Roadmap and checklist of invasive species management: Learning from the mongoose eradication project on Amami-Oshima

Abstract

There is growing evidence that invasive species can be eradicated from small islands. This allows us to recognize that eradication as a realistic target for invasive species management. If the findings obtained from such projects form the basis for other projects, we may raise the overall level of invasive species management. In this review, I introduce an outline of mongoose eradication on Amami-Oshima Island, a project that has reached the final phase towards eradication, and I describe the findings obtained during the course of the project. Based on these findings, I have produced a generalized roadmap for invasive species management, divided into five phases. It is necessary that tactics should be updated in the course of any such project according to the varying population status. I have shown that it is important to establish a governance design that promotes breakthroughs to proceed to the next phases. In order to realize this, a collaborative system is needed involving government, researchers, and residents. Finally, I provide a practical checklist for invasive species management. The roadmap and checklist presented in this review offer guidelines for examining the concept and direction of various ongoing invasive species management projects.