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Operations Manual - Regional Technical Support Mechanism (RTSM) and Rapid Response Fund (RRF)

SPREP Publications, Climate Change Resilience

Available Online

SPREP

The Regional Technical Support Mechanism (RTSM) and Rapid Response Fund (RRF) is a collaborative undertaking of all Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies and their associated development partners and donors. It is a true reflection of the Pacific island region, which promotes the spirit of cooperation and collaboration. The establishment of the RTSM and RRF is a step towards a ‘transformative change’ that is taken by the CROP agencies, to efficiently serve the priority and needs of Pacific Island Countries and Territories in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation The purpose of this Manual is to guide the members of the RTSM Project Committee (PC), the Working Arm of the CEO Subcommittee on Climate Change and Disaster Resilient Development (WARD) and the RTSM Coordinator (RC) on the operations of the RTSM and associated RRF. It sets out the standards of probity, transparency and accountability that contributors and potential contributors to the Fund expect in the governance and operations of both the RTSM and RRF. The Manual includes an RTSM & RRF Policies and Procedures which lists the types of assistance available, and how to request assistance under the RRF. As part of the ‘scaling up of good practices’ approach, the standards as set out in the Manual also provide an example for countries that do not have Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) country tracks and are interested in replicating such a mechanism to administer and manage climate change funding. The RTSM PC and the WARD may approve amendments to the Manual and associated RTSM and RRF Policies and Procedures.

Management of an invasive avian parasitic fly in the Galapagos Islands: is biological control a viable option?

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

The bird-parasitic ?y, Philornis downsi, was ?rst recorded in the Galápagos Islands in 1964 where it likely invaded from mainland Ecuador. This muscid ?y is now the leading cause of recent declines in endemic landbird populations as its larvae feed on the nestlings of at least 19 bird species in the Galápagos, including many species of Darwins ?nches. As yet, no long-term control method has been implemented for P. downsi, but importation (also known as classical) biological control may be a viable option. Due to historically high-pro?le examples of biological control agents attacking non-target species, some consider biological control to be too risky to be compatible with conservation aims. However, since biosafety practices were implemented beginning in the 1990s, these risks have been drastically reduced, and biological control is now an important tool for suppressing invasive species that are di?cult to control using other means. We investigated the safety of a potential biological control agent, the parasitoid wasp, Conura annulifera, that attacks P. downsi in its native range. Here we summarise the results of a series of ?eld, laboratory and comparative studies on C. annulifera (methods and results are not reported here) and outline future directions. We used a ?eld experimental paradigm involving nest boxes baited with non-target hosts, and quarantine laboratory no-choice trials in which non-target hosts were exposed to C. annulifera. Our work to-date suggests that C. annulifera is restricted to attacking species within the genus Philornis. Furthermore, a phylogenetically controlled comparative study suggests that C. annulifera is evolutionarily constrained in its host range. These results lead us to conclude that C. annulifera demonstrates promise as an ecologically safe agent for the long-term biological control of P. downsi. Studies will now focus on an evaluation of risks to endemic and native species in the Galápagos.

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