Biodiversity report out

“…some could consider the biodiversity of the Cook Islands as relatively poor, but it is from this meager assortment of species that Cook Islands people have developed a culture, a lifestyle and a uniqueness that deserves as much right to survival as the diversity of the Amazon rainforest or the Savannahs of the African continent.” – Report, page 93.
“The conservation of plants and animals is not the responsibility of governments and environmental NGO’s but the responsibility of every community, every family, every individual and the right of Cook Islanders to come.” – Report, page 93.

The Fourth National Biodiversity Report was officially tabled by Associate Minister for Environment Ata Herman on Thursday at the Pukapuka Hostel at 9am.
The occasion was the official launch of the Wetlands Campaign for NES for 2011.
As May 22nd marked the annual celebration of Biodiversity Day it was fitting that the country’s report was launched on Thursday as well as the campaign for Wetlands for 2011.
The Cook Islands 4th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a report that outlines the Cook Islands progress in assessing and analysing its achievement and commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The report was prepared by Kelvin Passfield and Teariki Rongo and compiled and edited by Joseph Brider and Elizabeth Munro with the assistance of Tania Temata. The report was approved by the Cabinet on 8 April 2011. The report itself is 124 pages long and provides extensive commentary and data on a wide range of issues in sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. (The report is available online at www.environment.gov.ck or on the CBD website or from the National Environment Service office).
The report itself is presented in four parts.
Part 1 provides a background on the process of developing the strategy and action plan. The Cook Islands was one of the first countries to commit to the Convention by signing it at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Convention was ratified by the Cook Islands in 1993.
Parties to the Convention are required to provide a report to donor programmes on the biodiversity-related work that has been carried out as well as setting direction for future work in biodiversity conservation.
Under the Convention the Cook Islands is obligated to;
1. Conserve its endangered species
2. Develop a system of protected areas
3. Reduce the harmful effects of invasive species and prevent further invasion
4. Use biodiversity in a sustainable manner
5. Preserve knowledge related to biodiversity, and
6. Ensure an equitable sharing of the benefits of biodiversity.
In 1996 the Cook Islands began the process of developing a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. A project steering committee was formed in 1999. The final project document was signed in June 2000. In April 2002 Cabinet endorsed the Strategic and Action Plan document.
Part 2 deals with progress on implementing the strategy and action plan and refers to endangered and threatened species. There is some interesting data relating to threatened plant, animal and sea life. For instance, there are 18 plant species considered seriously threatened – 5 types of fern, 4 types of trees, 2 types each of herbs, sedge, shrubs and vines, 1 type of grass (page 22). There are 24 seriously threatened animal species- 9 types of sea bird, 8 types of fish (includes Big Eye Tuna), 3 types of turtle and 1 types each of crab (mangrove crab), fresh water snail, land bird and migrant bird.
Part 3 relates to mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations throughout both government and non-government institutions.
Part 4 looks at the Convention’s targets and shows the status of the Cook Islands in meeting those targets. Success was achieved in meeting Goal 2-Promoting the conservation of species diversity. Areas where achievements have not met the targets include percent coverage of protective 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.
According to the report, though many targets have not been met, overall considerable progress has been made towards meeting the obligations under the Convention. 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.

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
- Lucky $1,000 winner
- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009