About PRISMSS
The Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) is a coordinating mechanism designed to facilitate the scaling up of operational management of invasive species in the Pacific. The SPREP led PRISMSS brings together experts to provide support within the Pacific region with a focus on protection of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem function. As a service provider, PRISMSS provides a comprehensive suite of support services in a cohesive, effective, efficient, and accessible manner to Pacific Island countries and territories.
What is PRISMSS?
Since 2019 the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) provides Pacific Island countries and territories with access to the global expertise and resources they need to take action against invasive species and restore the resilience of island ecosystems. PRISMSS is a Centre of Excellence of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and involves world leading organiations such as BirdLife International, Bioeconomy Science Institute, Island Conservation, Earth Sciences New Zealand and the Pacific Community (SPC). This provides Pacific Island countries and territories with the specialist expertise and on-the-ground support needed to manage invasive species in an integrated and holistic way.
Pacific islanders, known for their self-reliance, depend heavily on their environment for food and protection from extreme weather. However, they also face common challenges from invasive species, economically, culturally, and in daily life. An alarming 45% of Pacific species face extinction risk, with the region experiencing some of the world's highest extinction rates. Invasive species pose the greatest threat to single-country endemic species in the Pacific. These invaders also significantly impact economies, trade, sustainable development, health, ecosystem services, and the resilience of ecosystems to natural disasters.
By weakening native ecosystems, Invasive species, such as rats, weeds and feral pigs are reducing the ability of Pacific Island countries to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. Without invasive species, healthy ecosystems provide Pacific Island communities with essential services such as food, clean water, and protection from extreme weather events. However, most Pacific Island countries and territories currently lack the capacity and resources needed to help their communities to manage and control priority invasive species.
PRISMSS has already helped Pacific Island countries and territories to mobilise over NZ50m in support of efforts to restore island ecosystems and biodiversity. PRISMSS is now helping several island nations to mobilize the funding needed to scale up the management of invasive species across entire ecosystems at a large landscape scale.
Restoring Island Resilience (RIR): The PRISMSS - Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) is a New Zealand-PRISMSS collaboration project that aims to improve Pacific Island Countries and territories livelihoods and resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems through the six PRISMSS programmes.
PRISMSS Powered by: New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade, United Kingdom International Development, Global Environment Fund, United Nations Environment Programme & SPREP
PRISMSS Partners: Bioeconomy Science Institute, Birdlife International, Earth Sciences New Zealand, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, the Pacific Community and SPREP.
PRISMSS Programmes: Protect Our Islands (POI), Protect Our Islands (POI), War On Weeds (WOWs), Natural Enemies Natural Solutions (NENS), Resilient Ecosystems Resilient Communities (RERC) and Protect Our Marine Areas (POMA)
