The Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) was chosen by the Equator Initiative’s Technical Advisory Committee as one of the 25 outstanding winners of the Equator Prize 2008. According to UNDP, “the level of competition for the prize was extremely high and the depth of nominations received was truly impressive. Among this year’s remarkable entries, you provided us with a strong demonstration of the inventiveness of community-based work currently being undertaken in the tropics, often against tremendous odds”.
As a winner, our initiative received a $5,000 USD award and a Certificate of Achievement which was presented at the Equator Prize Award Ceremony in Barcelona,Spain, on October 6th, 2008. The ceremony was part of the Equator Initiative’s participation in the IUCN World Conservation Congress taking place in Barcelona, from October 6-10th. In addition to the dinner, CSP had an opportunity to actively participate and contribute to the Community Poble, a community dialogue space that hosted peer exchanges, community presentations, and special events related to biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction.
In early March, Mr. Steve Perlman from the National Tropical Botanical Garden located an invasive species know by the scientific name as Clidemia hirta or by the common name as Koster’s curse. The plant was first found near the COMCollege in Palikir and later in the surroundings of Kitti and in the mountains.
This plant is reported to be present in Hawaii, Palau and some South Pacific Island countries. It is highly invasive to natural vegetation and rainforest. This shrub is usually found in the forest understrory. It is reported (Smith Undated) that the impact of this weed on native species and ecosystems is devastating and the rate at which it spreads throughout the islands is alarming. It is highly invasive in mountain rain forest and cloud forest of Fiji, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna and Hawaii Islands.
Since the weed has already spread to a wide area in Kitti it is believed that the plant has been present for several years. CSP has produced a leaflet and has done some spraying. People have been advised to destroy the plant by uprooting it.
The second new invasive weed species belongs to the cucumber family and is known by the scientific name of Thunbergia grandifora or by the common name of Bengal trumpet.
This species was found and identified by Dr. David Lawrence, Director of Science, National Tropical Garden in Hawaii. At this stage the species has been found in three locations in Kolonia. The CSP team has killed the plant with an herbicide spray. This species is native to India, it is present in Australia, Hawaii Florida, Fiji Palau and several other Islands countries.
The impact of the plant is highly invasive to native vegetation and rain forest. It is an aggressive climber and is difficult to control once established due to large underground tuberous roots . The plant climbs and blankets native vegetation, killing mature trees.
The third species was discovered by Mr. Konrad Englberger who is presently helping CSP on invasive species control. This shade tolerant species is covering a large area in Kolonia at the Botanical Garden. According to the observations this species grows very well in forest under story it competes with forest trees and other native forest plants. It was also found in two other places in Kolonia.
The scientific name of the plant is Piper lolat. It is native to Indonesia, and is present in Hawaii, India, Vietnam and the Middle East. In some countries it is used for medicine against snake bites. A team from CSP has sprayed this Piper species and is trying to eradicate it. If it is only present at the three places it should be possible to eradicate this plant.
If you find any of these plants please report in to the Conservation Society of Pohnpei 320-5409. (pictures by Konrad Englberger)
Clidemia herta or Koster’s Curse
Thunbergia grandifora or Bengal Trumpet
Piper lolot or Lolot Pepper
Conservation Society of Pohnpei © 2009
