The Pacific Invasives Partnership (PIP) recently held its annual meeting in Brisbane, Australia to discuss opportunities to engage PIP members with Australian and New Zealand biosecurity management teams, and to emphasize how Australian expertise can be better utilized in the Pacific regional context. Pacific RISA researcher Dr. Laura Brewington represents the East-West Center as a PIP member and she highlighted US efforts to improve collaborations on native and invasive species research, especially in the context of new climate change information and projections. She also discussed key messages on biosecurity from the 4th US National Climate Assessment chapter on Hawaii and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands, which, in conjunction with the ongoing Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment process provide excellent tools for researchers and managers throughout the islands.

One of the greatest invasive species threats to the Pacific Islands region comes in a very small package: the red imported fire ant (RIFA). RIFA is a prime example of the need for international coordination on detection and prevention. RIFA arrived to Australia in 2001 via cargo from Florida (it has been present in the US for 80 years), and was detected after stinging a port worker badly enough to require hospitalization. Early detection and rapid response by the Queensland government, in conjunction with strong community engagement, have potentially spared Australia economic losses of nearly AU$2 billion/year due to RIFA. Most recently, however, RIFA has infested over 1 million hectares in 12 provinces of China, posing major risks to Pacific Islands that receive Chinese cargo, such as Hawaii, Guam, and other ports throughout the region. Australia and New Zealand are planning to invest in monitoring and rapid response in the less-resourced Pacific Island nations and territories to prevent the establishment of pests such as RIFA. In addition, shared interests between the United States and Australia have led to the creation of the Australian Biological Control Lab, which prioritizes rapid tool development and implementation of control measures against invasive pests from Australia that impact the US Department of Agriculture and US territories.

Area of Queensland where RIFA might have spread, if it weren’t for targeted response and eradication efforts by Biosecurity Queensland.

All PIP members agreed that invasive species and climate change are issues that must be addressed jointly: as storms and other extreme events increase in frequency or severity, damage to native island ecosystems provides fertile territory for pests to establish and prevent recovery. This is being observed in Guam, where coconut palms that have been damaged by hurricanes are more vulnerable to predation by invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles. RIFA is found in warm, tropical climates with abundant precipitation, and its range is expected to expand under future climate change. With regional cargo and human movements around the region increasing, habitats that are already stressed due to warming temperatures or persistent drought will be less resilient to emerging threats. On the other hand, however, improved international trade, tourism, and disaster relief practices can offer practical solutions for economic and societal benefit. PIP members continue to promote planning and adaptive management from regional and international agencies to improve resilience against invasive species, climate change, and their interacting effects.

Cover photo credit: International Trade Management