Officers from the National Environment Service (NES) recently completed a week-long mission to Atiu under the Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) Project, supporting invasive species management and ecosystem restoration efforts across the island.
The mission, held from 8–12 June 2026, focused on aerial mapping of African tulip trees, assessing existing control sites, supporting invasive animal management programmes, and strengthening monitoring tools for local project staff.
A key outcome of the visit was the successful capture of high-resolution drone imagery across all known African tulip tree sites while the trees were in flower. The imagery will be processed into detailed GIS maps to accurately identify and monitor the distribution of the invasive species across Atiu, providing an important baseline for future eradication efforts.
The team also assessed the effectiveness of current African tulip tree control methods and trialled new treatment techniques to improve long-term management outcomes. Additional activities included supporting the island’s wild pig management programme, planning for rat bait stations and wild cat trapping sites, and developing digital monitoring tools using ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123.
During the mission, NES officers met with the Atiu Island Council to provide an update on project progress and discuss future invasive species management priorities. The Council expressed strong support for the ongoing work and the importance of continued collaboration to protect Atiu’s biodiversity.
Implemented through regional partnerships coordinated by SPREP, the RIR Project aims to strengthen island resilience through invasive species management and ecosystem restoration. On Atiu, project activities include African tulip tree eradication, support for wild pig management, and the control of invasive rats and cats.
