Weed Biocontrol in the Cook Islands

A team from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research travelled to Rarotonga during July/August 2023 to carry out monitoring of biocontrols released in previous years. The team used drones to conduct monitoring surveillance for the invasive African Tulip tree species, using LiDAR and other imagery techniques.

This newsletter also provides an update on the control of the biocontrols.

This research has been approved by the Cook Islands National Research Council. Funding support for this was provided by the Managing Invasive Species for Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific project (MISCCAP) and MFAT. 

National Environment Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Te Ipukarea Society and Infrastructure Cook Islands assisted in the work.