A nearshore marine assessment of Atiu and Takutea prepared by MMR for Atiu Island Council and Community. The survey in Atiu took place from the 21st to 30th of May 2018 at ten field sites around the island. The survey in Takutea took place on the 24th and 25th of May of 2018 at four sites around the island. Survey sites were selected to include any existing rā’ui and nearby control areas (unregulated areas open to harvest). Finfish, invertebrates and substrate data were collected at each field site on both islands using SCUBA transects in 10 m of water on the fore reef slope.
A survey of finfish, invertebrates and substrate in Aitutaki & Manuae from September to November 2017.
This report contributes preliminary results for a study of the genomic diversity and population connectivity of paua (small giant clam, Tridacna maxima) in the Cook Islands.
Islands used in this study include Manihiki, Palmerston, Aitutaki, Manuae, Takutea, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Rarotonga and Mangaia.
This research was commissioned by the Ministry of Marine Resources.
The CKI OECM Workshop Report consolidates the discussions, outcomes, recommendations and next steps following the Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures Workshop, hosted by the National Environment Service, in partnership with Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Program and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, on the 24th - 25th January 2023 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
Official project document for the Cook Islands national project under GEF-7 programming, project title: Enhancing Biodiversity considerations and effective protected area management to safeguard the Cook Islands integrated ecosystems and species. Annexes not included.
Information on the location of known seabird breeding colonies throughout the Pacific including all PICTS, also Hawaii, Australian offshore islands and NZ Kermadecs
All materials related to the GEF 8 National Dialogue, hosted by the National Environment Service with support from the GEF Secretariat at Edgewater Resort on the 19th & 20th April 2023, including the presentation slides, report and activity sheets will be hosted here.
Reports and data from the Cook Islands GEF-5 Ridge to Reef project
The National Environment Service issues permits for the export of CITES species out of the Cook Islands. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
This report provides information on permits issued by the NES in 2022.
The National Environment Service (NES) herein reports on its activities and performance for the financial year period 2022-23.
The Cook Islands Minamata Initial Assessment Report was developed under the project, “Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in the Pacific”. The project is an enabling activity for the ratification and/or implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The report consists of:
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.
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.
Cook Islands | Exclusive Economic Zone Area:
1,969,553 sq. km
Total Area Protected:
30,132 sq. km
Marine Protected Areas: 16
Designated: 14
Established: 0
Proposed: 2
Terrestrial Protected Areas: 2
Designated: 2
Established: 0
Proposed: 0
International Designations: No
Dunstan et al. 2018. Bioregions of the South West Pacific Ocean. CSIRO, Australia.
zip file "Pacific_shape_draft15112018", containing all the shape files from the first workshop
This dataset contains mapped point locations for protected areas within the Pacific Islands Region. This dataset should be viewed in combination with the World Database on Protected Areas polygon locations to get a comprehensive view of all protected areas within the region.
This dataset contains mapped polygon locations for protected areas within the Pacific Islands Region. This dataset should be viewed in combination with the World Database on Protected Areas point locations to get a comprehensive view of all protected areas within the region.
This dataset contains mapped point locations for protected areas within the Pacific Islands Region. This dataset should be viewed in combination with the World Database on Protected Areas polygon locations to get a comprehensive view of all protected areas within the region.
This dataset contains mapped polygon locations for protected areas within the Pacific Islands Region. This dataset should be viewed in combination with the World Database on Protected Areas point locations to get a comprehensive view of all protected areas within the region.