PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 4:14 PM by Luigi

Fire ants a threat to biodiversity in French Polynesia

PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, Feb. 10) – Fire ants have “already contaminated in a serious way” part of the island of Tahiti, according to a visiting entomologist who is studying the problem to try and find a solution. “Based on information we already have, we are going to make onsite visits to Supermahina, Mahinarma et Atima” in Tahiti’s north coast Commune of Mahina, said Dr. Hervé Jourdan an entomologist in New Caledonia. He works for the IRD (Institut de research pour le développement), a French public science and technology research institute under the joint authority of the French ministries in charge of research and overseas development. He said after inspecting Mahina his next visit would be to the adjacent Commune of Papenoo. The imported fire ant species “that is in the course of colonizing the planet” presents a real danger for French Polynesia, Dr. Jourdan said. “It’s a real nuisance for the biodiversity. Nothing’s left where there are fire ants. For an island li ke Tahiti, it’s a real worry, taking into account its high level of diversity.”

* Comments:

The fire ant report from Tahiti is the Little Red Fire Ant (Wasmania auropunctata), less notorious than the more aggressive Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) which is already in Brisbane, California and probably the recent report in the news from Hong Kong is also RIFA. The former is already in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Is and also in Bougainville.

While they are various methods, mostly use of formicides available, to control fire ants, the first action suitable for the region is prevention of entry into islands or countries through stringent surveillance or reporting systems at possible ports of entry as well as through legislations, trade agreements which minimize risks of importing fire ants and other potential invasive species.

On the ground, PAPGREN members like Rosa can play a role by constantly looking out for these exotic ants and reporting to national quarantine or plant protection officers like Roy Masamdu of PNG NAQIA. Regionally, the Pacific Ant Prevention Plan (PAPP) has been developed as collaboration among several agencies to prevent the introduction of RIFA especially but is waiting funding to move it forward.

“The PAPP lays out the recommended procedures, organisation and measures required to achieve the goal. It includes objectives under two broad headings of entry and establishment. In addition, a number of actions have been identified that are likely to be required in order to meet each objective.

Prevention of entry measures required include:
• appropriate legislation, regulations or standards to deal with invasive ants pre-border and at the border;
• risk analysis that covers the region but which can be adapted for implementation to each country or territory;
• regional trade agreements which accommodate risks associated with invasive ants; and
• operational measures which can be applied to each territory and will actually prevent ants gaining entry.

Prevention of establishment measures required includes:
• a range of surveillance measures appropriate to quickly identify the presence of a new invasive ant in each territory;
• appropriate incursion response procedures and the capability to enact them;
• a regional public awareness strategy to ensure the ant species concerned have appropriate public profiles so the risks of their establishment are well understood by sections of the community; and
• an active research programme to ensure the measures used to prevent establishment have a sound scientific base and thus will have the greatest likelihood of success.

The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is coordinating this project, with support from members of the Pacific Invasive Ant Group” including SPC and SPREP.

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:46 PM



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DIVA-GIS	Friday, February 11, 2005 Posted 4:14 PM by Luigi Fire ants a threat to biodiversity in French Polynesia PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, Feb. 10) – Fire ants have “already contaminated in a serious way” part of the island of Tahiti, according to a visiting entomologist who is studying the problem to try and find a solution. “Based on information we already have, we are going to make onsite visits to Supermahina, Mahinarma et Atima” in Tahiti’s north coast Commune of Mahina, said Dr. Hervé Jourdan an entomologist in New Caledonia. He works for the IRD (Institut de research pour le développement), a French public science and technology research institute under the joint authority of the French ministries in charge of research and overseas development. He said after inspecting Mahina his next visit would be to the adjacent Commune of Papenoo. The imported fire ant species “that is in the course of colonizing the planet” presents a real danger for French Polynesia, Dr. Jourdan said. “It’s a real nuisance for the biodiversity. Nothing’s left where there are fire ants. For an island li ke Tahiti, it’s a real worry, taking into account its high level of diversity.” * Comments: The fire ant report from Tahiti is the Little Red Fire Ant (Wasmania auropunctata), less notorious than the more aggressive Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) which is already in Brisbane, California and probably the recent report in the news from Hong Kong is also RIFA. The former is already in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Is and also in Bougainville. While they are various methods, mostly use of formicides available, to control fire ants, the first action suitable for the region is prevention of entry into islands or countries through stringent surveillance or reporting systems at possible ports of entry as well as through legislations, trade agreements which minimize risks of importing fire ants and other potential invasive species. On the ground, PAPGREN members like Rosa can play a role by constantly looking out for these exotic ants and reporting to national quarantine or plant protection officers like Roy Masamdu of PNG NAQIA. Regionally, the Pacific Ant Prevention Plan (PAPP) has been developed as collaboration among several agencies to prevent the introduction of RIFA especially but is waiting funding to move it forward. “The PAPP lays out the recommended procedures, organisation and measures required to achieve the goal. It includes objectives under two broad headings of entry and establishment. In addition, a number of actions have been identified that are likely to be required in order to meet each objective. Prevention of entry measures required include: • appropriate legislation, regulations or standards to deal with invasive ants pre-border and at the border; • risk analysis that covers the region but which can be adapted for implementation to each country or territory; • regional trade agreements which accommodate risks associated with invasive ants; and • operational measures which can be applied to each territory and will actually prevent ants gaining entry. Prevention of establishment measures required includes: • a range of surveillance measures appropriate to quickly identify the presence of a new invasive ant in each territory; • appropriate incursion response procedures and the capability to enact them; • a regional public awareness strategy to ensure the ant species concerned have appropriate public profiles so the risks of their establishment are well understood by sections of the community; and • an active research programme to ensure the measures used to prevent establishment have a sound scientific base and thus will have the greatest likelihood of success. The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is coordinating this project, with support from members of the Pacific Invasive Ant Group” including SPC and SPREP. # posted by Anonymous : 1:46 PM Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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