Return to 1616: Multispecies Fauna Reconstruction Requires Thinking Outside the Box

Area of Science:

• Ecological restoration
• Conservation biology
• Wildlife management

Background:

• Conservation translocations are increasingly used for rewilding ecosystems. Multispecies translocations require careful consideration of individual species needs and interspecies interactions. Dirk Hartog Island National Park aims to restore its native fauna.
• The Return to 1616 project is restoring Western Australia's largest island by reintroducing native species. Pest animals have been eradicated since 2012, with multiple conservation translocations completed and more planned.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize innovative approaches used in the Dirk Hartog Island ecological restoration project.
• To document key learnings from the multispecies conservation translocations undertaken as part of the Return to 1616 project.

Main Methods:

• Eradication of introduced pest animals from Dirk Hartog Island.
• Planning and execution of multispecies conservation translocations, considering ecological requirements and interactions.
• Synthesis of project methodologies and outcomes to identify key learnings.

Main Results:

• Successful eradication of pest animals, creating a safe environment for native fauna.
• Completion of conservation translocations for seven native fauna species, with six more planned.
• Development and application of innovative approaches to multispecies rewilding.

Conclusions:

• The Return to 1616 project demonstrates a comprehensive strategy for ecological restoration through pest eradication and multispecies translocations.
• Key learnings from this large-scale rewilding initiative offer valuable insights for future conservation efforts in island ecosystems.
• Restoring the former faunal assemblage on Dirk Hartog Island is crucial for enhancing ecological function.