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1: MARINE AWARENESS - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.01.2012

Our underwater world is very precious, which means we need to take care of it and treat it with respect.

2: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.01.2012

We would like to start by thanking the 1AMW Team (see pic) from the RAF and Drew Avery for help with clearing Long Beach of invasive vegetation over the Christmas period.

3: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.01.2012

I arrived on Ascension in late December, since my arrival I been working with the Ascension Island Government Conservation team, predominately accompanying them on seabird monitoring and turtle monitoring work.

4: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.01.2012

The AIG Conservation Team would like to thank all our clients for your valuable support during 2011.

5: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.12.2011

This past week, we have had visitors from RSPB from the UK, Liz Mackley, Ian Fisher and Richard Hesketh.

6: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.12.2011

As many people know, Ascension Island hosts one of the world’s largest nesting populations of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and is one of 32 indicator sites used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

7: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.12.2011

Every year between the periods of the November to July male and female green turtles (Chelonia Mydas) make their way from Brazil to our tiny island in the South Atlantic Ocean,

8: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.11.2011

I am from the east coast of the UK and have studied plant conservation for several years, achieving a BSc in Plant Biology and an MSc in Botanical Conservation.

9: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.11.2011

We would like to welcome Liza White to the Conservation Team, she joined us last week as the new Field Project Officer on the OTEP funded project.

10: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.11.2011

The Shell Ginger, Alpinia speciosa syn Aphinia zerumbet syn Alphionia nutans, was introduced to Ascension in the earlier years to help prevent soil erosion of the mountain.

11: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.11.2011

We would like to say thank you and good bye to Kayshai Reynolds, who has been with us for a few month training along side our team.

12: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.10.2011

The Conservation Team has been constructing a fence at the restoration area, made of galvanized metal.

13: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 13.10.2011

The Green Mountain tunnel was built in 1832 to help to carry water pipes from the Breakneck Valley Well to the farm area which is now a part of the Green Mountain National Park.

14: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.10.2011

The Conservation boys do the detailed monitoring of the bird population on Ascension Island.

15: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.10.2011

Kayshai Reynolds is a Youth Trainee who has been working with us for the past few months.

16: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.09.2011

The Anogramma ascensionis is from the Pteridaceae family and was thought to be extinct according to the Ashmoles.

17: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.09.2011

This relatively small grey locust has a wide distribution that includes Africa and many remote islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans

18: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 08.09.2011

On their final week of the summer holiday we took the Explorers to Bullock Ponds to look at the plant life and wildlife around the area and to learn about the letterbox.

19: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.09.2011

Ascension Explorers and Farewell from Olivia

20: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.08.2011

Last week we took the Explorers to the old Two Boats Gardens, where they were shown the endemic and indigenous plants of our beautiful island.

21: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.08.2011

Last week was our last trip out with the New Horizons.

22: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.08.2011

Last week we were busy with the New Horizons and we started our annual Ascension Explorers summer activities.

23: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.08.2011

The New Horizons have been joining us on various activities over the past few weeks.

24: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.07.2011

Two Boats School Primary came to visit us to talk about the environment as part of their activity weeks.

25: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.07.2011

These flowers are in full bloom again all over the Island. The Yellow Boy is native to Central and South America.

26: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.07.2011

Over past few weeks we have been busy carrying out our annual plant census in all the endemic plant wild populations around the Island.

27: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 30.06.2011

The castor oil plant was introduced and was well established in the early 1880s.

28: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 23.06.2011

This week we follow on from last week’s article about the banana plantations at the Green Mountain National Park.

29: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.06.2011

This week we continue with our information on trees which grow here on Ascension.

30: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 09.06.2011

This week we continue with our information on trees which grow here on Ascension.

31: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.06.2011

Bermuda Cedar Juniperus bermudiana

32: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.05.2011

This year the United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

33: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.05.2011

Everyone is talking about how much rain we have had over the past couple of weeks and the damage it had caused.

34: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.05.2011

Game birds were introduced to the island to help with the control of insects, and also for human consumption.

35: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.05.2011

We have had a busy couple of weeks helping out with island tours for the MS Plancius and also the RMS St Helena,

36: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.04.2011

The land crab Gecarcinus lagostoma, an omnivorous terrestrial crab that lives in burrows in most parts of the island but which has to return to the sea to breed.

37: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.04.2011

The AOS have been studying Ascension’s seabirds for over twenty years, in particular the sooty terns (Wideawake).

38: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.04.2011

Liz Mackley, a senior research assistant for the RSPB, will be leaving Ascension this weekend after 2 months working on our Seabird Restoration Project.

39: Ascension Island Conservation - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.03.2011

Report from Frithjof C. Küpper, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban

40: Update On Fish Kills on Ascension - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.03.2011

The first fish kills on Ascension were initially reported to Tara Pelembe, who now works for JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee).

41: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.03.2011

Sooty Terns which are also known as Wideawakes, breed on Ascension about every 9 to 10 months.

42: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.03.2011

The turtle nesting season is about to reach its peak and over the next couple of weeks we will be working with Jacqui Ellick monitoring all beaches around the coast of Ascension.

43: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.03.2011

Year 9 pupils from Two Boats School visited the endemic plant nursery on Green Mountain last week with their teacher Mrs Wade.

44: Masked boobies at Letterbox - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.02.2011

The masked boobies have now returned to nest out at Letterbox.

45: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.02.2011

Last week Liz Mackley from the RSPB joined our team.

46: Fish kills - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.02.2011

Over the last few weeks we have been recording high numbers of dead fish washing up onto the beaches around the Island.

47: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.02.2011

Last week Dr Frithjof Kuepper from the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, Scotland, visited Ascension on his way back to the UK from the Falklands.

48: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.02.2011

Last week we had a visit from Professor Jeffrey G Duckett from the Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, London.

49: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.02.2011

Last week the Middle 2 class from Two Boats School visited the Conservation centre.

50: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 27.01.2011

I was given the opportunity to take part in some GIS (Geographical Information Systems) training on St Helena with Mr Len Coleman, GIS Manager and Mr Murray Henry, GIS Technician at the Legal and Lands Office in Jamestown.

51: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 27.01.2011

This is a small, delicately-built, pure white seabird with a finely-pointed black bill and rings of black feather around the eyes, giving a large-eyed appearance.

52: Green Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.01.2011

You can find out about the Green Turtles of Ascension Island on a guided tour run by Ascension Island Turtle Group.

53: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 30.12.2010

Ascension Island has the second largest nesting population of the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

54: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.12.2010

Thank you to the RAF Movements team for their continued voluntary work clearing paths in the Green Mountain National Park

55: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 09.12.2010

The feral donkeys on Ascension are vectors of seeds from invasive plant species. Most importantly, they feed on pods of the invasive Mexican Thorn,

56: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.12.2010

This is another update from the RSPB Seabird Restoration team.

57: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.11.2010

The native ecosystems present at the time of human arrival on Ascension were still at a relatively early stage of development and of little use to the human colonists.

58: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.11.2010

The Green Mountain National Park Education and Visitors Centre project came to an end in May this year.

59: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.11.2010

On Sunday 31st October we held the annual beach clean up. This event was undertaken in cooperation with personnel from the USAF and RAF bases.

60: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.11.2010

Over the past few weeks we have received training with the Conservation over and under 12 bore shot gun.

61: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.10.2010

Humpback whales have been sighted off Pan Am Beach and English Bay. Regular reports have been received of a female and calf, swimming quite close to the shore.

62: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.10.2010

At Letterbox this year, we have had 503 Masked Boobie nest attempts so far

63: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.10.2010

This species is a tall but spindly shrub, native to Bolivia and Argentina, which sometimes reaches a tree-like height of six feet or more.

64: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.10.2010

This relatively small grey locust has a wide distribution that includes Africa and many remote islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

65: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 23.09.2010

Palmer’s – Experimental Farm

66: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.09.2010

On an Island the size of Ascension, it is impossible to suggest that the influx of 18 Royal Marines might have gone un-noticed.

67: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 09.09.2010

Cross Hill was one of the first land features to be given a name

68: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.09.2010

As a wildlife biologist with a particular interest in the ecology and management of rats, I have been involved in many interesting and worthwhile projects over the last 15 years.

69: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.09.2010

Professor David Gill visited Ascension in 1877 to observe the September opposition of Mars as part of measurements being made to determine the exact distance between earth and the sun.

70: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.08.2010

Last week the children were taken to the Devil’s Riding School to look at some of Ascension’s Geology.

71: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.08.2010

Last week Clare Stringer from the RSPB visited the Island. Clare is the overseas coordinator of our Seabird Restoration Project and was interested in the status of the various nesting grounds this year.

72: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.08.2010

The Ascension Frigate bird is unique, breeding only on Ascension Island. It once occurred in huge numbers on the main island

73: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.08.2010

The Explorers will be starting on Wednesday morning this week (4th). Please meet at the Conservation Office or Two Boats School at 0930. This week we will be going up to the Dew Pond.

74: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.07.2010

We would like to say thank you and farewell to Catherine Hiorns, Soo Matthews, Helen Tobin and their families.

75: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.07.2010

In the Letterbox areas we now have in the region of 325 Masked Boobie nests, mainly upon Mandela ridge.

76: My Visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew By Natasha Williams - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.06.2010

During the period of 7th June to 11th June, I visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London along with Conservation Officer Stedson Stroud and Horticultural Project Officer Matti Niissalo.

77: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.06.2010

We would like to thank the RAF Movements team for their help clearing the Green Mountain paths. Thanks also to Steve Roulston for volunteering with us during the last month.

78: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 27.05.2010

This is plant is considered an endemic species, though it has sometimes been treated as a form of X.trichomaniodes,

79: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.05.2010

It was another successful afternoon at the annual Ascension Day Fair.

80: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 13.05.2010

Recent funding for conservation work in the South Atlantic region has included:

81: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.05.2010

Approximately 75 participants from 18 countries and territories and 26 national, regional and international organisations attended the workshop

82: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 29.04.2010

When I first arrived off the plane I was struck by how baron and empty the island appeared.

83: My time with the Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.04.2010

We would like to say a big thank you to Dave Ayres for volunteering with the Conservation Department, doing various tasks such a Turtle Monitoring, Clearing Mexican Thorn, etc. We wish you all best.

84: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.04.2010

Only two weeks left of my part in the Conservation Department’s Endemic Plants Project and new findings are still being made. Xiphopteris ascensionensis,

85: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.04.2010

My part in the Endemic Plants Project is in its last few weeks. While new plants are growing in the nurseries and space is limited, it became apparent that the two shade tunnels with new shading will need to be protected from rabbits so plants can be placed in their floors.

86: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.03.2010

Ascension Island Consevation Department - Thank you and farewell to Raymond Benjamin.

87: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.03.2010

The Ascension Island Conservation Department, in partnership with the RSPB began a Seabird Restoration Project in 2001.

88: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.03.2010

Green Mountain path clearing

89: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.03.2010

This pass week, Staff has been busy with Conservation Projects, working with the Endemic Plants and on the re-introduction sites, Seabird Fieldworkers have been monitoring the seabirds, there are records of the Brown Noddys starting back on the nest sites at Stack 8 Area.

90: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.02.2010

For the endemic plants project, last week was marked by much anticipated visit by botanist Dr. Alan Gray from the Centre of Ecology & Hydrology in Edinburgh.

91: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.02.2010

We would like to thank Len Coleman, the GIS specialist from St Helena for his help over the last three weeks. Len has been training staff on the use of GIS and AEIOU (Ascension Environmental Information Operations Utility).

92: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.02.2010

Green Turtle Nesting Season is December – July. You can find out about the Green Turtles of Ascension Island on a guided tour run by Ascension Island Government Conservation Staff.

93: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.02.2010

We would like to thank the RAF Movements Section for their hard work clearing paths in the Green Mountain National Park. Their help has been much appreciated.

94: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.02.2010

A few weeks ago when I arrived on Ascension I wrote that this was an island that revealed itself slowly. Five weeks on, that seems truer than ever.

95: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.01.2010

Ascension Island is a globally important nesting site of the endangered Green Turtle.

96: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.01.2010

Please see the amended Turtle Tour advertisement. Tours will now start at 8.30pm at the Conservation Centre.

97: Ascension Island Government Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.01.2010

Ascension is an island which reveals itself slowly. Arriving as a volunteer for the Conservation Department, its initial impact can be daunting.

98: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.01.2010

Green Turtles on Ascension Island Green turtle harvesting

99: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.01.2010

The last weeks leading to Christmas have been very busy in the Conservation Department, particularly work involving the endemic plants project. One of the main priorities has been to finish the Island-wide endemic plant census before the end of the year.

100: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.01.2010

Green Turtle Nesting Season is December – July. You can find out about the Green Turtles of Ascension Island on a guided tour run by Ascension Island Government Conservation Staff.

101: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.12.2009

We would like to say thanks to David Sismey, who left the island last week. Dave has been a great volunteer, started at the beginning of the year, helping with the Turtle Project, we wish him well on his future endeavours.

102: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.12.2009

The Ascension Frigate bird is unique.

103: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.12.2009

My time on this beautiful island is coming to an end, but during the 10 weeks I have spent here, many interesting things happened.

104: Conservation Annual Beach Clean-Up 2009 - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.11.2009

Thank you to: The RAF, SERCO, CSR, USAF, AIG and all volunteers.

105: Invasive Species Management Course 2009. - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.11.2009

From the 18th October to 24th October, together with the Environmental Health Officer, Kevin Williams, I attended an Invasive Species Management course in Jersey.

106: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.11.2009

Data, DNA and “lab” work

107: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.11.2009

We would like to say a BIG thank you and farewell to Ian Simpson from the Met Office, Ian has been volunteering with us since the beginning of March 2009,

108: Conservation News - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.11.2009

The Ascension Island Conservation Department are working in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew on an OTEP funded Endemic Plants project.

109: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.11.2009

Horticulture on Ascension - Last week Olivia Renshaw gave an update on the Endemic Plant Project.

110: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.10.2009

The Army Ornithological Society (AOS) have just completed their seabird expedition to Ascension.

111: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.10.2009

The Conservation Department is organising an Island-wide beach clean-up for Sunday 22nd November from 10 am to noon.

112: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.10.2009

The first of October, a hot day – if “wintery” in Ascension standards – saw me arriving to this unique island.

113: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 08.10.2009

Saving Ascension’s endemic plants from extinction

114: My First Week as a Conservation Volunteer - By Helen Wilkinson - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.10.2009

I’ve been here a week now, and I’d like to say a massive thank you to the Ascension Island community; particularly the Conservation department, VT, and Phyliss ‘my Ascension Island mom’ for making me so welcome.

115: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.10.2009

We would like to welcome Susana Saavedra, she’s here working under the Invasive Species Project.

116: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.09.2009

Saving Ascension’s endemic plants from extinction - These are two of the Ascension’s six endemic plants. All six are all currently on the IUCN Red List of threatened plant species.

117: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.09.2009

The Ascension Island Conservation Department are working in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew on an OTEP funded Endemic Plants project.

118: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.09.2009

Conservation News...

119: Ascension Island Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.08.2009

Planting at the Restoration Site on Green Mountain and new shade houses

120: Ascension Conservation Department - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.08.2009

The annual island-wide plant census commenced on Monday 27th 2009, starting with a count of the Sporobolus, Asplenium and Xiphopteris growing on the south side of Green Mountain.

121: Conservation Weekly - Contributed by Olivia Renshaw - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.07.2009

I arrived on Ascension Island at the end of April to start a one year contract working for AIG Conservation as a horticulturalist.

122: Conservation Weekly - Hawksbill Turtle - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.06.2009

This is a small turtle with a beautiful shell (the original tortoise shell), which merges with the environment.

123: Conservation Weekly-contributed by Phil Lambdon - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.06.2009

Following on from the invasive species conference which was held on Ascension this month, it seems appropriate that one very topical issue has caught the attention of the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project team recently.

124: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.06.2009

This is a chunky, powerful bird, 48cm long (about 100cm including the central tail feathers) and with wingspan 105cm.

125: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.05.2009

It has been a busy week with the Conservation Department, visitors from all over, St Helena, UK, Falklands, South Georgia etc,

126: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.05.2009

Sooty Terns which are known as Wideawakes, they come to Ascension during their nesting cycle that’s about 9.6 months

127: Breaking News - Conservation - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.05.2009

The Ascension Island Conservation Department is please to announce that it’s bid for OTEP funds to finance a visitor’s education center at the Red Lion has been approved in principle and subject to the acceptance and signing of a detailed MOU.

128: Turtle Tracks- May 11th 2009 - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.05.2009

We have just completed a short visit to the Island after an absence of 2 (Brendan) and 11 (Susanne) years, respectively and thought readers of the Islander both near and far would be interested in reading about some aspects of our visit.

129: International Conference held on Ascension Island - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.05.2009

Biodiversity and the Threat of Invasive Alien Species on Fragile Island Ecosystems

130: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.05.2009

This species has a distinctive yellow tail that attracts a lot of attention. It is a small fish with a very dark body which occasionally flashes a brilliant royal blue if closer to the surface.

131: Conservation Weekly - Fairy Terns - Ascension (Conservation) - 30.04.2009

This is a small, delicately-built pure white, seabird with a finely-pointed black bill and rings of black feather around the eyes, giving a large-eyed appearance. Juveniles are creamier in colour and have dull brown edges to the feathers of the upper-parts.

132: CONSERVATION WEEKLY - Sodom Apple (Solanum sodomaeum) - Ascension (Conservation) - 23.04.2009

Solanum sodomaeum was first recorded by Bell in 1859 as growing in Breakneck Ravine.

133: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.04.2009

It’s been another few busy weeks with Conservation. We have had a visit from HRH Princess Anne, where she was taken on a Turtle Tour, Friday 3rd April, during her stop over on Ascension that evening.

134: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 09.04.2009

It has been another few busy weeks we have had several different visitors from overseas.

135: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.03.2009

Mirabilis jalapa is native to tropical America. This bushy perennial herb has tuberous roots and is known as ‘Four o’clock’

136: Oleanders - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.03.2009

This is a large tropical family of tall rain forest trees, smaller trees and shrubs, lianas, and a few temperate plants such as Vinca.

137: Conservation- weekly newsThe Land Crab (Gecarcinus lagostoma) and the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.03.2009

It is the start of the migration season for the Land Crabs from Green Mountain to take their yearly journey down to the Beaches around Ascension Island to distributed there eggs into the sea.

138: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.02.2009

Conservation has had a very busy week. Many tours to see the Green Mountain National Park, and the Wideawakes at Mars Bay.

139: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.02.2009

Green Turtle Nesting Season is December – July.

140: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.02.2009

Green Turtle Nesting Season is December – July. You can find out about the Green Turtles of Ascension Island

141: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.02.2009

Volunteers on Ascension have been busy helping out with Conservation. They all are doing a terrific job.

142: Conservation Weekly - Endemic Shrimps of Ascension - Ascension (Conservation) - 29.01.2009

There are 74 species of crustaceans known around Ascension, of which 14 are endemic.

143: Conservation Weekly – Contributed by Gillian, Des and Sue, RSPB Volunteers - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.01.2009

Sitting on the runway at Brize Norton in the UK in freezing temperatures could in no way prepare us for the amazing sights and sounds of Ascension Island

144: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.01.2009

This past week and onto this week also, Conservation saw the arrival of visitors from RSPB, who’s on their Sabbatical.

145: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 08.01.2009

Green Turtle Nesting Season is December – July.

146: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.12.2008

Last week the Conservation Department had visitor Dr Nikki Chapman, who works for Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), she has recently been appointed the Overseas Territories fund raising officer for the JNCC’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Programme.

147: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.12.2008

Last week the Conservation Department were very busy with passing visitors and tours.

148: CONSERVATION WEEKLY - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.12.2008

This week the Conservation Department bids farewell to Phil Lambdon, Botanist from Kew, who has been here working under the Invasive Species Project doing a plant survey around Ascension.

149: Conservation Weekly - SITE VISITS WITH THE COUNCILLORS - Ascension (Conservation) - 27.11.2008

On Thursday, members of the Island Council took time out of their busy schedules to meet with the Conservation Department for a presentation and site visits to the sooty tern colony and Green Mountain.

150: Conservation Weekly - Visitors - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.11.2008

The Conservation Department has had a busy time lately with several visiting researchers to the island.

151: Conservation Weekly - Beach Cleanup - Ascension (Conservation) - 13.11.2008

The 2008 Annual Island Wide Beach Cleanup was a success.

152: Conservation Weekly - Mexican Poppy, Mexican Thistle Argemone mexicana - Ascension (Conservation) - 30.10.2008

This species originated in Mexico and has become something of a troublesome, though attractive, weed in many tropical parts of the world.

153: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 23.10.2008

It was noticed that some Green Turtles tracks were on Long beach last week, it’s a little early for these amazing creatures but not unusual, and December will see the beginning of their breeding season.

154: Ancient Goat Fossils found on Ascension Island. - Ascension (Conservation) - 09.10.2008

While working in the field on Tuesday the 16th of September, Assistant Conservation Officer Stedson Stroud, volunteer Mrs Elizabeth Hill and I were out observing and counting endemic plants for the conservation department’s yearly plant census.

155: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.10.2008

This past month saw many visitors to our Conservation Office.

156: ASCENSION’S GRASSES (PART THREE): By Phil Lambdon - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.09.2008

Blue grass (N. American name), cerrillo (Spanish name), common thatching grass (S. African name), coolati grass (Australian name)

157: Conservation Weekly - ASCENSION’S GRASSES (PART TWO): - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.09.2008

A very widespread species throughout the tropics, occurring in North and South America, southern Europe, Africa and Asia as far as China.

158: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.09.2008

In recent months heavy rains have encouraged the growth of grasses on Ascension.

159: Conservation Weekly - Explorers Climb Cross Hill - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.08.2008

Last week the Ascension Explorers visited Cross Hill and the guns.

160: Conservation Weekly - EXPLORERS VISIT DEVIL’S RIDING SCHOOL - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.08.2008

It’s time again for the Ascension Explorers! This yearly series of activities gives Ascension’s children insight into the wildlife and habitats of the island.

161: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.08.2008

Phil Lambdon and Andrew Darlow from the EU Invasive Species Project have returned to Ascension to complete a survey of plants on the island.

162: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 31.07.2008

A few days ago, an especially hard-working and congenial group of volunteers led by Simon Croson from the RAF, came out to help the Conservation Department.

163: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.07.2008

WATCH OUT… Due to all of the recent rain, there have been a lot of land crabs on the roads lately.

164: Conservation Weekly - HYDROPONICS SITE: 14 MONTHS AND COUNTING… - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.07.2008

In May 2007, the AIG Conservation Department first started work clearing Mexican thorn from the old hydroponics site.

165: Conservation Weekly - MASKED BOOBY - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.07.2008

If you are walking near Hummock Point, keep on the lookout for this bird. The masked booby above has a nest with a new chick located close to the path.

166: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.06.2008

More than 50 land crabs have been tagged on Ascension. What does a tagged crab look like?

167: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.06.2008

The Conservation Department is continuing work on land crabs on the island.

168: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.06.2008

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY IS JUNE 5! Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are necessary for life on this planet.

169: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 29.05.2008

Sam Weber has been very busy this summer studying temperature in relation to sea turtle hatchling success.

170: Conservation Weekly - TURTLES HATCH AT THE CONSERVATION CENTRE - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.05.2008

Hi. Here’s just a quick update on some of the work that is going on at the Conservation Centre. This year, in association with the Conservation team, I am doing some research to understand why some clutches of turtle eggs hatch very successfully while in others most of the eggs die.

171: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.05.2008

At the end of April, a very strange looking sea bird was spotted at Hummock Point.

172: Museum Mystery - Ascension (Conservation) - 08.05.2008

The Heritage Society is trying to locate this rock! It was carved by the men of the 898th Regiment around 1947.

173: The Dewpond - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.04.2008

The Dewpond was constructed on the summit of Green Mountain in 1875, before the bamboos were planted which was nearing the end of the 19th century.

174: Conservation Weekly - Respect for our wildlife… - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.04.2008

Last week, the Conservation Dept. received a rather disturbing report of misconduct on Long Beach.

175: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.04.2008

CAT REGISTRATION UPDATE - Has your cat been registered?

176: Conservation Weekly - OTEP Funding for Conservation - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.04.2008

The Conservation Department learned a couple of weeks ago that our OTEP (Overseas Territories Environmental Programme) bid to support Ascension plant work was successful.

177: Conservation Weekly - Ascension’s first crabs - Ascension (Conservation) - 27.03.2008

You may remember the Conservation Weekly article a few weeks ago that mentioned Ascension’s land crabs.

178: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.03.2008

The Army Ornithological Society (AOS) mounted their 14th expedition to Ascension from 7-20 Feb 2008.

179: Rabbits - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.03.2008

As many of you may be aware, Elizabeth Bell and Dave Boyle (WMIL) are visiting Ascension until April 6 to undertake rabbit monitoring and survey work for AIG under the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project.

180: Conservation Weekly - Land crabs visit North East Bay - Ascension (Conservation) - 13.03.2008

Last week more than 600 land crabs descended onto North East Bay to mate and lay their eggs.

181: Conservation Weekly - Ascension's Threatened Sharks - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.03.2008

In a couple weeks the Ascension Post Office will release a beautiful set of stamps featuring Ascension’s shark species. In anticipation, the Conservation Department would like to share some information with you to help you appreciate these unique fish:

182: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.02.2008

You can book at the Conservation Centre on Ext.6359

183: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.02.2008

The Conservation Department would like to extend its thanks to Fiona Steel.

184: Conservation Weekly - Training was a Success! - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.02.2008

Tools Training as part of the EU Invasive Species Project went very well. Courses covered maintenance and usage of woodchippers, chainsaws, and brushcutters.

185: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.02.2008

This week staff members and volunteers of the Conservation Department will undertake Tools Training as part of the EU Invasive Species Project.

186: Conservation Weekly - BLACKFISH - Ascension (Conservation) - 31.01.2008

There are still large numbers of blackfish washing up on Ascension’s beaches.

187: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.01.2008

The Conservation Department is pleased offer the following tours:

188: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 17.01.2008

Conservation supporters visit Ascension… Last week representatives from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Seabirds (RSPB) visited Ascension.

189: Conservation Weekly - Pinniped Visitor! - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.01.2008

Shortly after Christmas, Ascension’s shores were home to an unusual pinniped visitor.

190: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.12.2007

You may remember from previous Conservation Weekly articles, that our RSPB colleague, Dr. Mark Bolton, was coming to try and capture a few Madeiran storm petrels. Is it possible that the storm petrels on Ascension may be different from those in the North Atlantic.

191: Conservation - Ascension (Conservation) - 13.12.2007

This tiny juvenile land crab was found by Stedson Stroud last week near Green Mountain.

192: Conservation Weekly - Farewell Steph - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.12.2007

The Conservation Department would like to thank Stephanie Bentham-Green for all of her hard work volunteering for the past few months.

193: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.11.2007

The Conservation Department has had a few reports of a Sanderling been spotted around the island.

194: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 15.11.2007

RSPB Bird Researcher on Ascension

195: Consevation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.11.2007

Unusual Visitor at the Residency

196: Heritage Society - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.10.2007

ASCENSION ISLAND HERITAGE SOCIETY FORT HAYES MUSEUM GEORGETOWN OPEN SATURDAYS 11:00 – 1:00

197: Volunteers at the Annual Beach Clean-up - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.10.2007

Volunteers, including the Brownies and Scouts help at the Annual Beach Cleanup

198: Ascension Beach Clean-up - 14th October 2007 - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.10.2007

The Conservation Department is organising an island-wide beach clean-up for Sunday 14th October from 10 am to noon.

199: Conservation Weekly - By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 27.09.2007

AEIOU Contractors on Ascension

200: Conservation Weekly - By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 20.09.2007

The Conservation Department is working with fish pathology expert Dr. Wolfgang Vogelbein from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to learn what is happening to the Ascension grouper.

201: Conservation Weekly by Susannah Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 13.09.2007

The Conservation Department has two new items on offer in the Centre. The first is Mary the Masked Booby, a children’s book authored by Tara Pelembe with photography from Anselmo Pelembe.

202: Conservation Weekly - By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.09.2007

Activities with the Ascension Explorers came to a close last week. The final activity took place on Green Mountain, where the Explorers learned how to identify Ascension’s endemic plants.

203: Conservation Weekly - By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 06.09.2007

Activities with the Ascension Explorers came to a close last week. The final activity took place on Green Mountain, where the Explorers learned how to identify Ascension’s endemic plants.

204: Conservation Weekly - Exploring Deadman’s Beach - Ascension (Conservation) - 30.08.2007

Last week, the Island Explorers spent the morning investigating marine life at Deadman’s Beach. The children enjoyed the beach and tidal pools and found several species of fish and invertebrates.

205: Conservation Weekly - By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 23.08.2007

Activities with the New Horizons group and Island Explorers continued last week with visits to Devil’s Riding School and Dampier’s Drip.

206: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.08.2007

August brings New Horizons and more for Conservation… While work on the hydroponics site is drawing to a close, the Conservation Department has been busy with several new activities.

207: Conservation Weekly - Red-billed Tropic Bird - Ascension (Conservation) - 02.08.2007

This is a chunky, powerful bird, 48cm long (about 100cm including the central tail feathers) and with wingspan 105cm.

208: Conservation Weekly - Xiphopteris ascensionensis - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.07.2007

This is plant is considered an endemic species, though it has sometimes been treated as a form of X.trichomaniodes, a widespread tropical species.

209: Conservation Weekly - Frigate Bird Rescue - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.07.2007

On Tuesday 3rd July 2007 Conservation was alerted. A juvenile Frigate Bird, endemic to Ascension was seen at Pan Am Beach.

210: Conservation Weekly - Contributed By Natasha Williams - Ascension (Conservation) - 05.07.2007

The Fairy Tern breeds all year round. They are common on both St Helena and Ascension Island. The single egg is laid in a hollow on a bare branch or rock ledge and is pale grey or buff with dark streaking and speckling.

211: A thorny problem – Control of Prosopis on Ascension - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.06.2007

The invasive species project workshop on Ascension in March this year generated a number of actions for the project to take forward.

212: Conservation Weekly By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 28.06.2007

The pools of Shelly Beach are known for their endemic shrimp and unique globular algae. However, new residents in the pool have been stirring up interest.

213: Conservation Weekly By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.06.2007

The Real Story of Mexican Thorn on Ascension - A few weeks ago, the Conservation Weekly article described some control efforts taking place at the old hydroponics site.

214: Conservation Weekly By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 07.06.2007

Mexican thorn work at the old hydroponics site. Conservation staff and volunteers spent a few hours clearing and treating Mexican thorn trees at the old hydroponics site last week.

215: Conservation Weekly - By Susanna Musick - Ascension (Conservation) - 24.05.2007

Numbers of dead hatchlings on the rise - Local residents have raised concerns about the increasing numbers of dead hatchlings showing up on Georgetown’s roads.

216: INVASIVE SPECIES CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT UNDERWAY - S.Atlantic (Conservation) - 19.05.2007

Invasive species have been recognised as a threat to biological diversity worldwide, and the threat is particularly severe for island states.

217: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 10.05.2007

Pteris adscensionis ferns take up new residence

218: Conservation Weekly - Masked Boobies Return to Letterbox - Ascension (Conservation) - 03.05.2007

Every other week Seabird Restoration Project fieldworkers make the long and challenging walk to the Letterbox in search of new seabird nesting sites.

219: Larval land crabs - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.04.2007

You may remember the Conservation Weekly article a few weeks ago that described the breeding cycle of Ascension’s land crabs.

220: Ascension Divers Aid Hawksbill Turtle - Ascension (Conservation) - 26.04.2007

A group of Atlantis Dive Club scuba divers which included Mal Moss, Winnie Ellick, Sarah Coverdale, Bernard Peterson and Shari Parkhill,

221: LIGHTS OUT FOR HATCHLINGS? - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.04.2007

As many of you know already, Ascension Island is home to thousands of nesting and breeding green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, in the months from November to June.

222: Turtle Tours - Ascension (Conservation) - 19.04.2007

Are currently available. You can book at the Conservation Centre on Ext.6359 or at the Obsidian Hotel on Ext.6246

223: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 12.04.2007

By Susanna Musick - The brown spiny lobster, Panulirus echinatus, also known locally as crayfish or “longlegs,”

224: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 21.03.2007

Every year adult Ascension Island land crabs migrate to the shoreline between late January and April, though the timing and numbers involved vary greatly from year to year.

225: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 08.03.2007

This relatively small grey locust has a wide distribution that includes Africa and many remote islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

226: CONSERVATIN WEEKLY - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.03.2007

ANGELFISH, RESPLENDID/”Splendid Angelfish” (Centrophge resplendens)

227: Are you interested in the way that introduced species are affecting Ascension? - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.03.2007

Introduced species, including plants like Mexican thorn,

228: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 22.02.2007

This species has a distinctive yellow tail that attracts a lot of attention. It is a small fish with a very dark body which occasionally flashes a brilliant royal blue if closer to the surface.

229: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 08.02.2007

The Masked Booby is a large, mainly white seabird with black tips and trailing edges to the wing. The sexes are similar. Juveniles are greyish brown above with an indistinct pale collar and white belly.

230: Conservation - Ascension (Conservation) - 01.02.2007

Within the Conservation Department, we have now completed the clearing of the Bishops and Scouts Paths. This was a task for Carl Richards and Colin Cranfield, the Green Mountain Field Workers, under the Improving Access to Green Mountain Project.

231: Farewell To Tara - Ascension (Conservation) - 25.01.2007

Thursday 18th January, we saw the departure of Tara Pelembe who left the island to take up employment with JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) in Petersburg UK.

232: CRABWATCH 2007 – HUNT THE BABIES - Ascension (Conservation) - 18.01.2007

Every year adult Ascension Island land crabs migrate to the shoreline between late January and April, though the timing and numbers involved vary greatly from year to year.

233: Report on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Ascension (Conservation) - 11.01.2007

Last month I attended a the above – named workshop. Here is a brief report on the event.

234: ASCENSION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION OPERATIONS UTILITY (AEIOU) - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.01.2007

November 2006 saw the official launch of Ascension’s first integrative geographical information system or GIS

235: Protecting the world from harmful introduced species - Ascension (Conservation) - 04.01.2007

People around the world can access information about harmful introduced species easier than ever thanks to the September 2006 launch of a new website for the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD).

236: Seabirds Succeed on Ascension Island - Ascension (Conservation) - 14.12.2006

Ascension Island, a small, remote, volcanic island in the South Atlantic, is rich in unique flora and fauna.

237: Opening of some of Green Mountain National Park Paths - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.11.2006

Friday 10th November 2006 was the grand Opening of some of the Green Mountain Paths, namely Elliot’s, Ruperts, and Dew Pond.

238: Conservation Weekly - Ascension (Conservation) - 16.11.2006

On Thursday 9th November 2006 there was a certificate presentation for some members of the Conservation Department and some members of the Works Department.