Cook Islands

The Cook Islands National Environment Service
This website was developed by the National Environment Service with the assistance of UNDP and GEF Funded National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Add-on Project, to make available information about Cook Islands environment programmes, services and activities. The Cook Islands National Environment Service is the central government agency charged with protecting, managing and conserving the environment of the Cook Islands, on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future Cook Islanders.

Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage: The Cook Islands Biodiversity Website
The Natural Heritage Project was initiated by Sir Geoffrey Henry within his Prime Minister's Department in 1990. The Project moved into the Natural Heritage Trust when it was established in 1999 by an Act of Parliament.
The Project is a programme of the Cook Islands Government:
a) to collect and integrate scientific and traditional information on local plants and animals
b) to preserve such information, and make it available to the general public.

National Sustainable Development Plan 2006-2010 The primary objective of the National Sustainable Development Plan 2006-2010 is to build a sustainable future that meets their economic and social needs in partnership with the government, the private sector and the local, regional and international stakeholders, without compromising prudent economic management, environmental integrity, social stability and the needs of future generations.

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) The NBSAP of the Cook Islands is funded through the UNDP/GEF to enable the Cook Islands to assess capacity building needs and define the countries specific priorities in the areas of in-situ and ex-situ conservation, methods to assess threats to biodiversity and traditional knowledge, practices and innovations. Further more the project aims to create a way of sharing information by setting up a website on biodiversity and related matter. As a result it will improve the capacity of local people to sustainably manage their biodiversity resources. Please click here to view the full report.

Dates and Venue	Event
26 May 2010 Avarua	Cook Islands' Celebrations of the International Year of Biodiversity
27 - 28 May 2010 Avarua	Lagoon Day
31 May - 4 June 2010 Avarua	National Environment Week

 
Protecting the Muri Lagoon in Rarotonga
The community of Muri Village requested assistance in upgrading their meeting house to a multi-purpose standard (cyclone evacuation center, cultural arts center, gymnasium, health care, etc.). Seacology agreed fund the renovating and upgrading of the village meeting house and health clinic; in exchange, the Muri community will declare 413 acres of the lagoon and surrounding area as a protected area for a duration of 10 years.
For more information, please visit the website: Seacology Island Projects