Eradication of an international engineer: a threat to southern South American ecosystems

MALMIERCA, L; MENVIELLE, MF; RAMADORI, D; SAAVEDRA, B; SAUNDERS, A; SCHIAVINI, ADRIÁN C.M.

Auckland

Congreso; Island Invasives: Eradication and Management; 2010

The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) de la UICN

Beavers are threatening ecosystems of global  significance in southern Patagonia. Introduced from North America,  beavers  are  an  invasive  species  of  global  importance. After  their  introduction  to Tierra del Fuego 63 years ago, they have spread throughout the whole Fuegian archipelago, in Chile and  Argentina,  colonizing  all  types  of  native  ecosystems.  Recently  beavers  reached  continental Chile. After  28  years  of implementing  nationwide  control  strategies  a  bi-national  assessment  was undertaken  in  2006.  This  led  to  a  new  approach  involving  the  signing  of  an Administrative  and Scientific Agreement to develop a bi-national eradication program. A management committee will be created to lead the program which has goals to eradicate the beavers and to create opportunities to  restore  Southern  Patagonian  ecosystems. With  international  support  and  expertise  a  series  of activities have been carried out including assessments of the technical, ecological, economic, social and  cultural  feasibility  of  beaver  eradication,  the  signing  of  a  specific  bi-national Treaty  to  work towards the eradication goal; and initial planning of the program. While every eradication program is unique, this one has special challenges associated with collaboration between two countries, and the development of continental and insular ecosystem eradication approaches. These issues will require the application of innovative tools and models. Other challenges and risks which must be addressed include  developing  appropriate  governance  procedures  and  a  management  structure,  addressing the  logistics  of  undertaking  an  eradication  on  this  scale,  issues  associated  with  cross-border  field operations, securing funding and developing techniques to monitor progress and to declare success.