Abstract The wetlands of 21 countries and territories of the Pacific Islands region are reviewed: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. The regions’ wetlands are classified into seven systems: coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, riverine, lacustrine, freshwater swamp forests and marshes.
Executive Summary
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
Summary of Wetland Situation
There are four main types of wetlands in the Cook Islands:
• Freshwater marshes and swamps: on Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Mitiaro and Mauke.
• Permanent freshwater lakes: Lake Tiriara on Mangaia, Lake Tiroto on Atiu, and Lake Rotonui and
Lake Rotoiti on Mitiaro.
• Tidal salt marsh: at Ngatangiia Harbour on Rarotonga.
• Mountain streams: on Rarotonga.
There are no mangroves in the islands.
Rarotonga’s wetlands, with in-fill areas of wetlands, and other types of land-use. (SPREP, 2015; Data source NES)
Figure 95: Rarotonga’s wetlands near Avarua. (SPREP, 2015, Data source NES)
Figure 113: Total finfish density inside reef, 2007. (PROCFish 2009)
Cook Islands country report: Profiles and results from survey work at Aitutaki, Palmerston, Mangaia and Rarotonga
Sea cucumber densities (count per area) from four islands in Cook Islands, 2013. (Rongo et al, 2014)
Sea cucumber densities (count per area) from four islands in Cook Islands, 2013. (Rongo et al, 2014)
Envisions “To tatou Marae Moana - akatapuia, akonoia, taangaangaia ma te akamanako, ei urunga no to tatou ra manava e to te uki ki mua”. “Our Marae Moana - our nourishing source of life; respected, cared for and used wisely, today and for generations to come.” It purposes to conserve biodiversity and natural assets in the oceans, reefs and islands while ensuring sustainable development of economic growth interests.
2ND MONITORING SURVEY OF THE RAROTONGA RAUI 2000
3RD MONITORING SURVEY OF THE RAROTONGA RA’UI 2002
Traditional fishing methods, raui and gender roles in Arorangi village, Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2012
Traditional fishing methods, raui and gender roles in Arorangi village, Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2012
Ra’ui in the Cook Islands – today’s context in Rarotonga 2006
HEALTH STATISTICAL TABLES 2008 - 2010. MEDICAL RECORDS UNIT Rarotonga Hospital
STATISTICAL BULLETIN 2005. MEDICAL RECORDS UNIT Rarotonga Hospital Published in 2006
Medical Records Unit – Rarotonga Hospital COOK ISLANDS