributors from the following institutions: Ascension Island: Ascension Island Government Conservation Department Dr Sam Weber Dr Judith Brown Dr Andy Richardson Dr Nicola Weber Emma Nolan Kate Downes University of Exeter Dr Annette Broderick Dr Brendon Godley St Helena: St Helena Government Isabel Peters Samantha Cherrett Annalea Beard Elizabeth Clingham Derek Henry Mike Jervois Lourens Malan Dr Jill Keys Ross Towers Paul Cherrett St Helena National Trust Jeremy Harris Rebecca Cairn-Wicks David Pryce Dennis Leo Acting Governor Sean Burns Independent Dr Andre Aptroot Dr Phil Lambdon Ben Sansom Tristan da Cunha: Tristan da Cunha Government Trevor Glass James Glass Katrine Herian Falkland Islands: Falkland Island Government – Environmental Planning Department Nicholas Rendell Stephen Butler Falkland Islands Government – Natural Resources Directorate Ian Campbell Joost Pompert Ross James Amanda Kuepfer Dr Paul Brewin Falkland Island Government - Member of the Legislative Assembly Michael Poole Falklands Conservation Dr Esther Bertram Dr Andrew Stanworth Sarah Crofts South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute Dr Megan Tierney Dr Amelie Auge Dr David Blockley Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) Andy Pollard Jackie Cotter Premier Oil Sam Cockwell Island LandCare Sally Poncet Landowner Helen Marsh Overseas Organisations: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Jonathan Hall Sarah Havery Dr Andy Schofield Dr Rebecca Upson Royal Botanical Gardens Kew Dr Colin Clubbe UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) Dr Mike Pienowski Catherine Wensink Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Dr Alan Gray Citation: Regional ecosystem profile – South Atlantic Region. 2016. EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, Maria Taylor, Tara Pelembe & Paul Brickle. BEST, Service contract 07.0307.2013/666363/SER/B2, European Commission, 209 p + 3 Appendices. The European BEST initiative is a joint effort by the BEST III Consortium: http://ec.europa.eu/best Disclaimer: The Regional Ecosystem Profile is a technical document with input from regional and local experts and other stakeholders, obtained in a participatory consultation process. The results of this background document were used to elaborate a Regional Investment Strategy in the same participatory manner, which may serve as a guiding document for future national and regional strategies. Neither document is politically binding or replaces a national or regional strategy authorized by the respective decision makers. CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................... İ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... V 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 2. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................. 7 3. BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE AREA ...................................................................11 3.1. Geography ..................................................................................................................11 3.1.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 11 3.1.2. Saint Helena ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.1.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 13 3.1.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 15 3.2. Geology .......................................................................................................................17 3.2.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.2. Saint Helena ...................................................................................................................... 17 3.2.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 17 3.2.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 18 3.3. Climate ........................................................................................................................19 3.3.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 19 3.3.2. Saint Helena ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.3.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 19 3.3.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 20 3.4. Terrestrial Habitats and Ecosystems ...........................................................................20 3.4.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 20 3.4.2. Saint Helena ...................................................................................................................... 21 3.4.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 22 3.4.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 23 3.5. Marine Habitats and Ecosystems ................................................................................25 3.5.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 25 3.5.2. St Helena ........................................................................................................................... 27 3.5.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 28 3.5.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 31 3.6. Species Diversity and Endemism ................................................................................33 3.6.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 34 3.6.2. Saint Helena ...................................................................................................................... 36 3.6.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 37 3.6.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 39 4. CONSERVATION OUTCOMES .........................................................................................42 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................42 4.2. Species Outcomes ......................................................................................................42 4.2.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 43 4.2.2. St Helena ........................................................................................................................... 46 4.2.3. Tristan da Cunha ............................................................................................................... 48 4.2.4. Falkland Islands ................................................................................................................. 50 4.3. Site Outcomes .............................................................................................................53 4.3.1. Ascension Island................................................................................................................ 55 4.3.2. St Helena ........................................................................................................................... 60 4.3.3. Tristan da Cunha ..............................................................................................................