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119-777: The Jane Cameron National Archives are the official national archives of the Falkland Islands . Government records in the Falklands were started by the first Governor of the Falkland Islands , Richard Moody , in 1841. The records were initially kept in Stanley Town Hall and the Secretariat Building and remained largely intact, despite fires in 1944 and 1959. In 1989 the Falkland Islands Government created

238-496: A British overseas territory , the Falklands have internal self-governance , but the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. The capital and largest settlement is Stanley on East Falkland. The islands are believed to have been uninhabited prior to European discovery in the 17th century . Controversy exists over the Falklands' discovery and subsequent colonisation by Europeans. At various times,

357-415: A planetary body after the former is introduced by a space probe or spacecraft , either deliberately or unintentionally. It has also been hypothesized that the origin of life on earth is due to introductions of life from other planets billions of years ago, possibly by a sentient race. Projects have been proposed to introduce life to other lifeless but habitable planets in other star systems some time in

476-445: A self-governing British Overseas Territory . Under the 2009 Constitution , the islands have full internal self-government; the UK is responsible for foreign affairs, retaining the power "to protect UK interests and to ensure the overall good governance of the territory". The Monarch of the United Kingdom is the head of state, and executive authority is exercised on the monarch's behalf by

595-646: A UK expeditionary force retook the territories in June. After the war the UK expanded its military presence, building RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the size of its garrison. The war also left some 117 minefields containing nearly 20,000 mines of various types, including anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mines. Due to the large number of deminer casualties, initial attempts to clear the mines ceased in 1983. Demining operations recommenced in 2009 and were completed in October 2020. Based on Lord Shackleton 's recommendations,

714-479: A UK overseas territory. The territory's sovereignty status is part of an ongoing dispute between Argentina and the UK . The population (3,662 inhabitants in 2021) is primarily native-born Falkland Islanders , the majority of British descent. Other ethnicities include French, Gibraltarians , and Scandinavians. Immigration from the United Kingdom, the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena , and Chile has reversed

833-802: A dispute related to fishing and hunting rights led to a raid by the American warship USS Lexington in 1831, when United States Navy commander Silas Duncan declared the dissolution of the island's government. Buenos Aires attempted to gain influence over the settlement by installing a garrison in October 1832, which mutinied within a month and was followed the next year by the arrival of British forces, who reasserted Britain's rule . The Argentine Confederation (headed by Buenos Aires Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas ) protested against Britain's actions, and Argentine governments have continued since then to register official protests against Britain. The British troops departed after completing their mission, leaving

952-416: A leased floating production, storage and offloading unit". A final investment decision had been targeted for early 2024, though it was somewhat delayed. A public consultation on the project took place in the summer of 2024 and was reported to have garnered widespread support from Falkland Islanders. Since Britain's newly elected Labour Government banned similar oil projects in the United Kingdom, this created

1071-535: A low population density . According to the 2012 census, the average daily population of the Falklands was 2,932, excluding military personnel serving in the archipelago and their dependents. A 2012 report counted 1,300 uniformed personnel and 50 British Ministry of Defence civil servants present in the Falklands. Stanley (with 2,121 residents) is the most-populous location on the archipelago, followed by Mount Pleasant (369 residents, primarily air-base contractors) and Camp (351 residents). The islands' age distribution

1190-629: A military base aiding control of the South Atlantic. In the First World War Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914, a Royal Navy fleet defeated an Imperial German squadron. In the Second World War , following the December 1939 Battle of the River Plate , the battle-damaged HMS Exeter steamed to the Falklands for repairs. In 1942, a battalion en route to India was redeployed to

1309-830: A native of East Asia, has been introduced into parts of Europe for ornamental reasons. Many plants have been introduced with the intent of aesthetically improving public recreation areas or private properties. The introduced Norway maple for example occupies a prominent status in many of Canada's parks. The transport of ornamental plants for landscaping use has and continues to be a source of many introductions. Some of these species have escaped horticultural control and become invasive. Notable examples include water hyacinth , salt cedar , and purple loosestrife . In other cases, species have been translocated for reasons of "cultural nostalgia", which refers to instances in which humans who have migrated to new regions have intentionally brought with them familiar organisms. Famous examples include

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1428-423: A negative reputation due to cargo-shipping losses; only in emergencies would ships rounding Cape Horn stop at the port. Nevertheless, the Falklands' geographic location proved ideal for ship repairs and the "Wrecking Trade", the business of selling and buying shipwrecks and their cargoes. Aside from this trade, commercial interest in the archipelago was minimal due to the low-value hides of the feral cattle roaming

1547-437: A new region may escape from captive or cultivated populations and subsequently establish independent breeding populations. Escaped organisms are included in this category because their initial transport to a new region is human motivated. The widespread phenomena of intentional introduction has also been described as biological globalization . Positive Introductions Although most introduced species have negative impacts on

1666-580: A novel environment (e.g.: in Europe , house sparrows are well established since early Iron Age though they originated from Asia ). Immigrant species are species that travel, sometimes by themselves, but often with human help, between two habitats. Invasiveness is not a requirement. Introduction of a species outside its native range is all that is required to be qualified as an "introduced species". Such species might be termed naturalized , "established", or "wild non-native species". If they further spread beyond

1785-458: A parasite or herbivore with it. Some become invasive, for example, the oleander aphid , accidentally introduced with the ornamental plant, oleander . Yet another unintentional pathway of introduction is during the delivery of humanitarian aid in the aftermath of natural disasters. This occurred during relief efforts for Hurricane Maria in Dominica , it was found that the common green iguana ,

1904-485: A population decline. The predominant (and official) language is English. Under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 , Falkland Islanders are British citizens . The islands lie at the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 2,300 ft (700 m). They are home to large bird populations, although many no longer breed on

2023-460: A population decrease. This was seen in the Atlantic Salmon population when high levels of escape from Atlantic Salmon farms into the wild populations resulted in hybrids that had reduced survival. Potential positive effects include adding to the genetic diversity of the population which can increase the adaptation ability of the population and increase the number of healthy individuals within

2142-742: A population. This was seen in the introduction of guppies in Trinidad to encourage population growth and introduce new alleles into the population. The results of this introduction included increased levels of heterozygosity and a larger population size . Wide-spread introductions of non-native iguanas are causing devastating effects on native Iguana populations in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles , as hybrids appear to have higher fitness than native iguanas, leading to competitive outcompetition and replacement. Numerous populations have already become extinct and hybridization continues to reduce

2261-738: A small British town with a variety of clubs and organisations covering many aspects of community life". Despite its small size, the Falkland Islands compete in the Commonwealth Games and Island Games . The Falkland Islands national cricket team is a member of the International Cricket Council . Lat. and Long. 51°42′S 57°51′W  /  51.700°S 57.850°W  / -51.700; -57.850 (Stanley) 51°44′S 59°13′W  /  51.73°S 59.22°W  / -51.73; -59.22 Introduced species The impact of introduced species

2380-449: A species is considered "introduced" when its transport into an area outside of its native range is human mediated. Introductions by humans can be described as either intentional or accidental. Intentional introductions have been motivated by individuals or groups who either (1) believe that the newly introduced species will be in some way beneficial to humans in its new location or, (2) species are introduced intentionally but with no regard to

2499-562: A very social place, and stopping for a chat is a way of life". The islands have one weekly newspaper, The Penguin News , and television and radio broadcasts generally feature programming from the United Kingdom. Wagstaff describes the local cuisine as "very British in character with much use made of the home-grown vegetables, local lamb, mutton, beef, and fish". Common between meals are "homemade cakes and biscuits with tea or coffee". Social activities are, according to Wagstaff, "typical of that of

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2618-496: Is pegged to the British pound sterling . Economic development was advanced by ship resupplying and sheep farming for high-quality wool. The main sheep breeds in the Falkland Islands are Polwarth and Corriedale . During the 1980s, although ranch under-investment and the use of synthetic fibres damaged the sheep-farming sector, the government secured a major revenue stream by the establishment of an exclusive economic zone and

2737-507: Is debated by historians. In 1766, France surrendered its claim on the Falklands to Spain , which renamed the French colony Puerto Soledad the following year. Problems began when Spain detected and captured Port Egmont in 1770. War was narrowly avoided by its restitution to Britain in 1771. The British and Spanish settlements coexisted in the archipelago until 1774, when Britain's new economic and strategic considerations led it to withdraw

2856-528: Is highly variable. Some have a substantial negative effect on a local ecosystem (in which case they are also classified more specifically as an invasive species ), while other introduced species may have little or no negative impact (no invasiveness), and integrate well into the ecosystem they have been introduced to. Some species have been introduced intentionally to combat pests. They are called biocontrols and may be regarded as beneficial as an alternative to pesticides in agriculture for example. In some instances

2975-511: Is latitude 51°40′  – 53°00′ S and longitude 57°40′  – 62°00′ W . The archipelago's two main islands are separated by the Falkland Sound , and its deep coastal indentations form natural harbours . East Falkland houses Stanley (the capital and largest settlement), the UK military base at RAF Mount Pleasant, and the archipelago's highest point: Mount Usborne , at 2,313 ft (705 m). Outside of these significant settlements

3094-488: Is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health". The biological definition of invasive species, on the other hand, makes no reference to the harm they may cause, only to the fact that they spread beyond the area of original introduction. Some argue that "invasive" is a loaded word and harm is difficult to define. From a regulatory perspective, it is neither desirable nor practical to list as undesirable or outright ban all non-native species (although

3213-489: Is seldom understood in the beginning, and many non-native ornamentals languish in the trade for years before suddenly naturalizing and becoming invasive. Studies have shown that introduced species display a greater likeliness of naturalizing when there is an appropriate environmental match, the plant species are short lived herbs or cultivate from seeds. Peaches , for example, originated in China, and have been carried to much of

3332-655: Is skewed towards working age (20–60) . Males outnumber females (53 to 47 per cent), and this discrepancy is most prominent in the 20–60 age group. In the 2012 census, most islanders identified themselves as Christian (66 per cent), followed by those with no religious affiliation (32 per cent). The remaining 2 per cent identified as adherents of other religions, including the Baháʼí Faith , Buddhism , and Islam . The main Christian denominations are Anglicanism and other Protestantism , and Roman Catholicism . Education in

3451-560: Is the European rabbit in Australia . Thomas Austin , a British landowner, had rabbits released on his estate in Victoria because he missed hunting them. A more recent example is the introduction of the common wall lizard ( Podarcis muralis) to North America by a Cincinnati boy, George Rau, around 1950 after a family vacation to Italy . Intentional introductions have also been undertaken with

3570-572: Is the seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia . Caulerpa was first observed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1984, off the coast of Monaco . By 1997, it had covered some 50 km . It has a strong potential to overgrow natural biotopes , and represents a major risk for sublittoral ecosystems . The origin of the alga in the Mediterranean was thought to be either as a migration through the Suez Canal from

3689-1029: Is the area colloquially known as "Camp", which is derived from the Spanish term for countryside ( Campo ). The climate of the islands is cold, windy, and humid maritime . Variability of daily weather is typical throughout the archipelago. Rainfall is common over half of the year, averaging 610 mm (24 in) in Stanley, and sporadic light snowfall occurs nearly all year. The temperature has historically stayed between 21.1 and −11.1 °C (70.0 and 12.0 °F) in Stanley, with mean monthly temperatures varying from 9 °C (48 °F) in January and February (summer) to −1 °C (30 °F) in July (winter). Strong westerly winds and cloudy skies are common. Although numerous storms are recorded each month, conditions are normally calm. The Falkland Islands are biogeographically part of

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3808-859: Is the reintroduction of a species that has become locally endangered or extinct, done in the interests of conservation. Examples of successful reintroductions include wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the U.S., and the red kite to parts of England and Scotland. Introductions or translocations of species have also been proposed in the interest of genetic conservation , which advocates the introduction of new individuals into genetically depauperate populations of endangered or threatened species. Unintentional introductions occur when species are transported by human vectors. Increasing rates of human travel are providing accelerating opportunities for species to be accidentally transported into areas in which they are not considered native. For example, three species of rat (the black, Norway and Polynesian) have spread to most of

3927-545: Is the small Indian mongoose ( Urva auropunctata ). Originating in a region encompassing Iran and India , it was introduced to the West Indies and Hawaii in the late 1800s for pest control. Since then, it has thrived on prey unequipped to deal with its speed, nearly leading to the local extinction of a variety of species. In some cases, introduced animals may unintentionally promote the cause of rewilding . For example, escaped horses and donkeys that have gone feral in

4046-527: The American bison and the turkey are non-native species to North America. Collectively, non-native crops and livestock account for 98% of US food. These and other benefits from non-natives are so vast that, according to the Congressional Research Service, they probably exceed the costs. Other examples of species introduced for the purposes of benefiting agriculture , aquaculture or other economic activities are widespread. Eurasian carp

4165-457: The Antarctic zone , with strong connections to the flora and fauna of Patagonia in mainland South America. Land birds make up most of the Falklands' avifauna . The only endemic bird species on the Falkland Islands are the flightless Falkland steamer duck and Cobb's wren . 63 species breed on the islands, including 14 endemic subspecies . There is also abundant arthropod diversity on

4284-672: The Australian Dung Beetle Project in an effort to reduce the impact of livestock manure. The timber industry promoted the introduction of Monterey pine ( Pinus radiata ) from California to Australia and New Zealand as a commercial timber crop. These examples represent only a small subsample of species that have been moved by humans for economic interests. The rise in the use of genetically modified organisms has added another potential economic advantage to introducing new/modified species into different environments. Companies such as Monsanto that earn much of their profit through

4403-544: The Cuban tree frog , and potentially the Venezuela snouted tree frog were introduced with the former two becoming established. Most accidentally or intentionally introduced species do not become invasive as the ones mentioned above. For instance, Some 179 coccinellid species have been introduced to the U.S. and Canada; about 27 of these non-native species have become established, and only a handful can be considered invasive, including

4522-700: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office , is largely based on English law , and the constitution binds the territory to the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights . Residents have the right of appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and the Privy Council . Law enforcement is the responsibility of the Royal Falkland Islands Police (RFIP). Defence of the islands is provided by

4641-628: The South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf . The principal islands are about 300 mi (480 km) east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about 752 mi (1,210 km) from Cape Dubouzet at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula , at a latitude of about 52°S. The archipelago, with an area of 4,700 sq mi (12,000 km ), comprises East Falkland , West Falkland , and 776 smaller islands. As

4760-556: The State of Hawaii has adopted an approach that comes close to this). Regulations require a definitional distinction between non-natives that are deemed especially onerous and all others. Introduced "pest" species, that are officially listed as invasive, best fit the definition of an invasive species. Early detection and rapid response is the most effective strategy for regulating a pest species and reducing economic and environmental impacts of an introduction. Management of invasion pathways are on

4879-641: The United Nations General Assembly , the Fourth Committee determined that, in all languages other than Spanish, all UN documentation would designate the territory as Falkland Islands (Malvinas) . In Spanish, the territory was designated as Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) . The nomenclature used by the United Nations for statistical processing purposes is Falkland Islands (Malvinas) . Although Fuegians from Patagonia may have visited

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4998-562: The cane toad and red fox in Australia , nutria in North America , Eurasia , and Africa , and the common brushtail possum in New Zealand . In Taiwan , the success of introduced bird species was related to their native range size and body size; larger species with larger native range sizes were found to have larger introduced range sizes. One notoriously devastating introduced species

5117-550: The governor , who appoints the islands' chief executive on the advice of members of the Legislative Assembly . Both the governor and the chief executive serve as the head of government . Governor Alison Blake was appointed in July 2022 and Chief Executive Andy Keeling was appointed in April 2021. The UK minister responsible for the Falkland Islands since 2024, Stephen Doughty , administers British foreign policy regarding

5236-403: The 221st largest out of 229 in the world by GDP ( PPP ), but ranks 10th worldwide by GDP (PPP) per capita . The unemployment rate was 1% in 2016, and inflation was calculated at 1.4% in 2014. Based on 2010 data, the islands have a high Human Development Index of 0.874 and a moderate Gini coefficient for income inequality of 34.17. The local currency is the Falkland Islands pound , which

5355-562: The Americas may play ecological roles similar to those of the equids that became extinct there at the end of the Pleistocene . The exotic pet trade has also been a large source of introduced species. The species favored as pets have more general habitat requirements and larger distributions. Therefore, as these pets escape or are released, unintentionally or intentionally, they are more likely to survive and establish non-native populations in

5474-602: The Anglo-Saxon term "folkland" (land held by folk-right ). The name "Falklands" was not applied to the islands until 1765, when British captain John Byron of the Royal Navy claimed them for King George III as "Falkland's Islands". The term "Falklands" is a standard abbreviation used to refer to the islands. The common Spanish name for the archipelago, Islas Malvinas , derives from the French Îles Malouines —the name given to

5593-585: The EEZ of Argentina. The UK and Argentina both assert sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The UK bases its position on its continuous administration of the islands since 1833 and the islanders' "right to self-determination as set out in the UN Charter ". Argentina claims that, when it achieved independence in 1816, it acquired the Falklands from Spain. The incident of 1833 is particularly contentious; Argentina considers it proof of "Britain's usurpation" whereas

5712-554: The Environmental Impact Statement required "further discussion" and that any development and production program would need to be considered separately by the Executive Council. Development projects in education and sports have been funded by the Falklands government, without aid from the United Kingdom. The primary sector of the economy accounts for most of the Falkland Islands' gross domestic product, with

5831-517: The Falkland Islanders as a partner in negotiations. However, in May, 2024, newly elected Argentine president Javier Milei , expressed general acceptance and tolerance for British rule, for the time being, noting it could take decades for Argentina to gain control of the islands. Though asserting “We [will not] relinquish our sovereignty" over the islands, Milei said they would not "seek conflict with

5950-698: The Falkland Islands , which follows England's system , is free and compulsory for residents aged between 5 and 16 years. Primary education is available at Stanley, RAF Mount Pleasant (for children of service personnel) and a number of rural settlements. Secondary education is only available in Stanley, which offers boarding facilities and 12 subjects to General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level. Students aged 16 or older may study at colleges in England for their GCE Advanced Level or vocational qualifications. The Falkland Islands government pays for older students to attend institutions of higher education, usually in

6069-580: The Falkland Islands are independent ; no political parties exist on the islands. Since the 2013 general election , members of the Legislative Assembly have received a salary and are expected to work full-time and give up all previously held jobs or business interests. As a territory of the United Kingdom, the Falklands were part of the overseas countries and territories of the European Union until 2020 . The islands' judicial system, overseen by

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6188-495: The Falkland Islands in prehistoric times, the islands were uninhabited when Europeans first explored them. European claims of discovery date back to the 16th century, but no consensus exists on whether early explorers sighted the Falklands or other islands in the South Atlantic. The first undisputed landing on the islands is attributed to English captain John Strong, who, en route to Peru and Chile 's littoral in 1690, explored

6307-618: The Falkland Sound and noted the islands' water and game. The Falklands remained uninhabited until the 1764 establishment of Port Louis on East Falkland by French captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville and the 1765 foundation of Port Egmont on Saunders Island by Captain John Byron ; the latter settlement being expanded by British captain John MacBride a year later. Whether or not the settlements were aware of each other's existence

6426-445: The Falklands as a garrison amid fears of a Japanese seizure of the archipelago. After the war ended, the Falklands economy was affected by declining wool prices and the political uncertainty resulting from the revived sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Simmering tensions between the UK and Argentina increased during the second half of the century, when Argentine President Juan Perón asserted sovereignty over

6545-492: The Falklands basin. Landmine clearance work restarted in 2009, in accordance with the UK's obligations under the Ottawa Treaty , and Sapper Hill Corral was cleared of mines in 2012, allowing access to an important historical landmark for the first time in 30 years. Argentina and the UK re-established diplomatic relations in 1990, but neither has agreed on the terms of future sovereignty discussions. The Falkland Islands are

6664-440: The Falklands became a Crown colony and Scottish settlers subsequently established an official pastoral community. Four years later, nearly everyone relocated to Port Jackson, considered a better location for the government, and merchant Samuel Lafone began a venture to encourage British colonisation. Stanley , as Port Jackson was soon renamed, officially became the seat of government in 1845. Early in its history, Stanley had

6783-409: The Falklands diversified from a sheep-based monoculture into an economy of tourism and, with the establishment of the Falklands exclusive economic zone , fisheries. The road network was also made more extensive, and the construction of RAF Mount Pleasant allowed access to long haul flights. Oil exploration also began in the 2010s, with indications of possible commercially exploitable deposits in

6902-675: The Indian subcontinent and is impacting a range of wild species including urban birds. Most introduced species do not become invasive. Examples of introduced animals that have become invasive include the gypsy moth in eastern North America , the zebra mussel and alewife in the Great Lakes , the Canada goose and gray squirrel in Europe, the beaver in Tierra del Fuego , the muskrat in Europe and Asia ,

7021-433: The Mediterranean region, where it can form monocultures that threaten critical conservation habitats. Japanese knotweed grows profusely in many nations. Human beings introduced it into many places in the 19th century. It is a source of resveratrol , a dietary supplement. It can grow in building foundations, threatening their stability, and spreads quite quickly. Mesquite ( Prosopis juliflora ) has spread very widely across

7140-665: The Red Sea, or as an accidental introduction from an aquarium. Another troublesome plant species is the terrestrial plant Phyla canescens , which was intentionally introduced into many countries in North America, Europe, and Africa as an ornamental plant. This species has become invasive in Australia, where it threatens native rare plants and causes erosion and soil slumping around river banks. It has also become invasive in France where it has been listed as an invasive plant species of concern in

7259-399: The UK and mainland South America. Port Stanley Airport provides internal flights. Despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions causing suspensions of flights from Santiago and São Paulo and prohibited cruise ship tourism, the economy of the islands remains stable and healthy. The Falkland Islands population is homogeneous, mostly descended from Scottish and Welsh immigrants who settled in

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7378-509: The UK discounts it as a mere reassertion of its claim. In 2009, the British prime minister, Gordon Brown , had a meeting with the Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner , and said that there would be no further talks over the sovereignty of the Falklands. In March 2013, the Falkland Islands held a referendum on its political status: 99.8% of votes cast favoured remaining a British overseas territory. Argentina does not recognise

7497-404: The United Kingdom" over them, preferring to resolve the dispute "within the framework of peace." The Falkland Islands have a land area of 4,700 sq mi (12,000 km ) and a coastline estimated at 800 mi (1,300 km). The archipelago consists of two main islands, West Falkland and East Falkland, and 776 smaller islands. The islands are predominantly mountainous and hilly, with

7616-477: The United Kingdom. Falklands culture is based on the cultural traditions of its British settlers but has also been influenced by Hispanic South America . Falklanders still use some terms and place names from the former Gaucho inhabitants. The Falklands' predominant and official language is English, with the foremost dialect being British English ; nonetheless, some inhabitants also speak Spanish. According to naturalist Will Wagstaff , "the Falkland Islands are

7735-581: The United Kingdom. A British military garrison is stationed on the islands, and the Falkland Islands government funds an additional platoon to company -sized light infantry Falkland Islands Defence Force . The Falklands claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending 200 nmi (370 km) from its coastal baselines, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ; this zone overlaps with

7854-436: The aim of ameliorating environmental problems. A number of fast spreading plants such as kudzu have been introduced as a means of erosion control. Other species have been introduced as biological control agents to control invasive species . This involves the purposeful introduction of a natural enemy of the target species with the intention of reducing its numbers or controlling its spread. A special case of introduction

7973-600: The archipelago was visited only by fishing ships; its political status was undisputed until 1820, when Colonel David Jewett , an American privateer working for the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , informed anchored ships about Buenos Aires ' 1816 claim to Spain's territories in the South Atlantic. Since the islands had no permanent inhabitants, in 1823 Buenos Aires granted German-born merchant Luis Vernet permission to conduct fishing activities and exploit feral cattle in

8092-500: The archipelago. The sovereignty dispute intensified during the 1960s, shortly after the United Nations passed a resolution on decolonisation which Argentina interpreted as favourable to its position. In 1965, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2065 , calling for both states to conduct bilateral negotiations to reach a peaceful settlement of the dispute. From 1966 until 1968, the UK confidentially discussed with Argentina

8211-400: The archipelago. Vernet settled at the ruins of Puerto Soledad in 1826, and accumulated resources on the islands until the venture was secure enough to bring settlers and form a permanent colony. Buenos Aires named Vernet military and civil commander of the islands in 1829, and he attempted to regulate sealing to stop the activities of foreign whalers and sealers. Vernet's venture lasted until

8330-489: The area without formal government. Vernet's deputy, the Scotsman Matthew Brisbane , returned to the islands that year to restore the business, but his efforts ended after, amid unrest at Port Louis, gaucho Antonio Rivero led a group of dissatisfied individuals to murder Brisbane and the settlement's senior leaders; survivors hid in a cave on a nearby island until the British returned and restored order. In 1840,

8449-532: The broadest and most widely used sense, an introduced species is synonymous with "non-native" and therefore applies as well to most garden and farm organisms; these adequately fit the basic definition given above. However, some sources add to that basic definition "and are now reproducing in the wild", which means that species growing in a garden, farm, or house may not meet the criteria unless they escape and persist. There are many terms associated with introduced species that represent subsets of introduced species, and

8568-407: The creation of direct air links with the United Kingdom and South America. Tourists, mostly cruise ship passengers, are attracted by the archipelago's wildlife and environment, as well as activities such as fishing and wreck diving ; the majority find accommodation in Stanley. The main international airport, located at RAF Mount Pleasant on East Falkland, provides flights to RAF Brize Norton in

8687-539: The economy. There have been calls from scientists to consider a species "invasive" only in terms of their spread and reproduction rather than the harm they may cause. According to a practical definition, an invasive species is one that has been introduced and become a pest in its new location, spreading (invading) by natural means. The term is used to imply both a sense of urgency and actual or potential harm. For example, U.S. Executive Order 13112 (1999) defines "invasive species" as "an alien species whose introduction does or

8806-578: The ecosystems they enter into, there are still some species that have affected the ecosystem in a positive way. For example, in New Hampshire invasive plants can provide some benefits to some species. Invasive species such as autumn olive, oriental bittersweet, and honeysuckle produce fruit that is used by a handful of fruit-eating bird species. The invasive plants can also be a source of pollen and nectar for many insects, such as bees. These invasive plants were able to help their ecosystem thriving, and increase

8925-505: The expense of maintaining the Falkland Islands in an era of budget cuts, the UK again considered transferring sovereignty to Argentina in the early Thatcher government . Substantive sovereignty talks again ended by 1981, and the dispute escalated with passing time. In April 1982 the Falklands War began when Argentine military forces invaded the Falklands and other British territories in the South Atlantic , briefly occupying them until

9044-406: The fishing industry alone contributing between 50% and 60% of annual GDP; agriculture also contributes significantly to GDP and employs about a tenth of the population. A little over a quarter of the workforce serves the Falkland Islands government, making it the archipelago's largest employer. Tourism, part of the service economy, has been spurred by increased interest in Antarctic exploration and

9163-468: The forefront of eliminating unwanted invasive species this would include preliminary steps; educating the public, cooperation from industries and government resources. In Great Britain , the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prevents the introduction of any animal not naturally occurring in the wild or any of a list of both animals or plants introduced previously and proved to be invasive. By definition ,

9282-656: The garrison from the islands, leaving a plaque claiming the Falklands for King George III. Spain's Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata became the only formal presence in the territory. West Falkland was left abandoned, and Puerto Soledad became a penal colony. Amid the British invasions of the Río de la Plata during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the islands' governor evacuated the archipelago in 1806; Spain's remaining colonial garrison followed suit in 1811, except for gauchos and fishermen who remained voluntarily. Thereafter,

9401-403: The government has tried to contain, remove or exterminate foxes, rabbits and rats. Endemic land animals have been the most affected by introduced species, and several bird species have been extirpated from the larger islands. The extent of human impact on the Falklands is unclear, since there is little long-term data on habitat change. As of 2023 , the economy of the Falkland Islands is ranked

9520-586: The intentionally introduced Harmonia axyridis , multicolored Asian lady beetle . However the small percentage of introduced species that become invasive can produce profound ecological changes. In North America, Harmonia axyridis has become the most abundant lady beetle and probably accounts for more observations than all the native lady beetles put together. Many non-native plants have been introduced into new territories, initially as either ornamental plants or for erosion control, stock feed, or forestry. Whether an exotic will become an invasive species

9639-805: The introduction of common starlings to North America by the American Eugene Schieffelin , a lover of the works of Shakespeare and the chairman of the American Acclimatization Society , who, it is rumoured, wanted to introduce all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays into the United States. He deliberately released eighty starlings into Central Park in New York City in 1890, and another forty in 1891. Yet another prominent example of an introduced species that became invasive

9758-481: The invasive comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi , the dangerous bacterium Vibrio cholerae , or the fouling zebra mussel . The Mediterranean and Black Seas, with their high volume shipping from exotic sources, are most impacted by this problem. Busy harbors are all potential hotspots as well: over 200 species have been introduced to the San Francisco Bay in this manner making it the most heavily invaded estuary in

9877-469: The islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville in 1764. Bougainville, who founded the islands' first settlement, named the area after the port of Saint-Malo (the point of departure for his ships and colonists). The port, located in the Brittany region of western France, was named after St. Malo (or Maclou), the Christian evangelist who founded the city. In 1965, at the 20th session of

9996-404: The islands have had French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. Britain reasserted its rule in 1833 , but Argentina maintains its claim to the islands. In April 1982, Argentine military forces invaded the islands . British administration was restored two months later at the end of the Falklands War . In a 2013 sovereignty referendum , almost all Falklanders voted in favour of remaining

10115-417: The islands' economic focus, with an increase in population as workers migrate from Camp. Fear of dependence on fishing licences and threats from overfishing , illegal fishing and fish market price fluctuations led to increased interest in oil drilling as an alternative source of revenue. As of 2001 exploration efforts had yet to find "exploitable reserves". By 2023, oil exploration was still proceeding off

10234-409: The islands' population decline has reduced, thanks to immigrants from the United Kingdom, Saint Helena , and Chile. In the 2012 census, a majority of residents listed their nationality as Falkland Islander (59 per cent), followed by British (29 per cent), Saint Helenian (9.8 per cent), and Chilean (5.4 per cent). A small number of Argentines also live on the islands. The Falkland Islands have

10353-524: The islands. The governor acts on the advice of the islands' Executive Council , composed of the chief executive, the Director of Finance and three elected members of the Legislative Assembly (with the governor as chairman). The Legislative Assembly, a unicameral legislature , consists of the chief executive, the director of finance and eight members (five from Stanley and three from Camp ) elected to four-year terms by universal suffrage . All politicians in

10472-504: The islands. The Falklands' flora consists of 163 native vascular species . More than 400 species of lichens and lichen-dwelling fungi have been recorded. The islands' only native terrestrial mammal, the warrah , was hunted to extinction by European settlers. The islands are frequented by marine mammals , such as the southern elephant seal and the South American fur seal , and various types of cetaceans ; offshore islands house

10591-468: The main islands due to predation by introduced species . Major economic activities include fishing, tourism and sheep farming , with an emphasis on high-quality wool exports. Oil exploration, licensed by the Falkland Islands Government , remains controversial as a result of maritime disputes with Argentina. The name "Falkland Islands" comes from Falkland Sound , the strait that separates

10710-487: The major exception being the depressed plains of Lafonia (a peninsula forming the southern part of East Falkland). The Falklands consists of continental crust fragments resulting from the break-up of Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic that began 130 million years ago. The islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean , on the Patagonian Shelf , about 300 mi (480 km) east of Patagonia in southern Argentina. The Falklands' approximate location

10829-542: The native animal's chances of survival. Several introduced exotic trees served as nest sites for resident waterbird species in Udaipur city, India. Perhaps the most common motivation for introducing a species into a new place is that of economic gain. Non-native species can become such a common part of an environment, culture, and even diet that little thought is given to their geographic origin. For example, soybeans , kiwi fruit , wheat , honey bees , and all livestock except

10948-459: The new environment. Adventive species are often considered synonymous with "introduced species", but this term is sometimes applied exclusively to introduced species that are not permanently established. Naturalized species are often introduced species that do not need human help to reproduce and maintain their population in an area outside their native range (no longer adventive), but that also applies to populations migrating and establishing in

11067-517: The number of native iguanas on multiple islands. In plants, introduced species have been observed to undergo rapid evolutionary change to adapt to their new environments, with changes in plant height, size, leaf shape, dispersal ability, reproductive output, vegetative reproduction ability, level of dependence on the mycorrhizal network , and level of phenotype plasticity appearing on timescales of decades to centuries. It has been hypothesized that invasive species of microbial life could contaminate

11186-473: The pastures. Economic growth began only after the Falkland Islands Company , which bought out Lafone's failing enterprise in 1851, successfully introduced Cheviot sheep for wool farming, spurring other farms to follow suit. The high cost of importing materials, combined with the shortage of labour and consequent high wages, meant the ship repair trade became uncompetitive. After 1870 it declined as

11305-431: The place of introduction and cause damage to nearby species, they are called " invasive species ". The transition from introduction, to establishment and to invasion has been described in the context of plants. Introduced species are essentially "non-native" species. Invasive species are those introduced species that spread widely or quickly and cause harm, be that to the environment, human health, other valued resources, or

11424-769: The populated world. Tomatoes are native to the Andes . Squash ( pumpkins ), maize (corn), and tobacco are native to the Americas , but were introduced to the Old World . Many introduced species require continued human intervention to survive in the new environment. Others may become feral, but do not seriously compete with natives, but simply increase the biodiversity of the area. One example would be Dandelions in North America , which have become an essential source of early season nectar for both native and introduced pollinators, and do not meaningfully compete with native grasses or flowers. A very troublesome marine species in southern Europe

11543-470: The post of Government Archivist to look after the archives. The inaugural holder of the position was Jane Cameron, who was the granddaughter of a former Governor of the Falklands and a sibling to the Falkland Islands' UK Representative, Sukey Cameron . The archives were moved to a custom made building on Jeremy Moore Avenue in Stanley in 1998. On 26 December 2009 Jane Cameron died from injuries she had sustained

11662-555: The potential for being beneficial or detrimental in the long run remains unknown. The effects of introduced species on natural environments have gained much scrutiny from scientists, governments, farmers and others. The formal definition of an introduced species from the United States Environmental Protection Agency is "A species that has been intentionally or inadvertently brought into a region or area. Also called an exotic or non-native species". In

11781-436: The potential impact. Unintentional or accidental introductions are most often a byproduct of human movements and are thus unbound to human motivations. Subsequent range expansion of introduced species may or may not involve human activity. Species that humans intentionally transport to new regions can subsequently become successfully established in two ways. In the first case, organisms are purposely released for establishment in

11900-454: The previous month in a car crash while travelling in Argentina . In 2010 the archives were renamed in her honour and officially made the national archives of the Falklands. Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands ( / ˈ f ɔː ( l ) k l ə n d , ˈ f ɒ l k -/ FAW(L)K -lənd, FOLK - ; Spanish: Islas Malvinas [ˈislas malˈβinas] ) is an archipelago in

12019-529: The prospect for a potential conflict between the Falkland Island's government and the British government. Nevertheless, the authority to approve oil development around the islands was said to rest solely with the Falkland Island's government. In November 2024, the Falkland's government Executive Council indicated that, while the public consultation process had been successfully concluded, "some matters" related to

12138-464: The purposes of sport fishing and hunting. The introduced amphibian ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) that threatens the endemic California salamander ( A. californiense ) was introduced to California as a source of bait for fishermen. Pet animals have also been frequently transported into new areas by humans, and their escapes have resulted in several introductions, such as feral cats , parrots , and pond slider . Lophura nycthemera ( silver pheasant ),

12257-576: The rare striated caracara . There are also five different penguin species and a few of the largest albatross colonies on the planet. Endemic fish around the islands are primarily from the genus Galaxias . The Falklands are treeless and have a wind-resistant vegetation predominantly composed of a variety of dwarf shrubs . Virtually the entire land area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep. Introduced species include reindeer , hares, rabbits, Patagonian foxes , brown rats , and cats. Several of these species have harmed native flora and fauna, so

12376-618: The replacement of sail ships by steamships was accelerated by the low cost of coal in South America; by 1914, with the opening of the Panama Canal , the trade effectively ended. In 1881, the Falkland Islands became financially independent of Britain. For more than a century, the Falkland Islands Company dominated the trade and employment of the archipelago; in addition, it owned most housing in Stanley, which greatly benefited from

12495-559: The sale of fishing licences to "anybody wishing to fish within this zone". Since the end of the Falklands War in 1982, the islands' economic activity increasingly focused on oil field exploration and tourism. All large settlements are now connected by road and, since 2008, a ferry links West and East Falkland. The islands' major exports include wool, hides, venison, fish and squid; its main imports include fuel, building materials and clothing. The port settlement of Stanley has regained

12614-519: The selling of genetically modified seeds has added to the controversy surrounding introduced species. The effect of genetically modified organisms varies from organism to organism and is still being researched today, however, the rise of genetically modified organisms has added complexity to the conversations surrounding introduced species. Introductions have also been important in supporting recreation activities or otherwise increasing human enjoyment. Numerous fish and game animals have been introduced for

12733-461: The shelf of the islands with a deepwater project led by Rockhopper Exploration . In 2023, Rockhopper (working with Tel Aviv-listed Navitas Petroleum) indicated that it had been presented with a new development plan for its Sea Lion project that aimed to cut costs and proceed in phases. It was stated that: "If realized, the new plan – with a total price tag of $ 2.2 billion – could lead to 80,000 barrels per day of production (up to 100,000 b/d at peak) via

12852-628: The terminology associated with introduced species is now in flux for various reasons. Examples of these terms are "invasive", "acclimatized", "adventive", "naturalized", and "immigrant" species. The term "invasive" is used to describe introduced species that cause ecological, economic, or other damage to the area in which they were introduced. Acclimatized species are introduced species that have changed physically and/or behaviorally in order to adjust to their new environment. Acclimatized species are not necessarily optimally adjusted to their new environment and may just be physically/behaviorally sufficient for

12971-409: The territory after 1833. The Falkland-born population are also descended from English and French people , Gibraltarians , Scandinavians, and South Americans. The 2016 census indicated that 43% of residents were born on the archipelago, with foreign-born residents assimilated into local culture. The legal term for the right of residence is "belonging to the islands". In 1983, full British citizenship

13090-519: The transfer of the Falklands, assuming its judgement would be accepted by the islanders. An agreement on trade ties between the archipelago and the mainland was reached in 1971 and, consequently, Argentina built a temporary airfield at Stanley in 1972. Nonetheless, Falklander dissent, as expressed by their strong lobby in the UK Parliament , and tensions between the UK and Argentina effectively limited sovereignty negotiations until 1977. Concerned at

13209-586: The two main islands. The name "Falkland" was applied to the channel by John Strong , captain of an English expedition that landed on the islands in 1690. Strong named the strait in honour of Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland , the Treasurer of the Navy who sponsored his journey. The Viscount's title originates from the town of Falkland , Scotland—the town's name probably comes from a Gaelic term referring to an "enclosure" ( lann ), but it could less plausibly be from

13328-614: The wild. Among the popular exotic pets that have become alien or invasive species are parrots, frogs, terrapins, and iguanas. Some species, such as the Western honey bee , brown rat , house sparrow , ring-necked pheasant , and European starling , have been introduced very widely. In addition there are some agricultural and pet species that frequently become feral ; these include rabbits , dogs , ducks , snakes , goats , fish , pigs , and cats . Many water fleas such as Daphnia , Bosmina and Bythotrephes have introduced around

13447-423: The wild. It is sometimes difficult to predict whether a species will become established upon release, and if not initially successful, humans have made repeated introductions to improve the probability that the species will survive and eventually reproduce in the wild. In these cases, it is clear that the introduction is directly facilitated by human desires. In the second case, species intentionally transported into

13566-529: The wool trade with the UK. In the first half of the 20th century, the Falklands served an important role in Britain's territorial claims to subantarctic islands and a section of Antarctica. The Falklands governed these territories as the Falkland Islands Dependencies starting in 1908 and retained them until their dissolution in 1985. The Falklands also played a minor role in the two world wars as

13685-427: The world as hitchhikers on ships, and arachnids such as scorpions and exotic spiders are sometimes transported to areas far beyond their native range by riding in shipments of tropical fruit. This was seen during the introduction of Steatoda nobilis (Noble false widow) worldwide through banana shipments. Further there are numerous examples of marine organisms being transported in ballast water , among them

13804-431: The world, causing dramatic changes in native freshwater ecosystems. When a new species is introduced, the species could potentially breed with members of native species, producing hybrids. The effect of the creating of hybrids can range from having little effect, a negative effect, to having devastating effects on native species. Potential negative effects include hybrids that are less fit for their environment resulting in

13923-587: The world. There is also the accidental release of the Africanized honey bees (AHB), known colloquially as "killer bees") or Africanized bee to Brazil in 1957 and the Asian carp to the United States. The insect commonly known as the brown marmorated stink bug ( Halyomorpha halys ) was introduced accidentally in Pennsylvania. Another form of unintentional introductions is when an intentionally introduced plant carries

14042-527: Was first introduced to the United States as a potential food source. The apple snail was released in Southeast Asia with the intent that it be used as a protein source, and subsequently to places like Hawaii to establish a food industry. In Alaska, foxes were introduced to many islands to create new populations for the fur trade. About twenty species of African and European dung beetles have established themselves in Australia after deliberate introduction by

14161-418: Was given to Falkland Islanders under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 . A significant population decline affected the archipelago in the 20th century, with many young islanders moving overseas in search of education, a modern lifestyle, and better job opportunities, particularly to the British city of Southampton , which came to be known in the islands as "Stanley North". In recent years,

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