Government agencies, traditional leaders, conservation organisations, and community representatives gathered at Crown Beach Resort in Rarotonga on Thursday 12th March 2026 to help shape a new national initiative aimed at restoring biodiversity and strengthening cultural resilience across our islands.
Hosted by the National Environment Service (NES) and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) Project Inception and Formulation Workshop, marked the beginning of collaborative efforts to develop a full project proposal for submission to the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project, titled “Restoring Biodiversity and Cultural Resilience in the Cook Islands through Native Species Recovery, Invasive Species Control, and Biodiversity Assessment” — was approved in November 2025 through the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), to support countries in implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
The GBFF was established following decisions made at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP15 in December 2022, to increase financial support for the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The mission of the GBFF is to assist countries in achieving the objectives of the Kunming–Montreal GBF by strengthening national approaches to biodiversity management, planning, policy development, governance, and financing. The Cook Islands is eligible to access up to USD 2 million from this funding window and in August 2025, the NES submitted a project concept note to the FAO for the full USD 2 million allocation. The concept was drafted in alignment with activities that need to be implemented under the draft Cook Islands National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026, as well as island priorities. The project concept was approved by the GEF on 19 November 2025.
The purpose of the project formulation workshop held on 12 March 2026 was to present the project’s objectives, outcomes, and outputs based on the approved concept, and to gather input from national stakeholders to further refine the proposed activities. NES will serve as the lead executing agency, the GBFF will provide the financial resources, and FAO will act as the multilateral implementing agency.
The project will target three ecologically and culturally significant locations: Maungaroa valley located within Vaka Puaikura in Rarotonga, Mitiaro in the Southern Group and Penrhyn in the Northern Group. Each site presents unique ecological characteristics and conservation challenges — from mountainous forest valleys to coral atolls and makatea landscapes. Together, they represent the diversity of ecosystems that make the Cook Islands globally significant for biodiversity. With the support of the Pa Enua Governance Director at the Office of the Prime Minister, NES and FAO were able to meet virtually with the Executive Officer’s of Mitiaro and Penrhyn to ensure their priority island activities are incorporated into the project design.
With a budget of USD 2 million, the four-year initiative will focus on restoring ecosystems, controlling invasive species, strengthening biodiversity knowledge systems, and empowering communities to become stewards of their environment. The project aims to place communities at the centre of conservation efforts, ensuring that restoration activities are locally driven and culturally grounded.
Across the project’s three main components, activities will include: restoring native species and culturally significant habitats, controlling and managing invasive alien species including rat control work, and strengthening biodiversity data systems and awareness. Through group activity work, participants were able to identify challenges, policies, and practical activities for each project component. These discussions will directly inform the development of the project’s full proposal, with a validation workshop planned with the stakeholders in late May 2026 to confirm the full project document. If approved by the GEF, project implementation is expected to begin by end of 2026.
Once implemented, the project is expected to contribute to significant environmental outcomes, including the improved management of terrestrial protected areas, marine protected areas, and the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Perceived social benefits from the project also include safeguarding traditional crafts and improving livelihoods as rats are affecting coconut trees in Penrhyn which are the source of rito crafts, and planting of rau ‘ara in Mitiaro for moenga, as well as mapping of marae and paepae in the Maungaroa valley to enhance protection of cultural sites.
“This project represents an important opportunity for the Cook Islands to strengthen biodiversity conservation while protecting the cultural landscapes that are so important to our communities,” said Halatoa Fua. “NES looks forward to continuing to work closely with our island communities, stakeholders and partners to develop this project and ensure it delivers meaningful and lasting benefits for our islands.”
