SPREP South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Bird Conservation Priorities and a Draft Avifauna Conservation Strategy for the Pacific Islands Region SPREP IRC Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Sherley, Greg Bird Conservation Priorities and a Draft Conservation Strategy for the Pacific Islands region / compiled by Greg Sherley – Apia, Samoa : SPREP, 2001. Contents: I – Polynesia workshop, Rarotonga, 26–30 April 1999 : report. II – Melanesia and Nauru workshop, Nadi, 5–10 March 2000 : report. III – Micronesia work- shop, Guam 5–10 November 2000 : report. viii, 68 p. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 982-04-0221-2 1. Birds – Oceania. 2. Birds, Protection of – Oceania. 3. Conservation of natural resources – Oceania. 4. Birds – Conservation. I. Sherley, Greg. II. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). 639.978 Published in May 2001 by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme PO Box 240 Samoa website: www.sprep.org.ws Produced by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme with funding assistance from BirdLife International Prepared for publishing by SPREP’s Publications Unit Editing and layout by Geoff Gregory, Word Therapy, Paraparaumu, New Zealand Typeset in 11/13.2 Times Roman Printed on 115 gsm Satin Matt Art by Graphic Press & Packaging Ltd, Levin, New Zealand Copies of this publication can be obtained by contacting: The Information Resource Centre Manager South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Ph: (685) 21 929 Fax: (685) 20 231 Email: [email protected] Cover: Kakerori Pomarea dimidiata about one year old, Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga Photo by Greg Sherley © South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, 2001. The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme authorises the reproduction of this material, whole or in part, in any form provided appropriate acknowledgement is given. Original text: English Bird Conservation Priorities and a Draft Avifauna Conservation Strategy for the Pacific Islands Region Compiled by Greg Sherley Published by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme with funding assistance from BirdLife International Contents Foreword v Acknowledgements vi Executive Summary vii Polynesia workshop, Rarotonga, 26–30 April 1999 1 Review of avifauna conservation needs in Polynesia Greg Sherley and Rod Hay 10 Melanesia and Nauru workshop, Nadi, 5–10 March 2000 18 Issues and options for bird conservation priorities in Melanesia and Nauru Greg Sherley 30 Micronesia workshop, Guam, 5–10 November 2000 40 Issues and options for bird conservation priorities in Micronesia Greg Sherley 48 Draft Pacific Islands Region Avifauna Conservation Strategy 58 Discussion of generic issues raised at the workshops 60 Annex I: Application for funding from the Pacific Regional Avifauna Conservation Programme 62 Annex II: List of participants at the three Pacific Islands Avifauna Conservation Workshops 63 iii iv Foreword The South Pacific Regional Avifauna Conservation There were three main tasks which the workshop Programme is funded by the New Zealand Govern- participants completed: (1) reviewing the Draft Pa- ment as part of its Overseas Development Assistance. cific Islands Region Avifauna Conservation Strategy; The concept for the programme was developed by (2) writing agreed project briefs for the important the Avifauna Working Group at the Third South Pa- bird conservation projects in their country; and (3) cific Conference on Nature Conservation and Pro- agreeing on generic recommendations for the con- tected Areas, Port Vila, 24–28 October 1991. There- servation of avifauna in the Pacific. The project briefs after, individuals from the New Zealand Government and recommendations were drawn from information and SPREP acted as advocates for the programme from BirdLife International’s Threatened Birds of the and it finally received funding in 1998. In Septem- World and country reports supplied by Pacific coun- ber 1998 a Programme Officer was appointed to try and NGO participants. manage the project. The project’s modus operandi Projects for individual countries were ranked sub- has been to conduct a technical review of the conser- jectively to identify those projects which should be vation status of birds in Polynesia, Melanesia and implemented immediately. Readers should consult Micronesia and issues facing birds in the region over- BirdLife International to confirm the conservation all, organise and fund workshops to decide on urgent status of individual species because new information conservation project briefs, and implement as many may have arisen which changes the status of some of these as funds allowed. species. Each workshop tabled generic recommen- The objectives of the workshops were to: dations which they wished to see presented to a SPREP Meeting for endorsement. Similarly, the 1. Review the Draft Pacific Islands Region groups reviewed the Draft Pacific Islands Region Avifauna Conservation Strategy which origi- Avifauna Conservation Strategy. The final agreed nated from the Port Vila meeting. Draft Strategy will be tabled to a SPREP Meeting 2. Agree on priority avifauna conservation for endorsement. projects for each country and for species whose survival is being threatened. This may include Talks were delivered on the following: conservation identifying areas which are important for bird status of birds in the sub-regions, and issues facing conservation and which need protection and/ bird conservation; BirdLife International’s structure or management action. and operation; Birds Australia; and various other top- ics. One-day field trips were made to the Takitumu 3. Provide participants with an up-to-date tech- Conservation Area (Rarotonga), Koroyanitu National nical overview of the status of bird species in Heritage Park Conservation Area (near Nadi, Fiji), the Pacific islands region and the threats to and Guam wildlife projects. their conservation. 4. Provide technical guidance on the latest ad- French translations of the projects for New Caledo- vancements related to avifauna conservation nia and the workshop recommendations for the Mela- and control or eradication of invasive species nesia workshop are included in these proceedings. which might threaten bird species. The issues and options papers used to brief work- shop participants are included after project briefings 5. Provide a forum for representatives of appro- for each workshop. priate organisations in Pacific island countries, including non-government organisations Annexes to this document describe a preferred (NGOs), to share experiences and information method for applying for assistance from the Regional on avifauna conservation, to create networks Avifauna Conservation Programme for in-country for future collaborative work, and to explore bird conservation projects, and the lists of partici- what opportunities exist for collaboration pants at each workshop are included. between SPREP, in-country conservation officers, NGOs, and regional and international organisations. Tamari’i Tutangata Director v Acknowledgements Thanks are due to all workshop participants for their Nicolas Barré for the French translations of the New excellent contributions to the strategy review and Caledonian project briefs and Melanesia workshop project briefs. Special thanks are due to the NGOs recommendations. that contributed by sending delegates and, in particu- The administrative organisation of the workshops was lar, BirdLife International for assisting in funding the ably handled by Helen Ng Lam (Melanesia and workshops and providing much of the technical in- Micronesia workshops) and Ruta Couper (Polynesia), formation used. This was facilitated by Gary Allport, both of SPREP. Participants were grateful to those while Alison Stattersfield and Guy Dutson provided who organised the field trips: Ian Kareka, Anna Tiraa the technical information. The following people vol- and Ed Saul (Takitumu Conservation Area, Cook Is- unteered their time gratis because of their commit- lands), Unaisi Tawake (Conservation Area Support ment to bird conservation: Gaye Harford (of Xpand Officer, Koroyanitu, Fiji), and the Koroyanitu Na- Management Ltd, New Zealand, who facilitated tional Heritage Park staff and Abaca Village, and Bob the Melanesia and Micronesia workshops), Beck, Tino Aguon, Blaine Dicke and Suzanne Me- Eric Dorfman (Birds Australia), Guy Dutson dina for a very successful field day in Guam. The (BirdLife International), Dick Watling (representing Regional Avifauna Conservation Programme (RACP) the Fiji Islands and Polynesia), Hugh Robertson and co-sponsored this workshop with BirdLife Interna- Rod Hay (Science & Research Unit, Department of tional, and the RACP is funded by the New Zealand Conservation, New Zealand) and Graham Wragg Government’s Official Development Assistance (providing technical information on the Pitcairn Is- (NZODA) programme. lands). Eric Dorfman and Graham Wragg also paid some or all of their own expenses, and this generos- Finally, thanks to Geoff Gregory of Word Therapy ity is gratefully acknowledged by SPREP. Anna Tiraa (New Zealand) for the excellent job editing, and to acted as a consultant assisting in the organisation of Guy Dutson and Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife Inter- the Polynesia workshop in Rarotonga. Thanks to national) for peer review of the text. vi Executive Summary Three workshops were held over two years for the is significantly affected: if bristle-thighed curlew three sub-regions in the Pacific: Polynesia, Melanesia Numenius tahitiensis is counted once, the number of and Micronesia. Each workshop