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Kiritimati Island Conservation Protected Area Project

Terrestrial Protected Area Conservancy Key Biodiversity Area

Governance Management Effectiveness Livelihoods

Local Communities Youth Women

Management Plan Awareness/education Monitoring/Patrol equipment

EUR 398,544.27 ; Pacific 15 September 2020 – 14 March 2023

Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

The project site is Kiritimati island in Kiribati, Central Pacific region.

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

Enhancing the management and governance of priority protected areas by addressing existing limitations, strengthening on-site infrastructure and equipment for patrolling, poaching control, and developing capacity of staff
Enforcement of the legal framework required to achieve effective biodiversity conservation.
Supporting local communities’ initiatives aiming to enhance the livelihoods of local people whilst effectively contributing to protected areas management

Priority need addressed

Enhancing the protection and management of protected areas on Kiritimati through the development of management plan and the provision of proper equipment.
Enhancing the management of protected areas by executing invasive alien species control and management activities and improved public awareness on the impact of invasive species.

Project activities

The project is designed to carry out four major key activities that includes but not limited to, the development of a management plan for the 9 protected areas and undertake to provide key equipment and tools required to carry out effective and well-coordinated patrolling, protection and monitoring of the sea birds breeding and nesting sites and habitat not only in within the closed areas but along surrounding areas and generally around the whole island which is Government state owned land. The project is also expected to implement control of invasive species using cat traps in particular the leg held cat traps and live cat cages. Rat traps known as snapper traps and introduction of rat baits known as broadifacoum 2OR will be used in the control activities. In addition to these core activities the project is expected to carry out community awareness programs to communities, stakeholders Government departments and private sectors and the education sector in particular Primary and Secondary school children. The awareness program will highlight the IAS, the importance of biodiversity and certain laws and legislation in place and applicable to Kiritimati island and the PAs which have been designated as Wildlife conservation and environment protected areas under the Environment Act 1999 and the Wildlife Ordinance. The activity will also involve the establishment of educational and awareness mediums such as billboards and signboards showcasing important conservation messages to the public and visitors into Kirtimati island.

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

The protected areas of Motu Upua, Dojin, Tanguoua, Koil, Toyota, Mouakena and the three islets protected areas of Cook Islands, Motu Tabu and Ngaontetaake are located very far from the main villages hence the monitoring of these protected areas is very difficult without the monitoring vehicles such as cars and boat. The provision of monitoring vehicles and all the monitoring equipment to be provided in this project will enable the conduction of regular and efficient monitoring activities that will enhance the management of the protected areas.

The project will also improve and strengthen governance on the management of the protected areas through enhancing the support and participation of the local communities on the management of the protected areas, promotion of community awareness on the importance of protected area and biodiversity conservation and enforcement of rules for the management of the protected areas

Protection of the environment in the protected areas will also enhance the protection of the important birds population that are nesting at the nine protected areas on land and islet protected areas so the population of birds species will be increasing and prevent the extinction of the endangered species.

Download the project infofiche.