Three years of planning, several weeks of intense field work and more than 500 drone flights were required to complete a complex restoration project on the islets surrounding Wallis Island in the South Pacific. The goal was to remove invasive species that were destroying the biodiversity of the islands, which also hold immense cultural significance for local communities that live and earn their livelihoods there. The islands were once home to the Tongan Ground Dove (Alopecoenas stairi), the Blue-crowned Lorikeet (Vini australis), and countless other seabirds that now have the opportunity to breed safely within these majestic marine-island ecosystems.  

The restoration project took place in October and November 2022 and was a collaboration between global nonprofit Island Conservation, Envico Technologies, Service Territorial de l’Environnement de Wallis et Futuna, as well as the customary authorities and families living on Wallis. Funding was provided by the European Development Fund’s PROTEGE project, led by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Community (SPC). Thirteen islands were covered by the operation, with team members having to constantly strategize around changing weather conditions and other restrictive natural elements. It forms part of a larger, community-driven initiative to restore the natural balance of all islands in the region and develop local capacity for addressing invasive species in the long term.

RESTORING A SEABIRD PARADISE

Decades ago, native seabirds were displaced from the islands that make up Wallis and Futuna, a French-owned island collectivity in the South Pacific. What’s more, traces of once-abundant Hawksbill Turtles and Green Turtles were rare finds, indicating there were few safe areas left for breeding. For the local island community (known as “Wallisians”), crop yields diminished and living conditions worsened due to increased mosquito populations. The reason? The natural landscape was devastated by invasive species.

“Two species of invasive rats had overrun the islands, damaging native plants, eating birds’ eggs and destroying the natural balance required for flourishing wildlife. The rodents were inadvertently introduced by humans, who also brought invasive pigs that caused similar, extensive damage to the territories. The destruction not only places natural fauna and flora at risk, but also threatens the entire connected island-marine ecosystem.”

Richard Griffiths, Island Conservation Head of Operations for South and West Pacific.

“Island Conservation initiates every project by engaging with the people who live on these islands and rely on the connected ecosystems to make a living. From the outset, the local support team established an open dialogue with key Wallisian representatives to clarify the scope and scale of the operation and learn from their extensive knowledge of the islands.”

Baudouin des Monstiers, Island Conservation Island Restoration Specialist

OVERCOMING THE ELEMENTS WITH DRONES

Thousands of island eradications have occurred across the globe to protect native wildlife, but not all islands have suitable landing areas for field staff to set up their equipment and conduct removals. Wallis is noted for its rough vegetation, thick foliage and steep coastlines, which forced the team to launch drones from an offshore barge. Envico Technologies, a leading technology company that refines drone models and works extensively with Island Conservation, provided their ENV10 drone with a 22-pound (10-kilogram) load capacity to conduct the aerial drops.

“None of this would be possible without the Wallisian community members. Our heavy-lifting drones are the ideal solution for completing complex operations on islands, but they are physically demanding and require commitment from people on the ground. The capricious tropical weather systems and unpredictable swells were daily obstructions to loading the drones with bait and ensuring smoother take-offs and landing. We all feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment.”

Cameron Baker, Envico Technologies Managing Director

“This project is the perfect example of how cooperation and knowledge-sharing with local conservationists and community stakeholders can prevail over any prohibitive natural barriers. There is no way we could have achieved what we did without our team working hand in hand with the resourceful Wallisians. They led the way by choosing to preserve their natural heritage and allow for future species recovery projects.”

Baudouin de Monstiers, Island Conservation Island Restoration Specialist

PROTEGE coordinator Dominic Sadler says all partners ensured updates on procedures and processes remained a constant for the last three years.

“These islands are owned by families who have lived here for centuries, and so introducing drones and rodenticide requires a careful explanation as to why they’re necessary. By focusing on the long-term benefits of island restorations, we secured local support for this project, and created a platform for future engagement with the people who matter most.”

Dominic Sadler, PROTEGE coordinator

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RESOURCES: Photos, Interviews available on request.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Sally Esposito, Strategic Communications Director, Island Conservation

Sally.Esposito@islandconservation.org +1 706 969 2783   

Cameron Baker, Managing Director at Envico Technologies 

cameron.baker@ectech.co.nz  +64 27-8000-369 

Background

Island Conservation

Island Conservation is our world’s only international nonprofit conservation organization dedicated solely to preventing extinctions on islands. Our collaborations with local island communities aim to improve livelihoods, manage invasive species, and reintroduce native animals and plant life. Island Conservation is a United States-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization working through diverse local and international partnerships to foster sustainable development, climate resilience, and healthy island-marine ecosystems across the globe. Visit us at www.islandconservation.org.  

Envico Technologies

Founded in 2018, Envico has already garnered significant interest around the world for its leading drone technology and automated ground devices for invasive vertebrate management. With head office in Tauranga, New Zealand, and Australian office in Melbourne, Envico conducts R&D on a number of technology projects as well as provides services using proprietary drone technology in New Zealand, Australia and throughout the Pacific.