The threat

The red imported fire ant (RIFA) or Solenopsis invicta is very likely the most serious impending threat to the Pacific islands’ species, ecosystems and livelihoods. A native of the Pantanal region of southern Brazil, it was inadvertently introduced to Alabama, USA during the early 1900s. It has since spread across the southern part of the USA, hitchhiking on a wide variety of imported goods and containers. It is now found in several countries surrounding the Pacific, namely China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and Malaysia. This proximity has dramatically increased the threat of a RIFA invasion into the Pacific island region. If RIFA becomes established on one island in the Pacific, it would provide a source for its spreading to other islands/countries.

RIFA is however just one of many invasive ant species of concern in the Pacific islands. A number of high impact species already plague some Pacific Island Countries and Territories, causing damage to their economies, environments and well being. For example, the little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) in Hawaii, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Tahiti and the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) in Tokelau, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.

Yellow crazy ants (Anoplopis gracilipes) feeding on a red land crab (P.Lester)

The response

In response to this threat, a collaborative, multi-agency effort led by the Invasive Species Specialist Group as part of the Pacific Invasives Initiative resulted in the development in 2003 of the Pacific Ant Prevention Plan. The goal of the Plan is to “Prevent red imported fire ants and other invasive ant species with economic, environmental and social impacts, entering and establishing in, or spreading between, or within, countries of the Pacific Region, thereby protecting economic, social and environmental interests in the area” .

The plan formed the foundation for the Pacific Ant Prevention Programme (PAPP). The ISSG was designated as the coordinating agency for the Plan with the proviso that once funding for implementing the PAPP became available, the coordination role would be passed on to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

The PAPP presents an unprecedented opportunity for agriculture and conservation interests to work together with international and bilateral aid entities at regional and country levels. This will enable them to build much needed quarantine capacity to give Pacific Island Countries and Territories the protection they desperately need to prevent and address ant invasions which jeopardise agriculture, biodiversity and livelihoods.

In March 2004, the plan was formally endorsed by all Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) representatives at the joint Regional Biosecurity, Plant Protection and Regional Animal Health meeting, organised by SPC. Member countries recommended that SPC, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the PICTs work together to prevent the entry of ant pests into and between countries in the Pacific.