Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS)
Repositioning Invasive Species Management as Climate Resilience
Partner: The Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) at the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
What We Did
Flinch helped PRISMSS reposition invasive species management as one of the most powerful nature-based climate resilience solutions for the Pacific Islands region.
We worked closely with the PRISMSS team to show countries, communities and donors how managing invasive species would directly benefit communities by increasing the resilience and productivity of forests and coral reefs. This work has helped PRISMSS to mobilise over NZD50 million from a range of donors including New Zealand the UK and multilateral partners.
We have also helped to brand PRISMSS as a regional Centre of Excellence that is enabling Pacific Island countries to scale up the management of invasive species and increase the climate resilience of their ecosystems and communities.
Challenge
Across the Pacific, invasive species are the main threat to biodiversity and the resilience of islands ecosystems
Rats, feral pigs and invasive plants are weakening forests and coral reefs – undermining food security, freshwater supplies and natural storm protection.
Before PRISMSS was established in 2019, invasive species management was largely viewed as a technical biodiversity issue and rarely viewed as a frontline strategy for increasing climate resilience.
Strategy
We helped PRISMSS to reframe the management of invasive species as one of the most cost-effective approaches for strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and communities across the Pacific
We helped PRISMSS to secure greater political support, donor investment and community ownership by showing how managing invasive species would result in more fish, safer water supplies and greater protection from storms.
Impact
- Over 100 islands cleared of invasive predators
- Introduction of natural enemies for invasive plants in eight Pacific countries
- Invasive species management embedded into national climate strategies
- PRISMSS positioned for investment from Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund
- Secured NZ$50,000 sponsorship from Air New Zealand for the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience Awards
Related Videos
