UK must eradicate swarms of invading rodents from island territories to meet nature targets, says RSPB

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Eradicating invasive mammals from 169 islands worldwide would boost the survival chances of a tenth of Earth’s most threatened island species, a new study found. “This study is an invaluable global assessment of where these future conservation opportunities exist and supports regional and national decision-making about where and how to prevent extinctions,” said Dr Nick Holmes, lead author on the study from Island Conservation - a non-profit organisation with the mission to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. A ranking of islands in the study finds one of the best sites for such a programme is the UK’s Gough Island, part of the Tristan da Cunha overseas territory in the South Atlantic. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events “This study shows how important it is to remove invasive mammals from islands to prevent further extinctions,” said Jonathan Hall, the RSPB’s head of UK Overseas Territories.