Indigena Biosecurity International is a trusted service provider for several government projects and NGO initiatives
South Georgia
Indigena were appointed to deliver on the Government of South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands' (GSGSSI) Non-Native Plant Management Strategy: 2016-2020. This ambitious strategy was developed as part of a Darwin-funded project, which aimed to ensure that 33 out of the island's 41 non-native plant species are eradicated or managed to zero population density.
Indigena continues to provide their expertise on work detailed in the GSGSSI's Non-Native Plant Management Strategy 2022 under the 'South Georgia Non-Native Plant Management Project', which builds on the successes of the last 5 years. Each year, Indigena develop operational plans in consultation with the GSGSSI that cover every aspect of the Strategy delivery, including invasive species management, spatial data recording using the South Georgia Weeds Database (developed by Indigena’s Kelvin Floyd), surveying, and reporting. The team return to South Georgia annually in January to continue with the monitoring and management of non-native plants.
To learn more about South Georgia and the conservation efforts taking place there, including the work of Indigena, check out:
'South Georgia - A Visitor's Guide' narrated by Sir David Attenborough. The film has two key messages; firstly, it encourages visitors to respect and protect the island so their visit can be truly sustainable, but there is another message which is relevant to us all; proof that nature can recover, if we give it the chance.
www.gov.gs/south-georgia-a-visitors-guide/
Indigena were appointed to deliver on the Government of South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands' (GSGSSI) Non-Native Plant Management Strategy: 2016-2020. This ambitious strategy was developed as part of a Darwin-funded project, which aimed to ensure that 33 out of the island's 41 non-native plant species are eradicated or managed to zero population density.
Indigena continues to provide their expertise on work detailed in the GSGSSI's Non-Native Plant Management Strategy 2022 under the 'South Georgia Non-Native Plant Management Project', which builds on the successes of the last 5 years. Each year, Indigena develop operational plans in consultation with the GSGSSI that cover every aspect of the Strategy delivery, including invasive species management, spatial data recording using the South Georgia Weeds Database (developed by Indigena’s Kelvin Floyd), surveying, and reporting. The team return to South Georgia annually in January to continue with the monitoring and management of non-native plants.
To learn more about South Georgia and the conservation efforts taking place there, including the work of Indigena, check out:
'South Georgia - A Visitor's Guide' narrated by Sir David Attenborough. The film has two key messages; firstly, it encourages visitors to respect and protect the island so their visit can be truly sustainable, but there is another message which is relevant to us all; proof that nature can recover, if we give it the chance.
www.gov.gs/south-georgia-a-visitors-guide/
*Click* on the image to watch the recorded presentation
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Bradley Myer spraying invasive Empetrum rubrum (Diddle dee) on South Georgia
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Falkland Islands
The Falklands Islands Department of Agriculture has enlisted the specialist services of Indigena for a species-specific project: the control of calafate (Berberis microphylla). The project was developed as a result of research relating to climate change and the risk it poses to agriculture and ecosystems of the Falkland Islands.
Calafate is a shrub native to Argentina and Chile, which has become invasive across the Falklands Islands since its introduction some 100 years ago. It smotheris native vegetation and agricultural land in the areas it invades, changing habitat structure to impenetrable scrub, and is a significant threat to productivity and the ecosystem. The outcome sought for this species is ultimately complete eradication; accuracy, persistence and timeliness are thus critical towards achieving this outcome. The implementation of calafate control and monitoring began in the 2019-2020 season. The third season was 2023-2024, and Indigena will return to the Falkland Islands in November 2024 for a fourth season.
The Falklands Islands Department of Agriculture has enlisted the specialist services of Indigena for a species-specific project: the control of calafate (Berberis microphylla). The project was developed as a result of research relating to climate change and the risk it poses to agriculture and ecosystems of the Falkland Islands.
Calafate is a shrub native to Argentina and Chile, which has become invasive across the Falklands Islands since its introduction some 100 years ago. It smotheris native vegetation and agricultural land in the areas it invades, changing habitat structure to impenetrable scrub, and is a significant threat to productivity and the ecosystem. The outcome sought for this species is ultimately complete eradication; accuracy, persistence and timeliness are thus critical towards achieving this outcome. The implementation of calafate control and monitoring began in the 2019-2020 season. The third season was 2023-2024, and Indigena will return to the Falkland Islands in November 2024 for a fourth season.
Indigena team member spraying a large calafate bush growing along the southern coast of Terra Motas peninsula, Port Sussex (2022)
A controlled area of calafate at Port Sussex, ten weeks after treatment (2023)
Tristan da Cunha
On behalf of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Indigena has been tasked with the capacity development of employees of the Department of the Environment of Tristan da Cunha - namely for the control of Metrosideros excelsa (commonly known as New Zealand Christmas Tree or pōhutukawa) and Pinus radiata (monterey pine) through training on plant identification, the safe use of herbicides and chainsaws, and use of a specialist weed management app.
Indigena will also conduct the survey and mapping of other non-native plant species per the 2008 baseline assessment and invasive plant report and develop a Weed Control Manual for Tristan da Cunha. Indigena began work on the project in the 2023-2024 season.
On behalf of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Indigena has been tasked with the capacity development of employees of the Department of the Environment of Tristan da Cunha - namely for the control of Metrosideros excelsa (commonly known as New Zealand Christmas Tree or pōhutukawa) and Pinus radiata (monterey pine) through training on plant identification, the safe use of herbicides and chainsaws, and use of a specialist weed management app.
Indigena will also conduct the survey and mapping of other non-native plant species per the 2008 baseline assessment and invasive plant report and develop a Weed Control Manual for Tristan da Cunha. Indigena began work on the project in the 2023-2024 season.
Map to indicate location of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean
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Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) on a steep slope of Sandy Point, Tristan da Cunha
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New Zealand Christmas Tree (Metrosideros excelsa) has invaded the open, dry, stony habitats of the new volcano and of the Pigbite slopes on Tristan da Cunha
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New Zealand Christmas Tree (Metrosideros excelsa) on Tristan da Cunha
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British Virgin Islands
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has enlisted Indigena’s expertise and services for a project focussing on habitat restoration of the Little Tobago and Great Tobago National Park. Indigena's role is to build capacity of National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands (NPTVI) staff through training on safe agrichemical use, safe chainsaw use, biosecurity and use of a proprietary weed management app. Through this project, Indigena and NPTVI will develop an invasive plant eradication strategy, long term seedbank control strategy, spatial management database, and biosecurity plan.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has enlisted Indigena’s expertise and services for a project focussing on habitat restoration of the Little Tobago and Great Tobago National Park. Indigena's role is to build capacity of National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands (NPTVI) staff through training on safe agrichemical use, safe chainsaw use, biosecurity and use of a proprietary weed management app. Through this project, Indigena and NPTVI will develop an invasive plant eradication strategy, long term seedbank control strategy, spatial management database, and biosecurity plan.
Aerial view of Little and Great Tobago Islands, British Virgin Islands
Mike Gibbs conducting chainsaw-use training with an employee of the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands (NPTVI)
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Mike Gibbs (L) and Bradley Myer (R) with NPTVI staff who received training on safe agrichemical use, safe chainsaw use and weed management
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