The Northern Marianas has been given US$181,048 by the US government to help the island of Rota eradicate the recently discovered coconut rhinoceros beetle.
rhinoceros beetle Photo: Wikimedia
The funds will be provided to the CNMI Department of Land and Natural Resources.
And used in collaborative efforts that include the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the University of Guam's Biosecurity Extension Program.
Efforts to eradicate the coconut rhinoceros beetle will include surveying, containment, trapping, isolating breeding areas and sanitation activities, including the burning of excess green waste.
The highly invasive species, which has decimated neighbouring Guam's coconut population, was discovered on Rota last October.