| Overview : Brief project description: The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) comprises some 607 islands, including its four High Island states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae that span a distance of some 2,700 km. Its oceanic islands are home to some of the most biologically diverse forests and coral reefs in the world, rich in species and many of which are endemic. Globally significant features include: the world’s deepest trench (Marianas); among the world’s most endangered rainforests on Mt Winipot (Chuuk State); the largest green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookery in insular Pacific; globally rare montane cloud forests at just 450 m on Pohnpei and Kosrae; and a diversity of marine ecosystems from high volcano islands with fringing and barrier reefs to coral atolls including Chuuk Lagoon, among the world’s largest (3,130 km2) and deepest (60 m). Invasive alien species (IAS) are the greatest threat to biodiversity in the Pacific Islands. They are the largest cause of extinction of single-country endemics in the Pacific, as well as contributing to the loss of traditional crop varieties, and they also impact on food security and tourism. Moreover, the threat is increasing as island nations develop, resulting in greater mobility among people, goods, and supplies. Introduced plant species, for example, account for 22% of plants in Kosrae, 40% in Pohnpei, 37% in Chuuk and 39% in Yap. In addition to established IAS are others of significant concern (e.g. Brown Tree Snake, Little Fire Ant and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle) because they occur in Pacific countries that trade with FSM. Indeed, Little Fire Ant was detected in Yap in August 2017. The project is designed to safeguard biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including agricultural and fisheries production systems, from the impacts of IAS by strengthening the institutionalization and enforcement of biosecurity measures across all sectors of government (federal and state), the private sector and civil society. Given that natural barriers to the spread of invasive species are thwarted by the movement of people, their goods and supplies, everyone (governments, citizens, visitors and traders) has a shared responsibility to safeguard natural and production ecosystems from the impacts of IAS. Hence, inadequate institutional policy and regulatory frameworks, lack of IAS awareness and understanding, and very limited operational capacity are the key barriers to be addressed under the project’s three components |
