Chapter 3: Mainstreaming
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2011 Cook Islands 4th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity i Cook Islands 4th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2011 Approved by the Cabinet of the Cook Islands Government on the 8th of April 2011 [CM (11) 0125] Acknowledgements The National Environment Service would like to gratefully express our gratitude to the NES staff, Biodiversity Steering Committee, those individuals, experts, institutions and community groups who kindly gave valuable assistance and information during the compilation of this report. This report was prepared by Kelvin Passfield and Teariki Rongo Compiled and edited by Joseph Brider and Elizabeth Munro with the assistance of Tania Temata Cover photograph courtesy of James Mataa Prepared for the National Environment Service © 2011 Foreword Executive Summary This report is presented in 4 chapters. Chapter 1 provides background on the process of developing the Cook Island National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The Cook Islands was one of the first countries to commit to the CBD by signing it at the Earth Summit in 1992, and the Cook Island National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was one of the first to be completed for the Pacific Region. This in itself was a positive step towards implementation of the CBD. The NBSAP was prepared based on feedback from stakeholder workshops. However, progress on implementation of the NBSAP has been limited, and significant progress has been made only in several areas in regard to meeting the targets of the CBD. Chapter 2 deals with progress on implementation of the NBSAP. The most significant achievement has been the improvement in the status of threatened species, and this target has been achieved through the upgrading of the Rarotongan Flycatcher (Pomarea dimidiata) from critically endangered to endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species, in addition to this a number of other targets have been partially achieved. The Cook Islands Biodiversity database, listing the country’s biodiversity is a significant and on-going step towards achieving article 7 of the CBD. Chapter 3 relates to mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations throughout both Government and non-government institutions. This was attempted through the incorporation of the NBSAP into the National Environment Strategic Action Framework (NESAF) and the subsequent inclusion of the NESAF into the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP). Despite this, the policy framework did not translate to on the ground mainstreaming of biodiversity concerns. A table is presented showing the role of various institutions in biodiversity. Chapter 4 looks at the CBD targets, and shows the status of the Cook Islands in meeting these targets. Success has been achieved in relation to Goal 2, promoting the conservation of species diversity. Areas where achievements have not met the targets include percent coverage of protected areas, and effective mainstreaming of biodiversity. Another area where more effort is required is in the formulation and implementation of effective management plans for major alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. Though many targets have not been met, overall, the Cook Islands have made considerable progress towards meeting their obligations under the CBD. The main problem lies not with lack of progress, but in trying to find where this progress has been made. There is a need to improve the monitoring and evaluation system in order to identify progress. The preparation of a report such as this should be an ongoing activity, with progress against goals recorded as it is made. This will make the preparation of future reports much more straightforward, and easily completed using the capacity within the National Environment Service. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ VIII LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ IX GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS ........................................................................................ XII CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF BIODIVERSITY STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS ..... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE COOK ISLANDS ...................................................................... 1 1.2.1 Geography ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Biological and Habitat Diversity ............................................................................................ 2 1.2.3 OffShore Fisheries ...................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.4 The Cook Islands Biodiversity Database ........................................................................... 16 1.2.5 Endemic and threatened species. ......................................................................................... 18 1.3. PROTECTED AREAS ....................................................................................................................... 26 1.4 THREATS ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................... 29 1.4.1 Endangered Species .................................................................................................................... 29 1.4.2 Threatened Ecosystems ............................................................................................................ 34 1.4.3 Biodiversity Capacity Gaps ................................................................................................ 38 CHAPTER 2: STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF NBSAP ......................................... 43 2.2 OTHER NBSAP ACTIVITIES. ........................................................................................................ 46 2.2.1 NBSAP AddOn Project .............................................................................................................. 46 2.3. PROGRESS ....................................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 3: MAINSTREAMING ................................................................................... 64 3.1 INCORPORATION OF THE NBSAP INTO THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIC ACTION FRAMEWORK (NESAF) ................................................................................................................ 64 3.2 TE KAVEINGA NUI AND NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ........................... 66 3.3 BUDGETARY SUPPORT TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION .................................................... 67 3.4 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ................................... 67 3.4.1 National Environment Service ............................................................................................... 67 3.4.2 Ministry of Marine Resources ................................................................................................. 68 3.4.3 Ministry of Agriculture .............................................................................................................. 69 3.4.4 Non Government Organizations ........................................................................................... 70 3.5. SUCCESS OF MAINSTREAMING ..................................................................................................... 75 CHAPTER 4: PROGRESS TOWARDS THE 2010 CBD TARGETS .............................. 78 4.1 OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE 2010 TARGETS............................... 78 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 93 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 94 APPENDIX 1 HABITAT MAPS FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE COOK ISLANDS. ........ 101 APPENDIX 2 THREATS TO FLORA ........................................................................... 105 APPENDIX 3 THREATS TO FAUNA ........................................................................... 107 APPENDIX 4 THREATS TO ECOSYSTEMS ............................................................... 108 APPENDIX 5 NATIVE SPECIES ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER THE NBSAP ADD- ON ................................................................................................................................ 110 APPENDIX 6 COOK ISLANDS NCSA ANALYSIS ...................................................... 111 List of Figures Figure Page 1. The Cook Islands in relation to the neighbouring Pacific Island States. .................... 1 2. The Cook Islands map showing the 200‐nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary. ............................................................................................................................................. 2 3. Reef, lagoon, coastal and mountain ecosystems on Rarotonga. .................................... 4 4. Wetland ecosystems, Lake Tiriara on Mangaia. ................................................................... 5 5. Ridge to reef view of Aitutaki. ....................................................................................................