Severe tropical cyclones present significant challenges for managing invasive species in the Pacific Islands. As climate change intensifies these storms, the impact on ecosystems becomes more severe, creating opportunities for invasive species to spread. For example, damage from storms like Typhoon Dolphin in 2015 likely worsened invasive species spread, such as that of the little fire ants and coconut rhinoceros beetle, threatening both ecosystems and livelihoods.
In response, the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC), the USDA Southwest Climate Hub, and multiple other partners listed below came together to host a forum on "Climate-Related Disasters in the Pacific: Sharing Lessons Learned to Increase Resilience in Hawaiʻi." Held at the 2024 Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, the event focused on sharing critical lessons around disaster preparedness and response from across the Pacific to strengthen and inform invasive species management and preparedness in Hawaiʻi. The forum featured insights on how severe weather events exacerbate the spread of invasive species and highlighted strategies to integrate invasive species prevention into broader disaster planning efforts.
The speakers emphasized that climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and severity of tropical cyclones, posing greater threats to already highly threatened ecosystems. One key takeaway was the importance of quick and coordinated action to manage invasive species post-disaster and prevent them from gaining new footholds in disturbed environments. Furthermore, the collaboration highlighted how disaster relief logistics and emergency management can unintentionally accelerate or catalyze the spread of invasive species, like brown tree snakes, via transportation systems, underlining the need for stronger regional cooperation and adaptive strategies for resilience in the face of greater environmental changes. As storm patterns evolve, so too must our approaches to protecting and stewarding Pacific Islands ecosystems.
The forum was a collaborative effort with various key stakeholders, including the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Program, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Guam Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Disease Surveillance & Emergency Response Program, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Southwest Climate Hub, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and Western Ecological Research Center. These organizations are committed to developing and implementing effective, science-based strategies to combat the impacts of climate-related disasters on invasive species management.