Married bliss and shotgun weddings: effective partnerships for island restoration

Abstract

Island restoration is expanding as a tool for enhancing conservation outcomes. The ability of conservation managers to eradicate multiple invasive species over increasingly complex or large areas is steadily improving, but progress inevitably presents new challenges. There is always a larger, even more complex operation ahead, and islands with human populations present their own suite of problems and opportunities. The majority of the large and/or complex island restoration projects to-date have been carried out with a high level of government commitment including funding support (e.g. New Zealand, Australia, USA). However, there is increasing interest in applying this methodology to islands in jurisdictions where there is less central government support. This can be further complicated by regulatory systems and implementation logistics. Non-governmental organisations are now taking lead roles in many projects to restore islands worldwide, working collaboratively to share the financial, logistical and regulatory challenges and share in the outcomes. If we are to succeed in truly “turning the tide” on invasive species it will be necessary for governmental and nongovernmental organisations to partner even more effectively in order to expand the capacity for such conservation actions worldwide. Choosing the right partners, clarifying shared values, programme goals, responsibilities and definitions of success is needed for NGOs, governments and other partners to work effectively and make the progress that is necessary to continue achieving good conservation outcomes in the future.