Invasive alien species (IAS) are a significant threat to ecosystems worldwide, in par-ticular island ecosystems where ecological resilience is limited. Spatially explicit and locally informed strategies are crucial on small islands to effectively manage IAS. The present study uses an integrated approach to map and manage IAS on Rodrigues Is-land, Mauritius, using a combination of field surveys, participatory mapping and spa-tial analysis tools. Field data was collected in four sites of Rodrigues, namely Cascade Pigeon, Cascade St Louis, Mourouk Valley and Golden Bat Reserve supported by par-ticipatory mapping and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) of ArcGIS. Key invasion hotspots were identified, particularly in previously disturbed areas, where species such as Furcraea foetida, Leucaena leucocephala and Millettia pinnata co-occur. Grassland zones showed minimal invasion, potentially acting as buffer zones for conservation. The PGIS approach emphasized the importance of combining spatial tools with stake-holder input to inform site-based IAS management and highlight the need for adaptive monitoring strategies that take into consideration dynamic invasion trajectories. These findings provide a replicable framework for IAS management in other island envi-ronments facing similar ecological challenges while contributing to national and in-ternational biodiversity conservation efforts, including Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land.
Reshma Sunkur (Fri,) studied this question.
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