A report prepared by the Invasive Partnership for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, Palau July 2014 as requested by the Micronesian Chief Executives in Resolution 19-01
The little re ant, Wasmannia
auropunctata, is a small ant native to
Central and South America, which has
been introduced into a third of the Paci c
region's island groups. It is considered by
invasive experts to be the greatest ant
species threat within the Paci c islands
region.
The 2017-2019 Interim Guam Invasive Species Management Plan (GISMP) expresses the overarching goals and priorities of the Guam Invasive Species Council (GISC or Council). The Guam Invasive Species Act of 2011 (Public Law 31-43) established the Council as Guams lead entity in coordinating with local, regional, national, and international jurisdic¬tions in the fight against alien invasive species. Although the GISC is in its infancy stages of organization, it draws from the collective knowledge, past research, and progress of its members in establishing the Councils goals and priorities. Priorities and goals identified in this plan reflect current and near-term resources, member capabilities, and status of certain invasive species. Recommendations contained in the Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii (RBP), the 2016-2018 National Inva¬sive Species Councils Management Plan, the Regional Invasive Species Council (RISC), and various stakeholders were considered in the development of this plan. The Council also considered developments under the purview of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and its 2015-2020 HISC Strategic Plan.
In 2014, with support from the French Government, Wallis and Futuna informed SPREP of its intention to identify nationally significant wetlands for future designation as wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites) under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971).
Invasive ants are a diverse group of aggressive, competitive, dominating ant species that can rapidly establish and spread. Several ant species are amongst the most serious global invasive species. Their broad diets, nesting habits, ability to breed rapidly, high densitites and adaptibility to varied habitats make them excellent invaders. Agricultural economic, environmental and social wellbeing are threatened by these ants, many of which have been introduced to, and established in, many countries
Inthe1990's,LittleFireAnts(LFAs)founditswaytotheislandofHawaii,mostlikelytravelingwithashipmentof
potted plantsfrom Florida.These plants weresubsequentlysold toconsumers along theeastcoast of theIsland,
alongwithLittleFireAntcolonieslivinginthepottingmedium.LFAisnowthrivingandcontinuestospread.Fifteenyearsaftertheinitialdetectionin1999,LFAhasspreadtoover4000locationsontheislandofHawaiiandhas
beenfoundinisolatedlocationsonKauai,Maui,andOahuIslands.Currenteffortsareexpectedtocontaintheinfestations
on the otherislands but signi cant additional investment isneeded tohalt therapid spread of LFA on
the island of Hawaii.
Increased management expenditures can suppress infestations; reduce spread between sectors; and decrease
long-term management costs, damages, and stings.| Animmediateexpenditureof$8millioninthenext23yearsplusfollow-upprevention,monitoring,andmitigation
treatments will yield $1.210 billion in reduced control costs, $129 million in lowered economic damages,
315 million fewer human sting incidents, and 102 million less pet sting incidents over 10 years.| Over35years,thebene tsinclude$5.496billioninreducedcontrolcosts,$538millionlesseconomicdamages,
2.161 billion fewer human sting incidents, and 762 million fewer pet sting incidents.
This report contributes to the GEF PAS project "Prevention, eradication and control of invasive alien species in the Pacific islands". It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the Department of Environment Protection & Conservation, Vanuatu.
