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The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) has received funds through the regional GEF-PAS Invasives project coordinated by the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to eradicate two species of myna found in Kiribati. The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and the Jungle Myna (A. fuscus) are two of the world’s most destructive invasive species, originally from Asia. They damage food crops such as papaya and breadfruit, attack native birds, nest in the roofs of houses where they make a mess with their droppings, are very noisy, and can carry diseases and parasites.

A programme to eradicate two species of myna from Kiribati was carried out between November 2014 and November 2015 by staff of the Environment & Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development with funds through the regional GEF-PAS Invasives project coordinated by UNEP and SPREP, assisted by international consultant Dave Butler.