The National Trust has launched two anonymous surveys to collect input from the Sister Islands community on invasive species control methods on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
The community surveys, part of the Darwin Plus ‘Safeguarding Cayman’s Sister Islands from Invasive Species’ project, were developed to collect the community’s views and ideas about invasive species and to help build knowledge about biosecurity, said Alex Flores, the National Trust community engagement officer for the Sister Islands.
She said the surveys will also serve to inform and implement invasive species management within the islands.
“Invasive species present a number of risks to our delicate island ecosystems and native species through predation, competition for resources, the introduction of disease, as well as threats to our food security. So gaining an understanding of how the community feels about these threats and potential measures to help mitigate accidental importation of invasive species (biosecurity) is crucial to support effective and sustainable action,” she said via email in response to Cayman Compass queries.
The surveys, which run through mid-April, are anonymous and take around 10 minutes to complete.
“The anonymous data collected will provide insight into community perceptions to inform outreach and education initiatives and develop management strategies to help protect Cayman’s native wildlife and natural environment.
“We welcome responses from outside the Sister Islands as well, to understand Cayman Islands views broadly,” Flores said.
Plans are in the works to conduct in-person interviews to ensure a broad spectrum of the community’s viewpoints is captured, she added.
“We plan to host some in-person events at popular stores in March, and you can find us at the Cayman Brac National Trust Office on White Bay Road, West End,” she said.
The Darwin Plus invasive species project is a partnership between the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, Department of Environment, University of Aberdeen, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
For more information, visit the Sister Islands Biodiversity Project Facebook page.
To take part in the anonymous survey, click the link below for your island community or scan the barcode/QR code.
Little Cayman
Little Cayman Community Survey
Cayman Brac
Related Videos
