FALKLANDS WILDLIFE ORDINANCE

ALBATROSS & PETRELS AGREEMENT

ENVIRONMENT CHARTER

RAMSAR

Falklands Wildlife Ordinance
The key legislation aimed at protecting the wildlife of the Falkland Islands is the Conservation of Wildlife and Nature Ordinance 1999 (95kb PDF).

It includes protection of wild birds, protection of wild animals, protection of wild plants, control of the introduction of new species, a licence system for scientific work and for collection of certain birds’ eggs, and the designation of national nature reserves . This repealed the following previous legislation namely: Wild Animals and Birds Protection Ordinance 1964, the Nature Reserves Ordinance 1964 and the Fisheries Ordinance.

All birds are protected, except Upland Goose, Domestic Goose and Mallard Duck, and two further birds (Yellow-billed Teal, and Crested Duck) may be killed or captured outside of the close season, 1st July to 31st March. It is illegal to export penguins or their eggs whether it is for a collection at a zoo or for other purposes without a special licence from the Falkland Islands Government. There are strict Customs controls on any biological export from the Falkland Islands. A moratorium since 2001 has prevented the export of penguins or "live" penguin eggs for collections or breeding programmes. The Falklands is a signatory to the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.

Specifically protected animals include all species of butterflies, and the Falkland Islands Trout (Aplochiton zebra). Trout (Salmo trutta) may only be killed or captured outside the close season 1st May to 31st August.

Nineteen plants are protected. These are:

Adder’s Tongue Dusen’s Moonwort Chilean Maidenhair Fern Feltons Flower Shrubby Seablite Falkland Rock Cress Fuegian Saxifrage Native Yellow Violet Yellow Lady’s Slipper Falkland False Plantain Hairy Daisy Falkland Pondweed Yellow Pale Maiden Pale Yellow Orchid Yellow Orchid Gaudichaud’s Orchid Fir Clubmoss Comb Fern Leathery Shield Fern Ophioglossum crotalophoroides Botrychium dusenii Adiantium chilense Calandrinia feltonii Suadeda argentinensis Phlebolobium maclovianum Saxifraga magellanica Viola maculata Calceolaria biflora Nastanthus falklandicus Erigeron incertus Potamogeton linguatus Sisyrinchium chilense Gavilea australis Gavilea littoralis Chloraea gaudichaudii Huperzia fuegiana Schizaea fistulosa Rumohra adiantiformis

Albatross & Petrels Agreement
The Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel and White-chinned Petrel are afforded additional legal protection under the international Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP). This was developed, under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, recognising that albatrosses and petrels are the most threatened birds in the world.

The Agreement, signed up to by the UK in 2004 on behalf of its Overseas Territories in the Falkland Islands, Tristan da Cunha and South Georgia, seeks to co-ordinate international activity to mitigate known threats, particularly interactions with fishing vessels. Following adoption of the Agreement for the Falkland Islands, the collection of albatross eggs is strictly forbidden. A meeting to address conservation priorities in the South Atlantic for albatross and petrels in the UK Overseas Territories, addressing the obligations and responsibilities under ACAP, was held in the Falklands in March 2006 and a Report on the Proceedings (524kb PDF) has been published including recommendations for action.

Environment Charter
The Environment Charter (116kb PDF) is a joint commitment, signed up to in 2001, between the Falkland Islands Government and the UK Government. It outlines a number of principles and policies which both parties will endeavour to follow. The UK offers support to meet international obligations, technical and scientific advice, sources of funding, and capacity building. The Falkland Islands agree to ensure protection of key habitats and species, promote sustainability, implement obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements and raise environmental awareness. Both parties agree to abide by the principles set out in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

Ramsar Convention

Bertha’s Beach

This Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975, and it is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem. The Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet. Two sites in the Falklands have been designated on the List of Wetlands of International Importance ("Ramsar List"): Bertha’s Beach (123kb PDF) and Sea Lion Island (127kb PDF).

Guidelines and advice for visitors are outlined in the Countryside Code, Keep Your Distance and Biosecurity posters.