In the Cook Islands, some previous efforts to control invasive species include eradication of rats in Palmerston and Suwarrow, red passionfruit (Passiflora cisnana) in Mauke, control of wild pigs in Atiu, and the use of biological controls in Rarotonga for the African tulip tree and other target invasive species. The eradication of the myna bird in Atiu is one of the Cook Islands success stories, as this program started over 15 years ago in 2009, and was announced as myna-bird free in 2024 after 6 years of no reported sightings.
Prompted by the desire to control, manage and eradicate invasive species in the Cook Islands, on Tuesday 10th February 2026, the NES and the Ministry of Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU seeks to strengthen and enhance collaboration between the two agencies on projects and activities that aim to reduce impacts of invasive species throughout the country. Currently, the NES and MOA are working together to implement key actions under the Restoring Island Resilience project, to control and eradicate selected invasive species on Rarotonga, Mauke and Atiu, in partnership with the respective Island Councils and Agriculture staff.
Moving forward, both agencies will work together this year to finalise the planned activities and sites for several upcoming projects that address invasive species. These projects are namely the GEF-8 Regional project spearheaded by SPREP, which seeks to build national institutional capacity and capability to protect and restore biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change by managing invasive species, and includes the review of the National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP). Another project in the pipeline is the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) project with FAO, which focuses on restoring biodiversity and cultural resilience through native species recovery, invasive species control and biodiversity assessments.
This MOU reinforces our joint commitment to implement actions under our shared goals, including national strategies and plans to achieve the NSDA, such as the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the NISSAP, and the draft Biosecurity Strategy.
NES looks forward to collaborating more closely with MOA and other agencies to control invasive species targeted under national goals, island plans and programs, and upcoming donor-funded projects.
