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"
Agenda for the RESPONSE consultation workshop - 6th March 2024
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
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
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.
Reports baseline surveys used to monitor Rarotonga's Fringing Reef