Around 30,000 hectares of the Caribbean 'Moonscape' Island and its surrounding areas, including a 180 square-kilometer coral reef and seagrass meadows, has been granted as a protected area now known as the 'Redonda Ecosystem Reserve.' As a result of this new status, much of the wildlife that resides there and the surrounding environment will be protected with measures to support the island and the areas around it.
Previously, the island was home to plenty of invasive species, which have since been removed as part of the restoration efforts. Now, it is home to over 30 globally endangered and near-endangered species, seabird colonies, native trees, and native plants. Looking to the future, there are even plans to re-introduce some native species, including iguanas and burrowing owls back onto the island, where they will be better supported by the surrounding wildlife and new protection measures.
Currently, work is being done to restore and support the island's biodiversity, with some measures including an increase in biosecurity and closely monitoring the species that now reside there to ensure and promote a healthy and thriving population.
Johnella Bradshaw, the Redonda program coordinator, EAG, stated the following: “To date, the restoration of this precious landscape has been truly remarkable. So much hard work and dedication, from so many people, has gone into making the establishment of the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve possible – this designation will ensure we can continue rewilding the island to the beautiful, biodiverse environment it once was.”
Alongside this Caribbean island, other island ecosystems around the world are also being restored as part of the 2030 Island-Ocean Connection Challenge, including highly threatened coral reefs. Much of the measures being taken are similar to those of the Caribbean 'Moonscape' Island, with plans to restore a thriving ecosystem in each area.