6. Sustaining the Project
What is the Sustaining the Project Stage?
The Sustaining the Project Stage is the on-going work required after the eradication operation has been completed. It involves continuing to implement the:- Biosecurity Plan
- Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
To minimise the chances of re-invasion the Biosecurity work that started in the Implementation Stage will continue. The Biosecurity plan will need to be kept in place permanently if re-invasion is to be avoided.
A surveillance plan will need to be put in place that monitors for the presence of invasive species on the island. If invasive species are discovered at the site this can either mean: the original eradication operation was not successful or there has been a post-operational incursion. Either way, the incursion response actions (detailed in the Biosecurity Plan) will need to be implemented.
As per the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, post-operation monitoring of the project outcomes will continue throughout the Sustaining the Project Stage.
Why Do It?
Eradicating the target species is only the start of an invasive species-free island. If the project is to be a long-term success you must ensure that:
- the target invasive species are not able to re-invade and re-establish a breeding colony, and
- new invasive species are not able to become established on the island.
In many cases, you will have one shot at eradication; funders may not be so enthusiastic to fund a second eradication project if the first fails – so it is vital to continue the effort after the eradication and prevent re-invasion or invasion by new invasive species.
The benefits of the Sustaining the Project Stage:
- Implementing the Biosecurity Plan is essential in ensuring that the target species or new invasive species do not invade the island.
- Surveillance and incursion response readiness will enable you to avoid any in invasive species, which do evade the prevention measures, from surviving on the island.
- Monitoring will provide the data to assess and demonstrate the success of the project.
When to Do?
The Sustaining the Project Stage work will start as soon as the Implementation Stage is completed. Implementing widespread prevention measures will have started in the Implementation Stage but will continue throughout the Sustaining the Project Stage and may need to be permanent.
Preparation for the surveillance and response parts of the Biosecurity Plan will have started during the Implementation Stage, so that the team is trained, prepared and ready at the start of the Sustaining the Project Stage.
Post-operation monitoring may have started as part of the Implementation Stage, if not it will start early in the Sustaining the Project Stage. The frequency and type of monitoring will vary from project to project and will have been planned in the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
Who Should Be Involved?
Project Manager: Overall responsibility for the project.
Project Team: Surveillance, incursion response and monitoring.
Stakeholders: Notified of progress.
Local/Island community: Adopt Biosecurity prevention measures, surveillance, report incursions, value the invasive free status of the island, and put pressure on other island users to keep the island invasive free.
Visitors: Adopt Biosecurity prevention measures.