12
2025 COOK ISLANDS
Project title :
Manuae National Park: Indigenous Societies Living in Harmony with Nature
Landing on Manuae in 1965 (during its use as a large commercial coconut plantation)
Manuae freshwater pond (this type of ecosystem is extremely rare on coral atolls)
Manuae lagoon shore landscape
Traditional thatched Polynesian house (planned for education centre on Manuae)
Habitat types on Manuae Island - photos from 2024 biodiversity survey. A) Coconut woodland. B) Shoreline vegetation. C) Ocean-facing beaches. D) Broadleaf woodlands. E) Pisonia stand. F) Swamp reed grass vegetation. Reproduced from: Sebastian Steibl, Samuel D. J. Brown, and James C. Russell. Pacific Science, 79(1): 55-70, University of Hawai'i Press.
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Organisation :
Manuae Enua Conservation Trust
Project period :
Project type :
Partnership building
Landscape type :
Landscape, Seascape
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets :
Sustainable Development Goals :
Overview
Manuae is an uninhabited island 100km south-east of Aitutaki, and is the largest uninhabited atoll in the Cook Islands. The island was originally inhabited, but the entire population was removed from Manuae 200 years ago (by the first European settlers). Many Manuae descendants still live on neighbouring islands, but most make up a diaspora, now living overseas in New Zealand and Australia.
In 2022, the Proprietors of Manuae Incorporated (PMI) established their wholly-owned not-for-profit "Manuae Enua Conservation Trust" (MECT) to represent the interests of landowners in managing Manuae for conservation and sustainable development.
During the establishment phase, MECT needs support from the international conservation community to reclaim ancestral homelands. Priorities include constructing essential infrastructure that would allow a transition into actively managing Manuae for biodiversity conservation and in rebuilding social, cultural, and economic self-sufficiency (using the SEPLS approach).
An early focus on capacity building will ensure that stakeholders (rangers, teachers, management committee, diaspora, government agencies, etc.) can professionally plan for the future based on the best international standards. This directly impacts the ability to safely live on this remote island and conduct conservation and education activities in a safe and effective way.
Satoyama funding will help build quality into planning, and help inform the future policy of Cook Islands government agencies, specifically how to deal with empowering local communities to conserve biodiversity at the same time as sustainably develop their land and other assets.
- (1) Consultations with indigenous landowners and attendance at invasive alien species conference
- (2) Workshop on traditional building construction
- (3) Map the distribution of native plants and forests on Manuae
- (4) Biosecurity training for local people
- (5) Transportation and operations planning for pest control in 2027 (rat eradication)
- (6) Build a database of landowners
Project location
Organisation
Manuae Enua Conservation Trust
- Sector
- Indigenous / local community
- Country
- Cook Islands
- Website/SNS
- www.manuae.org
Relevant projects
1
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20
Projects of the same year
1
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20
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets
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Plan and Manage all Areas To Reduce Biodiversity Loss
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Restore 30% of all Degraded Ecosystems
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Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas
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Halt Species Extinction, Protect Genetic Diversity, and Manage Human-Wildlife Conflicts
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Ensure Sustainable, Safe and Legal Harvesting and Trade of Wild Species
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Reduce the Introduction of Invasive Alien Species by 50% and Minimize Their Impact
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Minimize the Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Build Resilience
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Manage Wild Species Sustainably To Benefit People
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Restore, Maintain and Enhance Nature’s Contributions to People
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Increase the Sharing of Benefits From Genetic Resources, Digital Sequence Information and Traditional Knowledge
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Integrate Biodiversity in Decision-Making at Every Level
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Businesses Assess, Disclose and Reduce Biodiversity-Related Risks and Negative Impacts
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Enable Sustainable Consumption Choices To Reduce Waste and Overconsumption
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Strengthen Biosafety and Distribute the Benefits of Biotechnology
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Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity
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Ensure That Knowledge Is Available and Accessible To Guide Biodiversity Action
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Ensure Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice and Information Related to Biodiversity for all
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Ensure Gender Equality and a Gender-Responsive Approach for Biodiversity Action
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
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Good health and well-being
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Quality education
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Gender equality
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Clean water and sanitation
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Affordable and clean energy
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Decent work and economic growth
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Industry, innovation, infrastructure
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Reduced inequalities
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Sustainable cities and communities
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Responsible consumption, production
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Climate action
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Life below water
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Life on land
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Peace, justice and strong institutions
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Partnerships for the goals