Hi All
The Draft Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Plan ('the Plan') provides an
overview of the proposed eradication programme of house mouse (Mus musculus)
and ship rat (Rattus rattus) from the Lord Howe Island (LHI) Group of islands.
The operation proposed aims to eradicate all ship rats and house mice while
minimising any adverse impacts on the environment, non-target species, humans,
livestock and pets. The LHI Group, situated 760 km north-east of Sydney, was
inscribed as a World Heritage Area in 1982, and has global environmental
significance.
Populations of house mouse and ship rat were accidentally introduced to LHI.
They probably arrived around 1860 and 1918 respectively. Both species have had,
and continue to have, significant adverse impacts on the biodiversity of the
island. Ship rats are implicated in the extinction of at least five endemic
birds, 13 invertebrates and two plant species. Despite the best control efforts
of the community and the LHI Board over almost 90 years, these exotic rodents
remain an ongoing threat to at least 13 other bird species, 2 reptiles, 51
plant species, 12 vegetation communities and numerous threatened invertebrates.
LHI will be the largest, permanently populated island on which the eradication
of exotic rodents has been attempted. The evidence shows that the best
long-term solution is to eradicate both rats and mice from the LHI Group in a
single eradication operation. However, given the island's permanent human
population, its highly developed tourism industry and its endemic and
threatened species, considerable planning needs to be carried out before this
can occur. Many methods were carefully investigated in order to identify the
method most suited to the LHI Group, including a number of different toxins and
different means of delivering them, as well as undeveloped and unproven viral
methods. Tried and tested methods developed and refined during more than 300
successful eradication programmes on islands around the world will be used to
distribute poison baits to all parts of the island group, except Balls Pyramid
and its associated islets, by aerial and hand broadcasting.
Concerns about the method of delivery, interaction with soil and water, impact
on the marine environment, impact on non-target species and efficacy are
addressed. A detailed risk assessment is presented which determines the risks
to the environment (including wildlife, freshwater and marine habitats),
humans, livestock and pets. Measures to ameliorate any adverse impacts are also
detailed. These include the establishment of captive populations of a number of
species including the LH woodhen and LH pied currawong. A detailed research and
monitoring programme is also presented which details work to be undertaken
before, during and after the eradication operation.
We invite you to consider this draft Plan and draw on your knowledge and
experience to provide comments, ideas and suggestions on what is arguably one
of the most significant management actions that can be undertaken for
biodiversity and threatened species conservation in Australia.
The plan will be released on Friday 30th October 2009 for 28 days, and can be
obtained from the DECCW website at following address.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pestsweeds/IntroducedRats.htm
We look forward to your thoughts and comments
Regards
Ian
Dr Ian Wilkinson
Project Officer lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication
Threatened Fauna Ecology
Terrestrial Biodiversity Science
Department of Environment and Climate Change
Locked Bag 914
COFFS HARBOUR
NSW 2450
AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61-2-66598271
Mobile: 0407-060621
Fax: +61-2-66516187
E-mail:
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