The National Environment Service is undertaking invasive species projects in the islands of Atiu, Mauke and Rarotonga, under the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) project.

Invasive species are a leading driver of biodiversity loss in the Pacific.  They have a significant impact on ecosystem resilience, leading to a loss of production in ecosystem services and a reduced ability to adapt to climate change.

The Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) project in the Cook Islands includes two programmes:

·         PRISMSS War on Weeds

·         PRISMSS Resilient Ecosystems, Resilient Communities

The War on Weeds program will focus on four low incidence, high priority weeds that were identified at a national scoping workshop in June 2024, as priority invasive species requiring control. These are the Honolulu rose (Clerodendrum chinense), Giant reed (Arundo donax), and Dodders (Cuscuta camperstris) in Rarotonga, and Red passionfruit (Passiflora rubra) in Mauke. These weeds, while at low incidence, pose high risks to the Cook Islands with high potential to invade and transform the nature of ecosystems over a substantial area. It is best to target these weeds before they become too widespread.

The Resilient Ecosystems Resilient Communities program focuses on managing priority invasive species in an area of ecological importance, and replanting native species in the same area over a period of time, ensuring to remove the seed bank of invasive species. For the RIR project, this program will take place on Atiu to control African tulip trees (Spathodea campanulate), support the existing wild pig hunting control program, and set up rat and cat traps.

NES will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Island Governments of Mauke and Atiu, local communities and SPREP to implement this one-year project, ending in 2026. NES