31 March 2025, Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga - Tonga has been actively managing invasive species through their National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP) since 2013. The latest NISSAP (2021-2027) outlines the country's comprehensive approach, including measures for prevention, early detection, rapid response, and long-term management to address the threats posed by invasive species.
The Ha'apai Islets Restoration, part of the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) Predator Free Pacific (PFP) programme, successfully removed invasive rats and feral pigs from Kelefesia and Tonumea. Led by Tonga’s Department of Environment and Island Conservation, this programme activity, conducted from July to November 2024, and restored critical habitats for native birds and endangered turtles.
This effort enhanced the islets climate resilience by improving natural resources for local communities and fostering a robust ecosystem. Removing invasive species boosts nutrient flows, leading to healthier fish populations and stronger reefs, while restoring native vegetation reduces vulnerability to food supply disruptions, ensuring a sustainable future for communities in Ha’apai.
On a grander scale is Late Island, where a PRISMSS PFP programme implemented a rat eradication project which took approximately one year to complete. The operation began in mid-2023 and was successfully concluded by mid-20241.
Since the rat eradication on Late Island, there have been significant positive changes in wildlife. Seabird populations, including boobies, noddies, frigatebirds, and terns, have surged, with numbers doubling in just nine months. Additionally, there has been an increase in land birds, crabs, and lizards. These changes indicate a successful restoration of the island's ecosystem, showcasing the resilience of nature and the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
The Environment Department, of the Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC)) has been working with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s (SPREP) Invasive Species Team to drive impactful invasive species management activities, including the restoration of priority ecological sites, the eradication of invasive mammals from islands, and using natural enemies to manage widespread weeds.
Tonga has been committed to actively participating in transformative projects like the GEF-PAS project (2012-2016), the GEF 6 Regional Invasives Species Project (GEF 6 RIP) and the Managing Invasive Species for Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific (MISCCAP) project.
In 2019, SPREP launched PRISMSS, a service providing technical support, building partnerships, and enhancing on-the-ground management solutions and the scaling up of invasive species management efforts across the Pacific.
Tonga's involvement in the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience (PRISMSS RIR) project, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, reaffirms MEIDECC’s dedication to protecting and restoring Tonga’s unique biodiversity by making significant strides towards a resilient and sustainable future.
PRISMSS Programme Manager, Mr Dominic Sadler shared that, “PRISMSS RIR is currently supporting the implementation of two PRISMSS Programmes in Tonga, the PRISMSS PFP programme with a focus on the eradication of invasive mammals from islands and the PRISMSS Natural Enemies – Natural Solutions (NENS) invasive weed management programme.
“The programmes are progressing well and delivering results to communities with SPREP and MEIDECC intending to begin implementation of two additional programmes in Tonga, the PRISMSS Protect Our Islands (POI) programme, with a focus on national and interisland biosecurity and the PRISMSS Protect Our Marine Areas (POMA) programme with a focus on reducing the spread of invasive marine species to priority marine areas.”
To support the launch of these two programmes in Tonga, SPREP, supported by MEIDECC conducted a scoping exercise in Vava’u from 10-14 March 2025. In preparation for this scoping exercise a review was conducted of the Clean Boats, Clean Ports Frameworks assessment completed by the Tonga representatives to the Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN) in 2023.
“The scoping exercise provided us with valuable insights after engaging relevant stakeholders in Vava’u, to understand what was currently being done, understand what was needed to enhance interisland biosecurity and what support ministries needed”, added the PRISMSS Programme Manager.
“This also included discussions about implementing the PRISMSS POMA programme and working in Vava’u is the first activity under our new programme which is expected to be initiated in 2025.”
MEIDECC counterparts and local NGO Vavaú Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) assisted in facilitating meetings with a number of key stakeholders in Vava’u including the Office of the Governor of Vava’u, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forests, Quarantine, Ministry of Infrastructure – Marine and Ports, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Tourism, local and foreign boat owners. Discussions showed broad support from all stakeholders for both enhanced interisland biosecurity and the Protect Our Marine Areas (POMA) activities.
Under the PRISMSS POI programme, discussions identified needs that were shared between ministries and boat owners. “The scoping mission identified key areas of focus to support boat owners and ministries. This included, enhanced coordination, equipment, capacity building and community awareness activities.
The Director of VEPA, Ms. Karen Stone shared that “working with PRISMSS and its partners has enabled our work to be a lot more structured, a lot more technically based”.
“The support that comes through PRISMSS enables the local teams to feel confident in the work that they're doing and encourages them, knowing that they're not alone in these fights and they understand that that there's all these people that are wanting to help them and wanting to make sure that biodiversity wins in the end.”
The VEPA Director elaborated that the PRISMSS approach with the various programme like the NENS and Predator Free Pacific programme activities that deal with invasive mammal removal and the Resilient Ecosystems, Resilient Communities restoration sites, provides a holistic approach towards biodiversity conservation which shared synergy with the work of VEPA.
"We are thrilled about the PRISMSS Protect Our Islands project, which aims to enhance inter-island biosecurity as this initiative is particularly meaningful for us as it reinforces the sense of ownership within our communities”.
“Often, large-scale programmes seem distant and disconnected from local communities, which is understandable since not everyone can fly helicopters to remote islands. However, the POI and the Protect Our Marine Areas projects will bring these efforts back to the grassroots level, reminding us that we can all contribute to this cause."
The MEIDECC National Invasives Species Coordinator, Mr Viliami Hakaumotu shared, “I believe the collaboration with SPREP through PRISMSS significantly enhances our efforts towards managing invasive species in Tonga.”
“By focusing on the benefits of specific programmes such as NENS, PFP, POI, RERC, and POMA, and also integrating aspects of it, we are able to provide sustainable solutions for biodiversity conservation by ensuring a holistic approach that contributes significantly to enhancing our islands resilience”
“It also enables partnerships with technical leaders from across the Pacific and even globally and presents an incredible opportunity to revolutionize how we implement activities that are effective, sustainable, involve our communities and are meaningful which progress interventions and make a positive impact.”
Ms. Mele Kaito, Assistant Conservation Officer with the Department of Environment, in Vava’u
commented that, “PRISMSS programmes have been invaluable to our Ministry, helping us fulfill our mandates and focus areas”.
“Despite our lack of expertise in invasive species and biodiversity conservation, PRISMSS and their partners have provided essential knowledge and capacity building.”
“The successful reduction and eradication of invasive species, especially rats, on Late Island and Mount Talau, in collaboration with the Vava’u Environmental Protection Association, have led to increased bird populations, indicating these projects are working.”
PRISMSS through dedicated programmes will continue to work closely with MEIDECC and technical partners for a holistic approach to managing invasive species and biodiversity in Tonga by integrating various strategies that address prevention, control, restoration and community engagement.
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About PRISMSS: The Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) is a coordinating mechanism designed to facilitate the scaling up of operational management of invasive species in the Pacific. PRISMSS brings together experts to provide support within the Pacific region with a focus on protection of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem function. As a service provider, PRISMSS provides a comprehensive suite of support services in a cohesive, effective, efficient, and accessible manner to Pacific Island countries and territories.
Restoring Island Resilience (RIR): The PRISMSS - Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) is a New Zealand-PRISMSS collaboration project that aims to improve Pacific Island Countries and territories livelihoods and resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems through the five PRISMSS programmes.
PRISMSS Powered by: New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade, UK International Development, GEF, UNEP & SPREP
PRISMSS Partners: Birdlife International, NZ Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Pacific Community and SPREP
For additional information please contact Mr Dominic Sadler, PRISMSS Manager on dominics@sprep.org or Mr Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on nitishn@sprep.org