Roger Tidman UK Overseas Territories
UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES The UK has 14 Overseas Territories (UKOTs), scattered around the world, from Europe to the Caribbean, to the South Atlantic. They include hundreds <strong>of</strong> small islands, as well as the British Antarctic Territory, which has a land area six times the size <strong>of</strong> the UK. The marine area under their jurisdiction is immense, and includes pristine coral reefs as well as the frozen seas <strong>of</strong> the Antarctic. Our Overseas Territories are incredibly diverse socially, economically, geographically and ecologically, but they are home to a relatively small human population. For example, the Pitcairn Islands support more endemic species than their entire human population – there are 53 resident Pitcairn Islanders and more than 70 endemic species. Local communities are highly reliant on biodiversity for their livelihoods and quality <strong>of</strong> life. Fisheries and nature tourism underpin many Territories’ economies, mangroves and coral reefs provide protection from hurricanes and rainforests help guarantee freshwater supplies. Outstanding importance The UKOTs are home to an incredible array <strong>of</strong> species, from elephant seals and penguins in the South Atlantic territories, to iguanas and parrots in the Caribbean. Their outstanding global importance for biodiversity dwarfs that <strong>of</strong> the UK itself. At least 180 endemic species <strong>of</strong> plant (including many endemic genera), 22 endemic birds, 34 endemic reptiles and amphibians 1 and 685 endemic terrestrial invertebrates have already been described in the Territories – 16 times the number in the UK. However, there are gaps in our knowledge, so many more endemic species could still lie undiscovered. In addition to their many endemics, the Territories host significant numbers <strong>of</strong> seabirds and other fauna, including a third <strong>of</strong> the world’s breeding albatrosses. Their unique habitats are internationally important, and include the world’s largest and most pristine coral atoll – the Great Chagos Bank in the British Indian Ocean Territory. There are 81 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) recognised in the UKOTs 2 , and work has begun to identify important areas for plants and other biodiversity. Case study Tackling non-native species Invasive non-native species are a particular concern in the UKOTs and tackling them is a key conservation priority. To date, a number <strong>of</strong> projects have assessed the impacts that particular introduced species have had on native wildlife in the UKOTs. In some cases, the feasibility <strong>of</strong> eradication projects has also been examined, although few eradications have yet been attempted. Work is currently underway to identify the most suitable islands and sites for vertebrate eradication programmes across 11 <strong>of</strong> the UKOTs, with the aim <strong>of</strong> producing a priority list for vertebrate eradications by taking into account their benefits, feasibility and sustainability. On Ascension Island in the South Atlantic, introduced cats had caused the loss <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> breeding seabirds since the 19th century. The seabirds that remained were restricted to small <strong>of</strong>fshore stacks and ledges that cats could not reach. In 2002, the <strong>RSPB</strong> began a project to eradicate feral cats and by 2006 the island was declared feral cat-free, making Ascension the largest inhabited island to have been cleared <strong>of</strong> feral cats. Since then, seabirds have begun to spread back onto the main island, with species such as the masked and brown booby, and brown noddy, responding particularly quickly 6 . In December 2012, two pairs <strong>of</strong> the endemic Ascension frigatebird were discovered nesting on the main island for the first time in 180 years – an important milestone and testament to the power <strong>of</strong> conservation. Kevin Schafer (NHPA/Photoshot) Under threat Even with the limited knowledge that we have, it is clear that much <strong>of</strong> the unique biodiversity <strong>of</strong> the UKOTs is under severe threat: over 90 species are now classified as Critically Endangered globally, compared with just four species in the UK 3 . The last recorded global extinction in the UKOTs, <strong>of</strong> the St Helena olive tree, occurred as recently as 2003 4 . However, at present, few <strong>of</strong> the areas most important for biodiversity in the UKOTs have any level <strong>of</strong> legal protection; development and invasive species still threaten many sites. We have only limited data on the threat status <strong>of</strong> many species in the UKOTs. In Pitcairn 5 , work for the 2008 IUCN Global Red List indicated that only 146 <strong>of</strong> 466 known species had been assessed. Of these 146 species, one was Critically Endangered, 10 were Endangered, and 31 were Vulnerable. Fifteen <strong>of</strong> the species assessed were endemics and all <strong>of</strong> these were globally threatened. Ascension frigatebird STATE OF NATURE 2013 67
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