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2011 Cook Islands 4th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Available Online

Kelvin Passefield

,

Teariki Rongo

2011
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 feedback from stakeholder workshops. However, progress on implementation of the NBSAP has been limited, and significant progress has been made only in several areas in regard to meeting the targets of the CBD. Chapter 2 deals with progress on implementation of the NBSAP. The most significant achievement has been the improvement in the status of threatened species, and this target has been achieved through the upgrading of the Rarotongan Flycatcher (Pomarea dimidiata) from critically endangered to endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species, in addition to this a number of other targets have been partially achieved. The Cook Islands Biodiversity database, listing the country’s biodiversity is a significant and on-going step towards achieving article 7 of the CBD. Chapter 3 relates to mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations throughout both Government and non-government institutions. This was attempted through the incorporation of the NBSAP into the National Environment Strategic Action Framework (NESAF) and the subsequent inclusion of the NESAF into the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP). Despite this, the policy framework did not translate to on the ground mainstreaming of biodiversity concerns. A table is presented showing the role of various institutions in biodiversity. Chapter 4 looks at the CBD targets, and shows the status of the Cook Islands in meeting these targets. Success has been achieved in relation to Goal 2, promoting the conservation of species diversity. Areas where achievements have not met the targets include percent coverage of protected areas, and effective mainstreaming of biodiversity. Another area where more effort is required is in the formulation and implementation of effective management plans for major alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. Though many targets have not been met, overall, the Cook Islands have made considerable progress towards meeting their obligations under the CBD. The main problem lies not with lack of progress, but in trying to find where this progress has been made. There is a need to improve the monitoring and evaluation system in order to identify progress. The preparation of a report such as this should be an ongoing activity, with progress against goals recorded as it is made. This will make the preparation of future reports much more straightforward, and easily completed using the capacity within the National Environment Service.
Cook Islands NCD Risk Factors
Climate Change Resilience

MHCI/WHO

2011
Enhance the breeding capacity of the reintroduced Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) by reducing harassment by common myna (Acridotheres tristis) - Cook islands
Available Online

McCormack, Gerald

2011
This document is part of a technical report series on conservation projects funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the Conservation International Pacific Islands Program (CI-Pacific). The main purpose of this series is to disseminate project findings and successes to a broader audience of conservation professionals in the Pacific, along with interested members of the public and students. The reports are being prepared on an ad-hoc basis as projects are completed and written up. In most cases the reports are composed of two parts, the first part is a detailed technical report on the project which gives details on the methodology used, the results and any recommendations. The second part is a brief project completion report written for the donor and focused on conservation impacts and lessons learned.
SOPAC country profile : Cook islands
Available Online

SOPAC

2011
The Cook Islands comprises 15 islands with a total land area of 237 sq km and a maximum height above sea-level of 652 m. The islands are scattered over an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.8 million sq km; one of the largest EEZ’s in the South Pacific.
Cook Islands POPs Project : Summary of the test results for food and other household items
Biodiversity Conservation, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Graham, B. W.

2010
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)
Source information for the inventory of dioxins and furan releases in the Cook Islands, September 2010
Biodiversity Conservation

Hilyard, Maureen

2010
Dioxins are organic compounds that are not produced intentionally but only as a product of other chemical procedures such as incineration, wood and fuel burning, combustion,and others. When dioxins enter the food chain,they are retained in the fatty tissue of living organisms. General hospital waste, including used bandages, are put into yellow bins to indicate that they will be burned in the incinerator. Syringes from the outer islands are delivered to the incinerator in special boxes. Needles are disposed of in a special electric burner. The incinerator area has become a dumping ground for a variety of waste not just for burning. The hospital does not have a sustainable environment policy. Quarantine wastes are incinerated at the Rarotonga airport. Two incinerators were purchased in 1973. One has only one of its two chambers operational. The other has not worked for years and has supplied parts for the other as parts are no longer available. The Airport Authority and AirNZ have had discussions about the efficiency of the incineration process, especially when food waste from LSG is included with wet waste from daily aircraft. A new incinerator for the airport is warranted if aircraft waste continues to be required to be burned at its destination.. A general survey of domestic fuel and waste burning revealed that 89% of households use gas cookers although 33%also use an umu for cooking food at least once a month. 68% burn green waste with only 2 of those who were surveyed having compost bins. 17.6 tonnes of wood and 2794 kg of LPG are burned by householders each month. Recycling is used with varying degrees of efficiency within our schools. Green waste is burned in all schools. Some attempt at composting is used in one of the primary schools. None of the schools had an environmental sustainability policy, and it was noted that students had seen already separated material combined together during the weekly collection by the waste contractors. There is not enough information about who accepts material for recycling or other more appropriate methods of disposal of school waste. In 2008,the statistics department recorded 17 million litres of gasoline and other mineral fuels imported to the Cook Islands for general use by the public for cars,boats,etc,and also by Te Aponga Uiraandthe Airport Authority. In 2010, 21% of the 9214 registered vehicles are older than 6 years with implications as to their effectiveness regarding exhaust emissions. 336,000 litres of fuel is consumed annually by the inter island shipping service and local charter and recreational craft. There is no policy about the disposal of waste oil. 11 tonnes of tobacco products including 8.5 million cigarettes were imported into the Cook Islands in 2008. 52 tonnes of plastic and polymers were imported in 2008, mainly for use by food vendors.
The Distribution and Abundance of Myna Birds (Acridotheres tristis) and Rimatara Lorikeets (Vini kuhlii) on Atiu, Cook Islands.
Biodiversity Conservation, BRB
Available Online

Heptonstall. R.E.A

2010
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.
Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project 1st Multipartite Review Meeting 2010 Presentations; UNDP, SPREP, SOPAC, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Climate Change Resilience
Available Online

PACC

2010
Technical report
Proposal for a Geospatial Framework for climate change adaptation in the coastal zone of Mangaia Island, Cook Islands
Climate Change Resilience
Available Online

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) & Dr R. Howorth Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)

2010
The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change initiative is a regional effort that brings the Pacific nations together to enhance the capacity of countries to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change.Known simply as PACC, this regional effort constitutes an implementation framework, which caters for a long term approach to adaptation measures by strengthening policy frameworks, instituting design guidelines, and improving capacity with technical expertise. PACC projects are implemented nationally in any key areas; food production and food security, coastal management and water resource management.
Global forest resources assessment 2010 : main report [plus] country reports : American Samoa; Cook Islands; Fiji; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Nauru; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu;
Climate Change Resilience
Available Online

Forestry Department - FAO of the UN

2010
Interest in the world’s forests has grown to unprecedented heights, especially with growing awareness of their role in the global carbon cycle. The possibility of mitigating climate change by reducing carbon emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation, and by increasing carbon uptake through afforestation and sustainable forest management, highlights the essential role of forests in supporting life on Earth.

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