The Rarotonga Environment Act 1994/95 was repealed by the Environment Act 2003 formalising the establishment of the NES.
The role of the National Environment Services is based on 5 main areas and has four main departments.
There is a suite of policies, strategies and plans developed over the years to enable environmental protection, conservation and management.
Our cultural identify is deeply rooted in our environment and it is part of our heritage and legacy.
An Environment Consent is a permission granted to an applicant undertaking an activity that has some but not significant environment impact.
A permission required for the construction of a standard residential dwelling or non-construction purposes such as land clearance.
A management tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision making.
Any person planning to take any wild animal or plant overseas must apply for a permit for trade movement of endangered species (CITES).
All importers of bulk HFC goods must register as an approved importer with NES.
Other permits issued by NES relates to the transboundary movement of waste, ozone depletion substances and wildlife.
Biodiversity plans are important documents to manage and determine the state of our natural environment.
Protecting species, habitats, ecosystem, and protecting biological diversity.
Activities to protect, maintain, or restore the quality of environmental media.
Historical milestone for conservation in the Cook Islands
The Environment Act 2003 is the primary legislation applied throughout the Cook Islands and the Outer Islands (Pa Enua) of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro.
Several subsidiary legislations made under the Environment Act 2003 to apply provisions of the Act and to also include the Pa Enua.
Numerous national legislations interlinked with the environment but administered by other government entities.
The programme also included visits to recycling and resource recovery facilities in Vanuatu, allowing participants to observe practical examples of waste diversion, collection systems, and
A wide range of waste was collected, including plastics, cans and metal, glass, general rubbish and bulky items.
The workshop was organised and facilitated by Infrastructure Cook Islands and the Pacific Community (SPC).
Participants reviewed progress on the draft management plan and shared their perspectives on the future of the conservation area.
Mana and Moana are a reminder of how much plastic we use and throw away, and what can happen when plastic waste reaches our ocean.
Image: Winning 1st Place in the Rarotonga Open, Plastic Sculpture: Mariolito Tagoy / Trixie Aberde
The training supports the Cook Islands’ obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and national efforts to better manage controlled
A strong takeaway from the conference was the wider ecological value of seabirds.
The monitoring has also detected occasional Tahiti petrels, although these appear to be passing through Mangaia rather than remaining in the area for extended periods
