Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter I. Introduction and Purpose
Draft 1 March 2007
3) If helicopters need to land, landing sites should be on sand areas, not vegetated
areas. Areas around landing sites should be cleared of bird nests (up to 300
m).
4) Movement of vehicles on islands should be restricted so as not to disturb sea
bird nesting areas.
5) Islands should be monitored for evidence of exotic plant species. Ornamental
plants should not be introduced, especially to Abariringa (Canton).
6) Domestic animals should be controlled. No additional introductions should be
allowed (including chickens).
7) No collection of marine life. Turtle breeding sites should not be disturbed.
8) New ship grounding should be investigated to ensure that rats are not
introduced.
Dahl (1980) reported that there was an IUCN/WWF project based on Christmas Island that
was developing proper surveillance and enforcement for the following Phoenix Islands
reserves: Birnie, McKean, Rawaki (Phoenix), and Abariringa (Canton). Dahl (1980)
recommended that the Phoenix Islands be upgraded from wildlife sanctuaries to a national or
international reserve. Abariringa (Canton) should be the communications link and
surveillance centre. The reserve should include: Enderbury, Birnie, McKean, Rawaki
(Phoenix) and Orona (Hull). Nikumaroro (Gardner), Abariringa (Canton) and Manra
(Sydney) were excluded. According to Dahl (1980), regular enforcement visits could be
undertaken by the government ships traveling between Kiritimati and Tarawa.
Garnett (1983b) reviewed and summarized the conservation conclusions of King (1973) and
Stoddart (1976) for each of the Phoneix Islands (see Table I-1.2 below).
Table I-1.2. Conservation suggestions and conclusions of each of the Phoenix Islands
(source: Garnett 1983b).
Island Priority
Enderbury Potential or major importance due to its seabird colonies
Rawaki (Phoenix) Outstanding value for its seabird colonies
Birnie Outstanding importance for its unaltered state
McKean Outstanding value for its seabird colonies
Manra (Sydney) No special importance
Orona (Hull) No special importance, but worthy of conservation for its
seabird colonies
Nikumaroro (Gardner) No special importance.
Garnett (1983a, b and c) wrote a management plan for nature conservation in the Line and
Phoenix Islands. The stated policy “recognized the need to integrate conservation with the
development of the islands’ natural resources …” and that “… the role of conservation could
only be rationalized in the wider context of the present and future social and economic needs
of the country.” The stated major aim of that plan was “to identify areas of concern where
future progress needs to be mad to reach the specified objectives of … the stated policy, …
and to suggest the methods by which the policy can be implemented.”
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