Biodiversity is the foundation of all healthy ecosystems but, on many Pacific islands, invasive species are destroying native plants and animals, causing entire ecosystems to collapse. Removing invasive predators such as rats is a nature-based solution that can help to restore the resilience of island ecosystems by supporting the return of seabird populations and the vital nutrients they provide for forest systems and coral reefs. We know that on islands without rats the coral reef systems can provide up to 50% more fish for local communities. Island Conservation, the lead for the Predator Free Pacific programme, is supported by key PRISMSS partners including BirdLife International and the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Together these organizations have now eradicated invasive predators from over 60 Pacific islands. The growing success of the Predator Free Pacific programme is based on combining global eradication expertise with local knowledge and efforts to build greater community awareness and ownership of the ongoing benefits of restoring the resilience of island ecosystems.

Conventional control techniques can be useful when weeds are not yet common and to protect high value sites. However, once weeds become widespread the only safe, cost-effective and sustainable way of tackling them is through the use of natural enemies, which is known as biological control. This regional programme aims to lower the impact of widespread invasive plants by reducing their vigour by introducing safe natural enemies from the area they, and their host plant, originate from. This technique has been used safely and successfully worldwide, including the Pacific, to manage weeds for more than 100 years. Natural enemies have been established on 25 weed species in 17 countries in the Pacific, and there are many opportunities both for spreading existing agents available in the Pacific to new countries, from introducing agents available outside the Pacific, and through developing new options for the Pacific.

Some invasive plants have the ability to transform (damage or destroy) ecosystem function. Weeds outcompete more desirable plant species and disrupt processes such as water flow, fire regimes, soil quality, nutrient cycling and regeneration. Weeds can also be harmful to human and animal health. Weeds thrive on disturbance and so their harmful impacts are exacerbated by tropical cyclones, strong winds, drought and fires, all of which are increasing in severity due to the changing climate. Whilst there are several existing weed management programmes across the Pacific, capacity overall is very limited. This programme is focused on the management of high risk, low distribution weed species, where the objective is eradication or containment.