25 May 2026, Koror, Palau - Mr. Byrelson Jacklick, Quarantine & Invasive Species Coordinator for the Division of Biosecurity and Quarantine within the Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Natural Resources and Commerce has been honoured as the 2025 Pacific Invasive Species Battler of the Year.

This recognition was presented during a special awards night held as part of the seventh Pacific Invasive Learning Network (PILN) meeting at the Palau Royal Resort. The Battler of the Year Award commenced in 2017 and recognises Pacific invasive species field-based practitioners who work at the grassroots level and have achieved outstanding outcomes for biodiversity in their respective Pacific islands, countries and territories.

In his introduction message, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Invasive Species Adviser, Mr. David Moverley, reflected that the presentation of the annual Battler of the Year Award was one of his most cherished moments of the year.

“Byrelson’s work demonstrates how local action can have regional impact. His dedication to invasive species management over the past ten years has helped secure biodiversity and resilience not only for the Marshall Islands but has also contributed to the wider Pacific.”

Mr. Moverley went on to emphasise that this recognition is far more than a personal honour, “it represents the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ growing leadership in biodiversity conservation and showcases how determined local action, when combined with regional collaboration and strong community engagement, can deliver lasting results.”

He highlighted that Byrelson’s achievements exemplify the very spirit of the Battler of the Year Award, the ability of practitioners to transform challenges into opportunities, ensuring that island ecosystems are protected from invasive threats while building resilience against climate change.

“His recognition as the 2025 Pacific Invasive Species Battler of the Year is a testament to the power of partnerships and the collective strength of Pacific communities and it reminds us that every effort—whether on a single islet or across an entire nation contributes to safeguarding the biodiversity that sustains us all.”

The Republic of the Marshall Islands faces unique environmental pressures, with sea-level rise near Majuro occurring at more than twice the global average, alongside increasing droughts and rising ocean temperatures. These climate impacts make ecosystem resilience critical, and invasive species management is a cornerstone of that resilience.

Through the Reimaanlok Framework, communities collaborate to manage coastal resources, preserve biodiversity, and strengthen resilience against climate impacts. The Reimaanlok National Conservation Area Planning Framework is a community-driven, 10-step process for establishing protected areas in the Marshall Islands, aimed at fostering sustainable resource management.

These achievements demonstrate how targeted invasive species management strengthens ecological integrity, supports food security, and enhances resilience to climate change. His recognition reflects years of dedicated work to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Marshall Islands from invasive threats while strengthening biodiversity and resilience in the face of climate change.

Mr Jacklick has played a central role in invasive species management, being one of the participants from the first regional rat eradication workshop held in Tonga in 2015. This allowed successful eradications to be undertaken independently during COVID-19 with his prior experience. Building on this further he coordinated the successful eradication of rats from Jemo Islet in 2024.

This achievement has already led to the recovery of native vegetation and the return of seabird populations, demonstrating how targeted interventions can restore ecological balance. He continues to lead efforts against invasive myna birds, which disrupt agriculture and compete with native species, ensuring that biodiversity is not further compromised.

These actions are part of broader national and regional initiatives, including the PRISMSS Predator Free Pacific Programme, the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge and the National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP), which integrate biosecurity into conservation priorities.

Mr Jacklick’s coordination with regional initiatives, including PILN, PRISMSS and its partners, has brought technical expertise and resources to the Marshall Islands, building local capacity to address invasive species challenges more effectively.

While accepting the award from Mr. Josef Pisi, SPREP Invasive Species Officer, Mr. Jacklick expressed his gratitude and emotions, stating, “I am humbled and it is with great honour that I accept the Battler of the Year Award for RMI, but this recognition is not just about me, it’s about the collective effort of our communities, partners and my colleagues who are working tirelessly to protect the Marshall Islands.” 
He also acknowledged SPREP, PRISMSS, the PILN community, donors and the Palau Government for hosting the event and the recognition.

“While I am thankful that our efforts towards better managing invasive species are being recognised, we need to step up our collective efforts and be more inclusive in the way we implement our activities so that our actions are more effective and sustainable.”

The award recipient added that “Every invasive species we remove is a step toward restoring balance and resilience in our ecosystems and this award is for all the dedicated Pacific battlers as we fight together against these invasive species threats.”

The 7th PILN meeting brought together over 50 invasive species professionals and practitioners from across the Pacific region to share and celebrate their successes, identify possible sustainable solutions to challenges, address critical issues related to invasive species management and discuss ways to invigorate future networking and collaboration between PICTs in sharing technical expertise, information, and successful management approaches.

The PILN meeting hosted in Koror, by the government of Palau from 18 to 22 May 2026 was made possible with funding support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Kingdom International Development, SPREP and PRISMSS. 
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For additional information please contact Mr David Moverley, Invasive Species Adviser on davidm@sprep.org or Mr Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on nitishn@sprep.org