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GEFPAS integrated island biodiversity final project review meeting, 23-25 November, Vava'u and 25th Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga

Available Online

The GEFPAS Integrated Island Biodiversity Final Project Review Meeting was convened in Vavau, Tonga from the 21 st 24 th November and concluded on the 25 th November, 2015 in Nukualofa, Tonga and was attended by representatives from the Cook Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, SPREP and UNEP and it concluded with the following key outcomes

Cook Islands POPs Project : Summary of the test results for food and other household items

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Graham, B. W.

This report provides a summary of the analytical results for a range of food and other household items that were collected in October 2010 as part of the background information gathering phase of the Cook Islands POPs Project. The samples were analysed for a wide range of possible pesticide contaminants, including the POPs pesticides. The samples were also tested for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Rarotonga fore reef community survey for 2009

Island and Ocean Ecosystems

Rongo Charles, Teariki

Rongo, Jackalyn

Rongo, Teina

Previous reef surveys on Rarotonga have shown that the crown-of-thorns outbreak in the late 1990s degraded the fore reefs to its current state departure of corals. The 2006 survey indicated that average coral cover at most sites were less than 5%, however it was noted that recovery was occurring. This is consistent with the present survey, which indicated that most sites have doubled their average percent coral cover after three years with some sites showing a greater than three-fold increas.

National Ballast Water Management Strategy 2016-2020 Cook Islands

Waste Management and Pollution Control, BRB

Available Online

Government of Cook Islands

The importance of coastal and marine environments to every aspect of the lives of Pacific Islanders cannot be overstated. Pacific Island Countries (PICs) maintain resource rights and management responsibilities for over 30million square kilometres of ocean, equivalent to the total land area of Canada, China and the USA. The total population of coastal pacific islanders is only 2.6 million. There are 11 square kilometres of ocean for each Pacific Islander. Jurisdictionally, the ocean is 200 times more significant to the average Pacific Islander than it is to the average global citizen.

Cook Islands Statement at the Whales in a Changing Ocean Conference, Vava'u, Tonga, for Minister K. Turepu

Island and Ocean Ecosystems

Available Online

National Environment Service

Cook Islands Statement at the Whales in a Changing Ocean Conference, Vava'u, Tonga

Cook Islands National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2020 (Draft)

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Government of Cook Islands

The Cook Islands consists of 15 small islands scattered over 2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. They lie in the centre of the Polynesian Triangle, flanked by Fiji 2,300 km to the west, Tahiti 1,140 km to the east, Hawaii 4,730 km north and New Zealand 3,010 km southwest. The climate of the Cook Islands is sub-tropical and tropical oceanic moderated by trade winds. The islands form two groups: the Northern Cooks and the Southern Cooks. The Northern Group consists of five atolls (Pukapuka, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Suwarrow and Penrhyn), and a sand cay (Nassau). The Southern Group consists of four makateai islands (Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro), two atolls (Palmerston and Manuae), one almost-atoll (Aitutaki), one sand cay (Takutea) and one high island.

Compile and Review Invasive Alien Species Information for the Cook Islands

Available Online

Pagad. S.

A Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project is currently being implemented in the Cook Islands titled the Prevention, Control and Management of Invasive Alien Species in the Pacific Islands. This is a multicountry project and includes the Niue, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Tonga, and Samoa. Activities within the framework of this project include the conservation of priority species and ecosystems and the management of Invasive Alien Species (IAS).

Report on the study of Culicoides "sandflies" on Ootu, Aitutaki and on Mitiaro

Available Online

McCormack. G.

An international team of scientists undertook a field study on Aitutaki and Mitiaro of Belkins Bitingmidge, Culicoides belkini, locally known as sandflies. The biting midge has been a serious nuisance to residents and visitors on Aitutaki since the early 1960s, and on Mitiaro since about 1980.

Mitiaro Sandflies - Survey Report

Available Online

Survey information and notes on Mitiaro Sandflies in the Cook Islands.

The Distribution and Abundance of Myna Birds (Acridotheres tristis) and Rimatara Lorikeets (Vini kuhlii) on Atiu, Cook Islands.

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Heptonstall. R.E.A

The Common Myna Acridotheres tristis was originally introduced to the island of Atiu, Cook Islands, in 1915 to control the Coconut stick insect Graeffea crouanii but it has since become a pest itself. The Rimatara lorikeet Vini Kuhlii or Kura was reintroduced, after disappearing from the Southern Cook Islands almost 200 years ago, to Atiu on 24th April 2007 from Rimatara, French Polynesia to create a reserve population due to there being only approximately 1000 birds left on Rimatara. Due to observations of mynas reportedly harassing and attacking adult and juvenile Kura at the nest, an eradication programme was introduced by Gerald McCormack, Director of the Cook Island Natural Heritage Trust (CINHT), in May 2009 to reduce the population size of myna birds to give the Kura a couple of peaceful nesting seasons to help establish a stable population on Atiu. A study by J. Mitchell of the University of Leeds in May/June 2009 estimated a starting count of approximately 6000 myna birds prior to the eradication programme. That survey was followed up in May 2010 using two strategies, the transect method and roost counts. Analysis of transect method counts, using the Distance software, estimate there are approximately 3128 mynas on Atiu. Roost counts were at variance with that figure and estimated only 1280 myna birds. The roost counts estimate of 1280 may be the most accurate because all mynas would be in the winter roosts for heat conservation from May to July alleviating the concern that females and young would be nesting away from the roosts during counts, whereas transect counts may involve recounting the same birds numerous times; a problem minimized by repeating transect counts twice daily and using different transects to cover as much of the expected habitat as possible. Only a limited survey of the population of Kura was possible during this visit to Atiu since almost all available time and logistics were focused on myna surveys. An estimate of the Kura population suggests there are approximately 100 birds, which suggests that since the 2007 introduction the Kura population is thriving on Atiu. However, comparisons with the exponential growth rate model of 184 birds suggest this difference could be due to myna bird harassment despite culling. A more comprehensive survey is recommended perhaps using similar strategies to determine whether the myna has any deleterious effect on the Kura. In July 2010 a new myna bounty was introduced and is proving successful as a further 383 myna birds were culled by the end of July. The Atiu Island Council may decide on complete eradication of the myna to give the Kura full advantage of living on Atiu in the absence of the competitive myna bird.

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