Example Documents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BIOSECURITY PLAN

Biosecurity plans serve as a set of strategic, long-term guidelines for biosecurity programs and are an essential component of Island Protected Areas management. Biosecurity plans can take a variety of forms, but should outline the scope and define objectives of the biosecurity program, identify high-risk species, vectors, pathways, and locations, suggest actions to reduce the risks of new introductions and to quickly detect and respond to new invasions, compile monitoring and response protocols, checklists, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and codify strategic partnerships and roles. Involving partners and stakeholders early on in the development of biosecurity plans increases the likelihood of adoption, buy- in, and participation in the program by key players.

For additional context, biosecurity plans from San Nicolas Island and Auckland Island regions, are included

CA ISLANDS BIOSECURITY WORKING GROUP

It is not uncommon for Island Protected Areas to be co-managed by multiple entities and accessed by a variety of user groups; thus, collaboration among stakeholders is critical to the success of an island biosecurity program. In the California Islands, such collaboration has been greatly improved by the inauguration and ongoing activities of an interagency Biosecurity Working Group. The California Islands Biosecurity Working Group is composed of representatives from various management agencies, concessionaires, researcher groups, contracting companies, decision makers, and other stakeholders, who gather for quarterly meetings and annual conferences. The Biosecurity Working Group has fostered the alignment of biosecurity goals among agency, NGO and private stakeholders, and provides a means for regular communication on biosecurity threats, actions, and achievements. It also allows members to share best practices, lessons learned, and means of surmounting common roadblocks. The foundational document linked here outlines the goals of the working group, important responsible parties, succinct overviews of current biosecurity practices and communications strategies, and shared recommendations for improving island biosecurity. Unlike a biosecurity plan, this document describes a shared biosecurity ethos and may provide general guidance, but does not issue directives to collaborating island managers.

BIOSECURITY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

The Channel Islands Biosecurity Communication Plan was developed with input from biologists, communication experts, and staff from the main Channel Island stakeholders (National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Navy, and other island partners). Developing the plan in a collaborative manner was key to its successful implementation as it allowed for buy-in from all island partners. Further, the collaborative effort resulted in consensus on wording and thus alignment on messaging in outreach materials developed by the participating parties. The plan identifies communication objectives, audiences, strategies, timelines, key messages, and FAQs, and serves as a roadmap for the implementation of biosecurity outreach efforts for coming years.

The strategies and tables within the Channel Islands Biosecurity Communication Plan have also been useful in the development of grant proposals and staff work plans, which have resulted in a more effective program.

Creating audience-specific messaging helps ensure that the various stakeholders receive targeted information that pertains to their unique interests in and operations on Island Protected Areas. For example, the Channel Islands Biosecurity Communication Plan identified both internal (e.g., staff, volunteers, scientists) and external (e.g., visitors, concessioners, universities) audiences.

For additional context, examples of audience- specific communication tactics from the Santa Cruz Island Preserve are included. Audience groups are determined based on their interactions with the Island Protected Areas and their background knowledge on the subject of biosecurity. Specific groups include staff, scientists, school groups, tourists, and recreational boaters

EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH MATERIALS

This checklist is for all persons traveling to the Channel Islands via the National Park Service boats to ensure their persons and gear comply with all biosecurity guidelines and are free of potential invasive species. The checklist includes actions to take for personal items, cargo, and research equipment before individuals embark on their journey.

This document is emailed to all persons who receive a landing permit from The Nature Conservancy allowing them to land on the organization’s Santa Cruz Island Preserve from personal watercraft. It reminds them to have a clean vessel and equipment and to check for stowaways before landing on the SCI Preserve.

Microbes and viruses, especially those that cause plant and animal diseases, can be among the most destructive invasive species. For example, Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) is fungal pathogen which kills the important endemic 'ōhi'a lehua tree (Metrosideros polymorpha) in Hawai’i. The ROD materials were produced by the University of Hawaii and several state and federal agencies to help educate local stakeholders on the threats this pathogen poses to Hawai’ian forests, actions individuals should take to help reduce its spread, and printable activities for school groups.

This sign was developed for the Channel Islands National Park staff. Staff travel from the mainland to the islands, between islands, and to remote parts of the islands making it especially important that staff take steps to minimize the risk that they carry invasive species.

This biosecurity sticker was created to be shared with Channel Islands visitors and stakeholders. It is a fun way to draw attention to the importance of biosecurity and provides easy access to additional information and educational resources via a QR code.

This video provides simple steps that visitors can follow before they depart the mainland to protect the vulnerable island species.