By Claudia Berardi
photos by: Miguel Carrasco, Tahira Edmunds, Darko Cotoras, Sebastián Pakarati & Merahi Edmunds
Rapa Nui is known for its cultural and archaeological heritage, but beyond the iconic moai, the island is home to unique and fragile ecosystems that require urgent attention. Among them, the wetlands play a fundamental role in the island’s biodiversity and environmental balance. A project led by Tahira Edmunds seeks to better understand these ecosystems and propose a management plan to ensure their conservation for future generations.
Objectives of the Wetlands Study
The project, called Bio/Socio Environmental Territorial Study of the Wetlands of Rapa Nui, has as its fundamental purpose to carry out a complete diagnosis of the island’s wetlands. This diagnosis contemplates not only the ecological aspects, such as flora, fauna and water quality, but also the human impact on these ecosystems. The final objective is to create a management plan that allows the effective protection of these spaces.
This study has been developed in collaboration with CONADI and CONAF, with funding from the former and execution by the latter. Despite having started in 2019, the pandemic temporarily halted the work, limiting progress. However, during that time some field trips and educational activities were carried out, especially with local students, encouraging the integration of science in the daily life of the community.
A Threatened Ecosystem
One of the most alarming aspects that the study has revealed is the critical state of some wetlands. For example, in Rano Aroi, excessive water extraction has significantly diminished the flow, endangering the endemic species that depend on this habitat. Also, the fire that affected the island in October 2022 destroyed much of the vegetation of the Rano Raraku wetland, including the valuable peat that had survived.
The presence of invasive plants is also a major threat to native flora. Species such as Mauku piro, a highly combustible grass, are invading the space of endemic plants, while the roots of trees introduced by humans are affecting the soil and causing landslides in sensitive habitats.
The Importance of “Bugs”
One of the most interesting components of the study is the analysis of the invertebrates that inhabit the wetlands. Tahira Edmunds and her team, composed of Dr. Darko Cotoras and assistants Sebastian Pakarati and Merahi Edmunds, conducted day and night collections to capture various species, both native and invasive. These small organisms are crucial to the functioning of ecosystems. Insects such as beetles and moths, as well as worms, perform vital functions such as pollination and decomposition of organic matter, processes without which life on the island would be unsustainable.
However, invasive species have also been found, such as the Oxychilus sp. snail, which has colonized much of the island, including the Rano Raraku protected area.
A plan for the future
The study seeks to establish a baseline to understand the current state of the wetlands and from there, design a conservation plan. The approach is not only ecological, but also socio-environmental, as it takes into account the use that the community has made of these ecosystems over time.
In addition, the project has an important educational component, as field trips with students have proven to be an effective tool for teaching about conservation and the impact that humans have on nature.
This study is vital for the preservation of Rapa Nui’s wetlands, ecosystems that, although small, are fundamental for the environmental balance of the island. The research not only helps to protect endemic species and stop the advance of invasive plants, but also reminds us of the interconnection between the organisms that inhabit these spaces.
The knowledge generated will allow the local community and authorities to make informed decisions and design effective conservation strategies to ensure that these ecosystems continue to exist in the future. In a world increasingly affected by climate change, protecting Rapa Nui’s wetlands is more than a local need: it is a global responsibility.
