Palmyra Atoll NWR Invasive Species Management

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This agreement is being implemented in order to establish guidelines for the Fish and Wildlife Service (hereafter referred to as "Service") in coordination with The Nature Conservancy (hereafter referred to as "TNC") for carrying out invasive plant species control projects and other projects that will benefit trust resources within the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (PANWR). On Palmyra, invasive plants are unraveling well established relationships between terrestrial organisms, by crowding out native species and completely altering the landscape and habitat. Several of these invasive species are nitrogen fixing and/or allelopathic, and can cause wholesale ecosystem shifts when they become dominant. This project will initiate a proactive, adaptive and integrated invasive species management approach to curtail and prevent the further influence of invasive plants and trees on private and refuge lands at Palmyra. This project will focus on: 1) Restoration of biological habitat integrity through chemical and mechanical control/eradication of focal invasive species; 2) The detection, eradication, and control methods so that no lag time occurs by the response team following the detection of an invasion; 3) Early Detection Rapid Response efforts, as outlined in the Biosecurity Plan for Palmyra, to detect new invasive species and increase the likelihood that invasions are localized and within containment/eradication capabilities; and 4) Adaptive Management through post-treatment monitoring and sampling to measure the extent to which our actions contribute to positive change and assure the highest return on our investments. Due to the fact that TNC owns and operates Cooper Island, the air strip, and coordinates and funds transportation to and from the refuge, TNC plays an integral part in the implementation of biosecurity efforts for the refuge. As partners both entities strive to reduce the number of invasive species present on the atoll and limit the invasion of new species. Palmyra Atoll is located in the Central Pacific Ocean and is co- managed and owned by the Service and TNC. The Nature Conservancy owns Cooper Island, managing and maintaining the research station, housing, air strip, and facilities. The Service owns and manages the rest of the islands, submerged lands and waters out to 12 nautical miles. At PANWR the Service does not operate the field station. There are no functional buildings or facilities on the other �Service� owned islands. TNC provides room and board to the Service staff and volunteers for a fee. This agreement will allow the Service to transfer funds to TNC to pay for station days and other facilities maintenance costs. Name of Project Manager: Susan White Telephone: 808-792-9560 E-mail: Susan_White@fws.gov

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