The African tulip tree, admired for its vibrant flowers, is a highly invasive species in many Pacific island countries. Its aggressive spread disrupts native ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity loss by outcompeting indigenous flora and altering habitats. Recently, the Council has been studying whether Boralani should join a regional biological control program now being explored elsewhere in the Pacific. The idea is simple in principle and complicated in practice: introduce a carefully tested natural insect that feeds exclusively on a specific invasive plant, slowing its spread without chemicals or large-scale clearing. Read more in the Cabinet Brief.
