Coral reefs in every region of the world are threatened by climate change, no matter how remote or well protected. Identifying and protecting climate refugia is a popular recommendation for coral reef management. Climate refugia are locations that maintain suitable environmental conditions for a resident species even when surrounding areas become inhospitable.
The SOE uses the 2011 report by Cook Islands to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to identify the country’s terrestrial protected areas. There are 14 terrestrial PAs, which total at least 1407.2 hectares (five PAs are uncalculated), or about six per cent of the Cook Islands’ total 240 km2 land mass.
There are 14 terrestrial PAs, which total at least 1407.2 hectares (five PAs are uncalculated), or about six per cent of the Cook Islands’ total 240 km2 land mass. Terrestrial PA are concentrated in a few locations. Three of the 15 islands in Cook Islands are wildlife reserves (Suwarrow, Takutea and Manuae), almost 40% of the terrestrial PAs are represented by four motu on Pukapuka, and three of Rarotonga’s four PAs make up 36% of total terrestrial PAs.
Map showing the EEZ of the Pacific
Dedicated State of Environment (SOE) reports in an online interactive web format for SPREP members.
This study reports the concentration of the metals, such as Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Fe, in the road dust and the roadside soil of Suva City. A total number of 45 road dust and 36 roadside soil samples were collected at 18 different locations around Suva City with potential traffic influence and analysed.
The purpose of this research is to develop a robust water quality baseline data of relevant physical, chemical and biological parameters, over an 8-month period, 4 months in summer and 4 months in winter, at both low and high tides for three main estuaries along the Suva foreshore, where an increase in recreational water activity has been noted, as a result of urbanisation. Such a baseline is currently not available in the Fiji Islands. This investigation used affordable advanced and approved standard methods.
The Pacific Network for Environmental Assessment (PNEA) Portal is an initiative of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to support government officials from Pacific Island countries and territories who work with environmental impact assessment (EIA), strategic environmental assessment (SEA) as well as Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS).
The portal complements SPREP’s current capacity building program for EIA and SEA - including the recently launched Regional EIA Guidelines, the Coastal Tourism EIA guidelines, and SEA guidelines.
The dataset contains a range of different Pacific regional maps developed by the SPREP GIS team and is available for use by members and partners.
map of transect lines on each of the Islet of Palmerston island
This report covers the Cook Islands component of a survey of the regional distribution and status of asbestos-contaminated construction materials, and best practice options for its management, in selected Pacific island communities. The objectives of the survey are summarised as follows:
To assess the status of, and management options for, asbestos throughout the Pacific region; and
To develop recommendations for future management interventions, including a prioritised list of target locations.
Species assessments of the Kakerori (Rarotonga Flycatcher, Pomarea dimidiata), present in both Rarotonga and Atiu.
These regulations are the Environment (Atiu and Takutea) Regulations 2008.
This dataset has training materials on the use and operation of the Cook Islands Data Portal Training.
Information related to the GIS course launch on Wednesday 18th May 2022