C19 Eradication has been successful and costeffective for some invasive alien species, 
especially when their populations are small and 
slow-spreading in isolated ecosystems such as 
islands (established but incomplete) {5.5.3}. Over the 
last 100 years, there have been 1,550 documented 
examples of eradication on 998 islands, with success cited 
in 88 per cent of cases (well established) {5.5.3}. One of the 
many examples is French Polynesia, where Rattus rattus
(black rat), Felis catus (cat), Oryctolagus cuniculus (rabbit) 
and Capra hircus (goat) have been successfully eradicated 
(well established) {Box 5.8}. Eradication of invasive alien 
plants is particularly difficult because of the longevity of 
dormant seeds that can persist in soil (i.e., soil seed bank), 
SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS
19SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS
BACKGROUND
Table SPM 1 Objectives and actions for managing biological invasions. 