The California Islands Biosecurity Program

A collaboration to protect the unique species and natural resources of the California Islands, the California Islands Biosecurity Working Group is comprised of entities dedicated to conserving the natural and historic character of the islands.

Island plants and animals are especially vulnerable to extinction due to the physical boundaries, limited populations, and lack of genetic variability. The largest threat to island species is the introduction of nonnative, invasive species. The term, "invasive species" refers to plants and animals that originate elsewhere and are brought into a new area, where they negatively impact the native species or environment.

Over recent decades, these island managing agencies, organizations, and their partners have made substantial investments in the removal of ecologically harmful nonnative species, like feral pigs, sheep, Argentine ants, and weeds. To protect the conservation gains from those investments, it is critical to ensure that new species do not invade the islands.

Dedicated funding and resources are necessary to implement a comprehensive biosecurity program, which includes education of island users, prevention of new invasions, early detection of new incursions, and strategies for effective rapid response to arrest their spread.

Program Background (PDF)