Invasive Species Eradication Team in the Phoenix Islands

A team of scientists is in the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) on an urgent mission to eradicate rats that are threatening populations of native seabirds in this pristine marine region. Funded by the Government of New Zealand, the team is trying to eradicate foreign rats which threaten up to 18 species of seabirds on three atolls of PIPA. McKean, Rawake and Birnie atolls are the first three atolls targeted for invasive species eradications. The long-term aim is to rid the PIPA of all problematic invasive species and prevent any new introductions.

PIPA Now World's Largest Marine Protected Area

(Apia, Samoa) On January 28, 2008, the Government of Kiribati announced the expansion of the boundaries of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) to encompass an area of 410,500 km2 and approved associated regulations. The announcement by Minister Nakara follows recent government actions to expand the original provisional boundaries to include most of Kiribati’s exclusive economic zone surrounding the islands. The PIPA is an area encompassing several critical ocean habitats, and exploration has already yielded some species new to science. Our understanding of the unique biological diversity of this place will only increase with this protection and further scientific exploration.

        This action makes the PIPA the world’s largest declared marine protected area, an incredible accomplishment for Kiribati, the largest atoll nation in the world. The PIPA will include the Phoenix Islands archipelago and both Winslow and Carondelet reefs within its boundaries. In addition, vast areas of deep ocean will also be carefully managed and protected. This important action serves as both a protection for Kiribati’s fisheries as well as an important mitigation force against the impacts of global warming. PIPA is currently nominated as a possible UNESCO World Heritage site and a successful World Heritage meeting was recently held in Tarawa in December.

        Kiribati will continue to work with Conservation International, the New England Aquarium, and other partners on management plans and the development of an endowment to support the PIPA. The PIPA is managed by the Phoenix Islands Conservation Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from several governmental and non-governmental agencies.