HENDERSON ISLAND, PITCAIRN ISLANDS

Early day motion 753, tabled 15 September 2010 by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative). Signed by 10 members.

That this House notes with concern the threat which rats pose to the unique wildlife of Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, in particular to the Henderson Petrel, but also the Henderson Fruit-dove, Henderson Lorikeet, Henderson Crake, Henderson Reed-warbler, eight endemic species of Henderson snail, three other species of gadfly petrel and the hatchlings of the green turtle population; laments the death of the 25,000 chicks which are killed each year; calls on the Government to heed the warning from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and provide the funding for the rat eradication scheme; applauds the work done by the RSPB in highlighting this important issue as well as raising more than one million pounds towards the cost of this project; and believes that in the Year of Biodiversity this measure would be a huge boost to global biodiversity and would further increase awareness of the British Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Conservative 2, Liberal Democrat 1.