Islands are hotbeds of biodiversity. But of all the extinctions that have taken place, 75% occurred on islands. “The greatest cause is human impact, and invasive species are a major piece of this,” says Wesley Jolley, a project manager at Island Conservation. Since 1994, the organisation has collaborated with communities and governments to humanely remove invasive species from 64 islands worldwide. This is crucial in the face of climate change. By restoring ecosystems, indigenous species will have a greater chance of survival. Islands also serve as places of refuge as sea levels rise. Species that are recovering thanks to the organisation’s efforts include the Pinzón Island giant tortoise in the Galápagos, Ricord’s iguana in the Dominican Republic, and the Humboldt penguin in Chile. Visit islandconservation.org/donate-now/ to support their efforts. Footage by Island Conservation was used in the creation of this film.
Up Next in Season 2
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Erin Smith
There’s no time to waste when it comes to ocean pollution. It’s estimated that 100 000 marine mammals and turtles are killed annually by plastic waste. And the cheap flip-flops we wear to the beach exacerbate this problem. They wash up on the shore, littering the sand with materials that can take...
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Neda DeMayo
Horses need herds. Throughout the ages, they’ve galloped around the globe in groups of up to 20 strong. But today, these close-knit families are barely intact. The number of wild horses roaming free in the United States of America has decreased by 98% in the last century. With their habitat decre...
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Damien Cole
Everything has a limit, even the ocean. With an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic streaming into the sea every year, this rich ecosystem is reaching its end. Born out of the conservation efforts of four Californian surfers in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation is now one of the largest non-pr...
