One of the Pacific’s most remote island groups, Tokelau, is facing a quiet but persistent environmental challenge with the spread of the invasive Singapore daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata). Once introduced as an ornamental ground cover, the plant has now become a serious ecological threat. Its dense mats smother native vegetation, disrupt fragile coastal ecosystems and even hinder the growth of traditional crops that communities rely on for food security.
Communities in Tokelau have observed how quickly the weed has spread, outcompeting native plants, reducing biodiversity and making it difficult for natural regeneration to occur. Left unmanaged, the Singapore daisy can dominate landscapes, threatening both the environment and livelihoods of communities.
