28 March 2025, Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga - The Government of Tonga, with funding from the Global Environment Facility's Regional Invasives Project (GEF6 RIP), continues to strengthen its commitment to ecological restoration, having a total of three restoration sites within the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) Resilient Ecosystems, Resilient Communities (RERC) programme, a flagship initiative of PRISMSS.
To support these restoration initiatives further, the GEF 6 RIP hosted the RERC Exchange Workshop in Tonga where Pacific Battlers involved in restoration efforts at sites such as Eua National Park, Toloa Rainforest, and Mount Talau National Park came together for a week of knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including national government representatives, NGOs, and local communities involved in RERC activities.
The field study took place in Vava'u on 17 March and later Tongatapu, from the 18-21 March facilitated by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and BirdLife International in coordination with the Department of Environment (DOE)-MEIDECC, Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) and Tupou College Toloa.
The exchange workshop facilitated interactive sessions that empowered 25 participants from various departments, ministries to enhance invasive species management and included the first Pacific Battler of the Year recipient, Miss Lisa Fonua of VEPA, local plant experts from DOE and Department of Forestry Eua, as well as youth participants from VEPA, DOE and students from the Tupou College.
Tonga National Invasives Species Coordinator, Mr Viliami Hakaumotu, also a Pacific Battler of the Year recipient, shared, “We are working hard to manage invasive species. We have five active programmes across all of Tonga and RERC is an important programme because a large part involves engagement with communities to protect key ecological areas that also have cultural importance such as Mount Talau”.
SPREP Project Manager for the GEF 6 Regional Invasive Species Project, Ms Isabell Rasch-Mulitalo shared that, “we visited Mt Talau, a restoration site managed by the VEPA and MEIDECC Vavaú with the support from SPREP through the GEF 6 RIP. VEPA engaged youth ambassadors to protect Mt Talau.”
“These battlers introduced Mt Talau to participants from Eua National Park, Toloa Rainforest and DOE demonstrating various invasive species management actions under the PRISMSS RERC programme to protect key species such as Casearia buelowii, an endemic plant only found on Mt. Talau, and Pachycephala jacquinoti, a bird locally known as hengahenga, which is endemic and only found in the Vavaú islands”.
The exchange workshop enabled participants to apply their skills and learnings from the field trip and work with SPREP and Birdlife to assist the DOE and Tupou College to protect the last remaining native forest on Tongatapu, the Toloa Rainforest which concluded on 21 March, commemorating the International Day of Forests.
Initiatives included managing of high priority weeds including Cordia alliodora, a tree initially introduced for forestry, and Cestrum nocturnum, more commonly known as Queen of the night, and re-establishing an invasive animal suppression network.
Mr Hoifua Aholahi, Conservation Officer and Officer in charge at the MEIDECC Office ’Eua, Department of Environment commented, “each site identified for invasive species programmes possesses unique ecological values and Mt. Talau is home to the Tongan Whistler and the endemic Caeseria buelowii.
“The Toloa rainforest is the last remaining rainforest on the main island, while ‘Eua National Park hosts the highest number of endemic plants in Tonga, with around 13 species."
“Invasive weeds and rats pose significant threats to these national treasures and effective management of invasive species not only preserves the ecological values of these areas but also protects the broader environment"
Mr Steven Hamani, Forestry Officer and Officer in charge MAFF, ‘Eua reflected, “during our field study, I discovered the critical role of managing and monitoring invasive species and bait stations on Mt. Talau”.
“It was fascinating to learn about the efforts to conserve the Tongan Whistler, a unique bird found only in Vava'u and equally impressive was the collaboration among various ministries and agencies in maintaining Mount Talau Park.
“Effective management of invasive species in these ecological areas is vital for the survival of endemic species, which in turn supports tourism, education, and the well-being of future generations”
The GEF 6 RIP Project Officer, Ms Loisi Tongia, based with MEIDECC reflected that, “restoring an ecological site is an ongoing journey that requires vigilant monitoring and management of invasive species.
“Our ecological sites are havens for endangered native birds and plants, and effective management of invasive species is crucial to their survival. By establishing these sites, we make invasive species management achievable, paving the way for the area's recovery.”
Toloa Rainforest Ranger, Mr Sione Fifita based with Tupou College shared, “I will use my experiences from this exchange workshop and field study to improve ecological restoration efforts in Tonga by sharing knowledge I gained about identifying and managing invasive species”.
“By teaching my students and working with the local community, we can create better management plans for Tonga's ecosystems, ensuring that invasive species are controlled, and native species thrive.”
Ms Lisa Kaufusi Fanua, Project Coordinator with VEPA commented, “I will share knowledge, skills, and fieldwork experiences, highlighting the differences in our work across Toloa, ‘Eua, and Mt Talau.”
“Support from SPREP motivates us to protect our environment from invasive species. I'll use my field study experience to develop awareness programmes for school and communities, emphasising the importance of restoring these areas as managing invasive species is crucial for our environment and biodiversity, which provides benefits for all of us”.
The SPREP led PRISMSS will continue to provide meaningful programme activities that enhance capacity building, through learning and knowledge exchange and technical guidance for further improving invasive species management in the Pacific.
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The GEF 6 Regional Invasives Project (RIP) is funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme, and executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme. The Project works primarily in the Marshall Islands, Niue, Tonga, and Tuvalu and has a regional component. Implementation of the GEF 6 RIP is supported by the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Services (PRISMSS).
For more information on the GEF 6 Regional Invasives Species Project (GEF 6 RIP), please contact the Project Manager Ms Isabell Rasch-Mulitalo, at isabellr@sprep.org
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