- By Gemma Handy
- St John’s, Antigua
Image source, Mike Appleton, Rewild
Seabirds now flock to the newly verdant isle
The incredible eco-restoration of one tiny Caribbean island – transformed from desolate rock to verdant wildlife haven in just a few years – has captured the imagination of environmentalists worldwide.
Now the tenacious Antiguans and Barbudans who led the metamorphosis of the country’s little known third isle of Redonda are celebrating another impressive feat.
The mile-long spot has been officially designated a protected area by the country’s government, ensuring its status as a pivotal nesting site for migrating birds and a home for species found nowhere else on Earth is preserved for posterity.
The Redonda Ecosystem Reserve, which also encompasses surrounding seagrass meadows and a coral reef, spans a colossal 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres).
Its sheer size means the country has already met its “30×30” target, a global goal to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030.
Today, Redonda is bursting with biodiversity including dozens of threatened species, globally important seabird colonies, and endemic lizards.
Image source, Edward Marshall, FFI
The number of ground dragons has rebounded as the enivironment recovered
It did not always look like this. Invasive black rats that preyed on reptiles and ate birds’ eggs, along with goats introduced by early colonists that devastated Redonda’s vegetation, had left the island…
