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Unsigned PDF version of the Cook Islands GEF 7 Project Document

Report consolidating the discussions and presentations of the Cook Islands GEF-8 National Dialogue, hosted by the National Environment Service in partnership with the Global Environment Facility on the 19th & 20th of April 2023 at the Edgwater Resort in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

The purpose of this report is to contextualise the unique characteristics of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and identify some roadblocks to achieving universal access to clean water and sanitation. The PIC context is established by examining the PICs’ unique economic, socioeconomic, geomorphology, climate, and cultural characteristics.

The report consists of:

This survey was created by the National Environment Service to gauge community awareness of single-use plastics and understand the needs of end-users to successfully transition to sustainable alternatives. The information collected will be used to inform the RESPONSE project aimed at reducing single-use plastics in the Cook Islands via the food and bevergae industry.

To learn more about the RESPONSE project, see our website:

On the 6th March 2024, the National Environment Service and Te Ipukarea Society held a multi-stakeholder consultation workshop at the Rarotongan Resort in Rarotonga. The workshop was intended to inform stakeholders from the tourism operators, retailers and wholesalers, government stakeholders and community organisations of the RESPONSE project and gain stakeholder perspective and insight for the project development.

A summary note of the RESPONSE project concept for a broad understanding of the project objective and outcomes

Data is accurate and data points are sourced (in each row) but some documents have not been referenced e.g. Island strategic plans for those pa enua islands that have them. Based on 2017 documents but last worked on 27 March 2018.

wetlands area in hectares for Rarotonga in csv format

Abstract The wetlands of 21 countries and territories of the Pacific Islands region are reviewed: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. The regions’ wetlands are classified into seven systems: coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, riverine, lacustrine, freshwater swamp forests and marshes.

Executive Summary
This report is presented in 4 chapters.
Chapter 1 provides background on the process of developing the Cook Island
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The Cook Islands was one
of the first countries to commit to the CBD by signing it at the Earth Summit in 1992,
and the Cook Island National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was
one of the first to be completed for the Pacific Region. This in itself was a positive
step towards implementation of the CBD. The NBSAP was prepared based on

Summary of Wetland Situation
There are four main types of wetlands in the Cook Islands:
• Freshwater marshes and swamps: on Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Mitiaro and Mauke.
• Permanent freshwater lakes: Lake Tiriara on Mangaia, Lake Tiroto on Atiu, and Lake Rotonui and
Lake Rotoiti on Mitiaro.
• Tidal salt marsh: at Ngatangiia Harbour on Rarotonga.
• Mountain streams: on Rarotonga.
There are no mangroves in the islands.

Rarotonga’s wetlands, with in-fill areas of wetlands, and other types of land-use. (SPREP, 2015; Data source NES)

Figure 95: Rarotonga’s wetlands near Avarua. (SPREP, 2015, Data source NES)

Figure 113: Total finfish density inside reef, 2007. (PROCFish 2009)

Cook Islands country report: Profiles and results from survey work at Aitutaki, Palmerston, Mangaia and Rarotonga

Sea cucumber densities (count per area) from four islands in Cook Islands, 2013. (Rongo et al, 2014)

Water Quality Data Report Aitutaki 2008