Projects

Biodiversity

  • Year of the Coral Reef Campaign
  • Publication of Baby K’s Secret Valley – a children’s book about the Rarotonga Flycatcher
  • Working with Takitumu Conservation Area to protect the endangered Rarotonga Flycatcher-an endemic bird (global population in 1989 29; current population 300+)
  • Bird surveys and rat eradication programmes on Suwarrow to protect globally significant populations of seabirds
  • Longline and purse seine fishing Awareness Campaign “Te Ki o to Tatou Moana ei Angai rai ia Tatou” (Our ocean of fish is for the sustenance and nourishment of our people)
  • Survey of the endemic Rarotonga Starling
  • Supporting the translocation of the Rimatara Lorikeet
  • Assessment of the impact of the Mynah bird on the endemic Mangaian Kingfisher
  • Supporting and working with Cook Islands Whale Research, Cook Islands Whale and Wildlife Centre, Titikaveka Growers Association, Takitumu Conservation Area, Natural Heritage Trust, Cook Islands Voyaging Society.
  • Save Our Suwarrow campaign to maintain Suwarrow Atoll as a National Park
  • Production of Suwarrow documentary and Mauke Island Memories documentary, recording traditional knowledge
  • Survey of seabirds in the northern group islands and assessment of Invasive Alien Species
  • Identification of Cook Islands Key Biodiversity Areas and Important Bird Areas
  • Marine Park project management

Ecologically Sustainable Development

  • Environmental Awards to those individuals and companies who promote and implement sustainable environmental practices
  • Input towards the development of Green Guidelines for Tourism
  • Provision of advice to tourism businesses and implementation of workshops to help businesses green their operation
  • Seabed Mining awareness and submissions to the Cook Islands Parliament
  • Submissions to government on Environmental Impact Assessment reports for development projects
  • Participation on government and private sector-established Boards and Committees

Waste Reduction

  • Say Yes to Cloth Bags campaign
  • Implementing the first Recycling Centre on Rarotonga
  • Protest against the illegal dumping of waste aboard MV Miss Mataroa off Rarotonga
  • Coastal lagoon water quality testing for persistent organic pollutants
  • Setting up annual Environment Week and Clean Up the World campaigns
  • Petition against the Shipment of Nuclear Waste throughout the Pacific
  • Campaign for use of Cloth Nappies

Youth

  • Partnership with the Cook Islands Girl Guides to produce Cloth Shopping Bags
  • Implementing Adopt a Beach programme
  • Environment education at schools
  • Cook Islands coordinator for the UNESCO Small Islands Voice programme 2005
  • Working with National Environment Service (NES)and other government agencies and NGO’s on Lagoon Day
  •  a three-day environmental exhibition for schools and the public
  • Recycling programme at schools
  • Recyclable Jewellery Competition
  • Youth Environment Forum