Prioritising containment and eradication action
The OTs have many established invasive non-native species, many of which pose threats to agricultural production, wildlife and conservation, and public health. While some species are widespread within a territory, others have a more localised distribution and could be prevented from spreading to vulnerable sites, such as areas or islands of high biodiversity value, or even be eradicated before becoming too problematic. The aim of this work was to answer two questions:
Workshops were held in Anguilla and Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) in January / February 2020. The work involved the development of a framework for the prioritisation of established invasive species for eradication or for control (to reduce the risk of in-territory spread) based on global risk management best practice, using consensus methods similar to those employed for the horizon scanning exercise. For the eradication exercise, species were scored against a range of criteria, with overall feasibility of eradication rated from very high to very low. For the control exercise, species were scored for their ability to arrive, establish and cause impacts on new islands within the territory. All terrestrial non-native species known to be established and potentially invasive in each territory were considered.
For Anguilla, 40 species were assessed for eradication, nine of which were listed as having a high or very high feasibility for OT-wide eradication:
For TCI, 59 species were assessed for eradication, 13 of which were listed as having a high or very high for OT-wide eradication:
Full details are given in the workshop reports:
Guidance documents for the methodology used:
Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control:
Information note on Anguilla and TCI:
- What species should be prioritised for eradication from the whole territory?
- What species established in one part of a territory should be prioritised to stop them spreading to another part of the territory?
Workshops were held in Anguilla and Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) in January / February 2020. The work involved the development of a framework for the prioritisation of established invasive species for eradication or for control (to reduce the risk of in-territory spread) based on global risk management best practice, using consensus methods similar to those employed for the horizon scanning exercise. For the eradication exercise, species were scored against a range of criteria, with overall feasibility of eradication rated from very high to very low. For the control exercise, species were scored for their ability to arrive, establish and cause impacts on new islands within the territory. All terrestrial non-native species known to be established and potentially invasive in each territory were considered.
For Anguilla, 40 species were assessed for eradication, nine of which were listed as having a high or very high feasibility for OT-wide eradication:
- Jasminum fluminense Brazilian Jasmine. Draft eradication plan (PDF).
- Wasmannia auropunctata Little Fire Ant. Draft eradication plan (PDF).
- Plutella xylostella Diamond-Back Moth
- Cryptostegia madagascariensis Madagascar Rubbervine
- Tribulus cistoides False Puncture Vine. Draft eradication plan (PDF).
- Passer domesticus House Sparrow
- Papilio demoleus Lime Swallowtail
- Diaphorina citri Citrus Psyllid
- Chlorocebus aethiops Vervet Monkey
For TCI, 59 species were assessed for eradication, 13 of which were listed as having a high or very high for OT-wide eradication:
- Iguana iguana Green Iguana
- Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm
- Solenopsis invicta Fire Ant
- Paratrechina longicornis Longhorn Crazy Ant
- Pheidole megacephala Big-Headed Ant
- Wasmannia auropunctata Little Fire Ant
- Nylanderia fulva Raspberry Crazy Ant
- Pennisetum setaceum Fountain Grass
- Tamarix canariensis Tamarisk
- Tribulus cistoides Dandelion (False puncture Vine)
- Bos taurus Feral Cattle
- Trachemys scripta Red-Eared Slider
- Lawsonia inermis Henna
Full details are given in the workshop reports:
Guidance documents for the methodology used:
- Overview of scoring method (PDF)
- Plans for consensus workshop (Word)
- Detailed scoring guidance (for external experts) (Word)
Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control:
- Passer domesticus House Sparrow (PDF)
- Chlorocebus aethiops Vervet Monkey (PDF)
- Iguana iguana Green Iguana (PDF)
- Trachemys scripta Red-Eared Slider (PDF)
- Plutella xylostella Diamond-Back Moth (PDF)
- Papilio demoleus Lime Swallowtail (PDF)
- Diaphorina citri Citrus Psyllid (PDF)
- Solenopsis Invicta Red Imported Fire Ant (PDF)
- Pheidole megacephala Big-Headed Ant (PDF)
- Paratrechina longicornis Longhorn Crazy Ant (PDF)
- Wasmannia auropunctata Little Fire Ant (PDF)
- Nylanderia fulva Raspberry Crazy Ant (PDF)
- Cryptostegia madagascariensis Madagascar Rubbervine (PDF)
- Tribulus cistoides False Puncture Vine (PDF)
- Jasminum fluminense Brazilian Jasmine (PDF)
- Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm (PDF)
- Pennisetum setaceum Fountain Grass (PDF)
- Tamarix canariensis Tamarisk (PDF)
- Lawsonia inermis Henna (PDF)
- Scaevola taccada Malaysian Inkberry (PDF)
- Leucaena leucocephala Cowbush (PDF)
Information note on Anguilla and TCI: