News

Eradicating New Zealand flax from inaccessible island World Heritage Site

Invasive alien species threaten Tristan’s only native tree species, the island Cape Myrtle and Endemic Nesospiza buntings, that have evolved to specialise Phylica fruit. This project aims to eradicate the invasive New Zealand flax on Inaccessible island World Heritage site to secure two native species’ sustainable recovery. Inaccessible Island WHS is of international significance, particularly for its near-pristine habitats and number of endemic bird species, plants and invertebrates, including 22 species of seabirds, some of which only breed on Inaccessible. Of these, there are three bunting subspecies and the Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross that rely on the Phylica habitat for key resources, such as shelter and food. Furthermore, the presence of the invasive flax damages the spectacular aesthetics of this site via soil erosion and knock-on ecological impacts to the marine and terrestrial environment (e.g. silt blooms in the sea).