Conservationists leaped from boats onto sheer rock faces and braved “10,000 dive-bombing Sooty Terns” to achieve the first successful eradication of invasive rats on Teuaua Island, French Polynesia. This success paves the way for larger island restorations across the Marquesas Archipelago.

Pristine coastal wetland Peleliu Lkes has been treasured in local art and culture for centuries, and acts as a refuge for Endangered shorebirds such as the Far Eastern Curlew. However, the time-honoured bond between people and nature is threatened by the development of a nearby tourism resort.

Following a tireless campaign by BirdLife Australia, which gained support from around the world, the Australian Government has decided to reject an application for phosphate mining on Christmas Island, a crucial wildlife haven in the Indian Ocean.

Kayangel Atoll is set to become the first inhabited island in the Pacific nation of Palau to be cleared of rats. As well as a healthier ecosystem for fascinating Endangered birds, residents look forward to better livelihoods through increased crop yields.