S4]EP20 - Why Islands Are Biodiversity Hotspots with David Will from Island Conservation

In this wide-ranging episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, host Anish Banerjee is joined by David Will from Island Conservation to explore why islands sit at the heart of the global biodiversity crisis—and why they also represent one of conservation’s greatest sources of hope.Islands occupy a unique place in Earth’s ecological history. Despite covering a tiny fraction of the planet’s land area, they support a disproportionate share of global biodiversity, harbouring countless endemic species found nowhere else. David explains why island biodiversity hotspots are so extraordinary, but also why island wildlife is exceptionally vulnerable. Small land area, isolation, and simplified food webs mean that disturbances—especially invasive species and climate change—can trigger rapid ecological collapse. As a result, islands have experienced some of the highest extinction rates on Earth, making island biodiversity conservation one of the most urgent challenges in modern conservation.The conversation delves into the science and practice of island conservation, with a focus on restoring vulnerable ecosystems by removing invasive species such as rats, cats, and pigs. These introduced animals have driven widespread extinctions of seabirds, reptiles, and plants, fundamentally altering island ecology. David describes how removing invasive species can unlock extraordinary recovery, allowing native species to rebound within years and restoring ecological processes that had been suppressed for centuries.A central theme of the episode is the powerful connection between land and sea. David explains how island ecology cannot be understood in isolation from surrounding marine systems. Seabirds, once restored, transport nutrients from ocean to land, enriching forests and coastal soils, while also boosting coral reef health and fish biomass offshore. These cascading benefits highlight how island biodiversity conservation supports both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and food security for island communities.Climate change looms large throughout the discussion. Rising sea levels, marine heatwaves, stronger storms, and shifting temperature regimes disproportionately affect islands, making them frontline indicators of global environmental change. David reflects on why climate change amplifies existing threats, and how biodiversity management on islands must integrate adaptation, biosecurity, and long-term monitoring to remain effective in an uncertain future.The episode also explores innovation in conservation, from drones and environmental DNA to cutting-edge genetic tools aimed at controlling invasive species more humanely and safely. These technologies are expanding what is possible for island conservation at scale, offering new pathways to protect some of the world’s most fragile biodiversity hotspots.This conversation offers a compelling vision for the future of island conservation—one grounded in science, community leadership, and optimism. It is essential listening for anyone interested in island biodiversity, island wildlife, vulnerable ecosystems, climate change, and the role islands play in the global biodiversity conservation agenda.#Islandbiodiversity #islandconservation #islandbiodiversityconservation #islandwildlife #islandecology #biodiversity #biodiversityconservation #biodiversityhotspot #biodiversitymanagement #islandbiodiversityhotspot #vulnerableecosystems #climatechange Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe