Redonda, a small island in the Caribbean belonging to Antigua and Barbuda, was transformed from a barren rock to a wildlife haven in just a few years. This month, it was designated as a new protected area -- the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve -- covering 30,000 hectares of land and sea.
Redonda, a small island in the Caribbean belonging to Antigua and Barbuda, was transformed from a barren rock to a wildlife haven in just a few years. This month, it was designated as a new protected area -- the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve -- covering 30,000 hectares of land and sea.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora
Early records of the island, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, describe it as a wild, green place, home to flocks of seabirds. But in the 19th century, it became the center of the guano trade, as humans mined bird excrement to sell as fertilizer. With the people came rats and goats which destroyed the island's native habitat.
Early records of the island, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, describe it as a wild, green place, home to flocks of seabirds. But in the 19th century, it became the center of the guano trade, as humans mined bird excrement to sell as fertilizer. With the people came rats and goats which destroyed the island's native habitat.
Adam Long/British Mountaineering
In 2016, environmental groups launched an effort to eradicate invasive species from the island (pictured here before restoration). An estimated 6,000 rats and 60 goats were living there, although with the lack of vegetation, some of the goats had also starved to death -- their corpses littered across the island.
In 2016, environmental groups launched an effort to eradicate invasive species from the island (pictured here before restoration). An estimated 6,000 rats and 60 goats were living there, although with the lack of vegetation, some of the goats had also starved to death -- their corpses littered across the island.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora
Two years later, the island was officially declared rat free, and the effect has been extraordinary. According to researchers, vegetation biomass has increased by more than 2,000% and 15 species of land birds have returned.
Two years later, the island was officially declared rat free, and the effect has been extraordinary. According to researchers, vegetation biomass has increased by more than 2,000% and 15 species of land birds have returned.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora
These include breeding colonies of magnificent frigatebirds (pictured here with a chick) and several booby species. In fact, according to the Environmental Awareness Group, the NGO leading the project, 1% of the world's brown boobies now breed on Redonda.
These include breeding colonies of magnificent frigatebirds (pictured here with a chick) and several booby species. In fact, according to the Environmental Awareness Group, the NGO leading the project, 1% of the world's brown boobies now breed on Redonda.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora
Without their rat predators, the island's endemic lizards have also bounced back. Populations of the critically endangered Redonda ground dragon (pictured) have increased 13-fold since 2017, according to researchers.
Without their rat predators, the island's endemic lizards have also bounced back. Populations of the critically endangered Redonda ground dragon (pictured) have increased 13-fold since 2017, according to researchers.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora
The island's restoration has also had a positive effect on the marine environment. The lack of vegetation due to invasive species had led to severe soil erosion, with rocks from the landmass crumbling into the sea and polluting the ecosystem.
The island's restoration has also had a positive effect on the marine environment. The lack of vegetation due to invasive species had led to severe soil erosion, with rocks from the landmass crumbling into the sea and polluting the ecosystem.
Olivier Raynaud
Restoration work is still ongoing, but conservation groups hope to at some point reintroduce native species that cannot find their own way back to the island, such as iguanas and burrowing owls.
Restoration work is still ongoing, but conservation groups hope to at some point reintroduce native species that cannot find their own way back to the island, such as iguanas and burrowing owls.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora
Environmentalists hope that Redonda will act as a "shining light," encouraging other nations to replicate the model elsewhere and let biodiversity bounce back.
Environmentalists hope that Redonda will act as a "shining light," encouraging other nations to replicate the model elsewhere and let biodiversity bounce back.
Ed Marshall / Fauna & Flora