Editing Redonda (section)

== Ecology and conservation ==
The island is a breeding colony for multiple species of [[seabird]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalwildlife.org/2018/08/15/rare-reptiles-rebound-with-radical-restoration-of-caribbean-island/ |title=Rare Reptiles Rebound with Radical Restoration of Caribbean Island {{!}} Global Wildlife Conservation Global Wildlife Conservation |website=www.globalwildlife.org |language=en |access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref> It has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports [[red-footed booby|red-footed]], [[brown booby|brown]] and [[masked booby|masked boobies]], as well as [[magnificent frigatebird]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/redonda-iba-antigua-and-barbuda|title= Redonda|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-09-11}}</ref>

Animals [[Endemism|endemic]] to the island include the [[Redonda ameiva|Redonda ground dragon]],<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Pholidoscelis atratus: Daltry, J.C. |journal=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |date=22 July 2015 |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2017-3.rlts.t50009685a121638486.en |doi-access=free}}</ref> the [[Redonda anole]]<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Daltry, J.C. |author2=Mahler, D.L. |author3=Powell, R. |author4=Dewynter, M. |date=2020 |title=''Anolis nubilus'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T178336A18970845 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T178336A18970845.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> and an unnamed species of dwarf gecko.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.anoleannals.org/2017/02/21/of-rats-and-reptiles-an-expedition-to-redonda/ |title=Of Rats and Reptiles: An Expedition to Redonda |date=21 February 2017 |work=Anole Annals |access-date=31 August 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The island's local ecology was severely affected by [[invasive species]], particularly introduced [[goat]]s and [[Black rat|rats]], for almost a century. [[Island restoration]] efforts were initiated in 2016, beginning with removing the island's 60 goats and roughly 6,000 rats.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2 January 2020 |title=Destructive wild goats ruled the island of Redonda for over a century. Now, it's being reborn. |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/raveous-wild-goats-ruled-this-island-for-over-a-century-being-reborn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418093532/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/raveous-wild-goats-ruled-this-island-for-over-a-century-being-reborn |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2021 |access-date=27 March 2022 |website=Science |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The Redonda Restoration Programme involves the Environmental Awareness Group, Wildlife Management International and [[Fauna and Flora International]]. Several years after the goats were removed, some local plant life began to recover.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Lewis 2023 u594">{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Nell |title=A Caribbean island once ruled by rats is now a wildlife haven |website=CNN |date=29 September 2023 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/29/travel/redonda-caribbean-restoration-wildlife-c2e-scn-spc-intl/index.html |access-date=29 September 2023}}</ref>

In September 2023, the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve was established, covering nearly {{convert|30,000|ha}} of land and sea,<ref>{{cite news |last=Handy |first=Gemma |date=1 October 2023 |title=Redonda: Tiny Caribbean island's transformation to wildlife haven |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-66922735 |work=BBC |location=St John's, Antigua |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref> making it the largest marine protected area in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Editorial Staff |date=2024-10-17 |title=Redonda Celebrates One Year as Largest Marine Protected Area in the Region - Antigua News ! |url=https://antigua.news/2024/10/17/redonda-celebrates-one-year-as-largest-marine-protected-area-in-the-region/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |language=en-GB}} [[Antigua.news]]</ref>