A team from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research travelled to Rarotonga during July/August 2023 to carry out monitoring of biocontrols released in previous years. The team used drones to conduct monitoring surveillance for the invasive African Tulip tree species, using LiDAR and other imagery techniques.
This newsletter also provides an update on the control of the biocontrols.
Refer to pages 6-7 for Cook Islands story on biocontrol monitoring conducted in July/August 2023, "Weed Biocontrol in the Cook Islands Shows the Way for Others"
The National Environment Service is working closely with family representatives of the Takitumu Conservation Area, to submit an assessment application that will give the TCA official international recognition as an Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure.
All documents relevant to the submission process will be stored here, including resources on the TCA, which are referred to in the assessment form.
This is the final assessment for the Takitumu Conservation Area as an Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure. It received endorsement at the TCA community meeting held on Tuesday 12th March 2024.
This is the presentation that the NES and the TCA Working Group used, to report back on our updates and the final OECM assessment form for the TCA
From February - April 2024, the National Environment Service and Te Ipukarea Society conducted consultations with various stakeholders for the RESPONSE project. Documents from these consultations have been filed here.
A summary note of the RESPONSE project concept for a broad understanding of the project objective and outcomes
The workshop slides for the Rarotonga consultation workshop for the RESPONSE project hosted by NES & TIS on the 6th March 2024 at the Rarotongan Resort
Agenda for the RESPONSE consultation workshop - 6th March 2024
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.
This map was created using QGIS, and was developed using a map that was based on the original survey department map