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IMPACT PROMISE
Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact
Partner Snapshot
Partner:
Te Ipukarea Society
Location:
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Category:
- Education
- Ecosystem Restoration
- Endangered Species
- Scientific Research
- Wildlife Conservation
Urgent Appeals:
Date Founded:
1996
Website:
Partner Qualifications:
IUCN MemberA distinguished Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. IUCN Members are each vetted and voted on based on an independent, rigorous assessment and external references. Learn More
Verified PartnerOne of Conservation Allies' staff or trusted advisors has visited this organization and verified its work and impact.
Legally ConstitutedThis organization is formally constituted and is a legally recognized non-profit in its country of origin.
Effective ImpactWe recognize this Partner for their tremendous efforts to make a difference for wildlife and local communities, as well as welcome technical support from Conservation Allies to improve and scale up their impact.
About Te Ipukarea Society
Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is an environmental nonprofit based in the Cook Islands, registered as an Incorporated Society since June 12, 1996. The organization was founded to care for te ipukarea—“our heritage”—and is dedicated to fostering a sustainable, healthy, biodiverse, and beautiful environment in the Cook Islands.
TIS is a membership-based organization composed of individuals who believe in the importance of protecting the natural world. They are also members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and BirdLife International.
Their Challenges
The Cook Islands face numerous threats to both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On land, the introduction and spread of invasive species—such as non-native weeds and predators like rats—are degrading ecosystems and endangering native and endemic species, particularly birds.
Marine ecosystems are under pressure from overfishing, particularly through commercial techniques like purse seine fishing. Climate change and ocean pollution also pose significant threats. Additionally, emerging risks such as deep sea mining threaten to disrupt the marine food web, harm migratory species through noise pollution, and spread toxic sediment through seafloor disturbances.
Efforts to reverse these trends since the 1980s have been largely unsuccessful. The country's first protected area was created on the island of Moheli in 2001, and subsequent efforts led to the creation of terrestrial and marine protected areas on each island in 2020. However, laws relating to these protected areas and environmentally destructive practices lack support and application at the local level. Despite their reliance on natural resources, farmers and fishers - particularly women - are often excluded from access to resources, services, and decision-making, preventing them from playing an active role in conserving their ecosystems. A lack of social cohesion and respected leadership at this level also stymies collective community-based conservation action.
Their Approach
Te Ipukarea Society advances its mission to build an environmentally resilient, sustainably developed, and biodiverse Cook Islands through action, advocacy, and education—often integrating traditional knowledge and practices.
Their advocacy includes producing informative video documentaries, publishing articles in local newspapers, and leading public education efforts on critical environmental issues. TIS works closely with schools and youth to deliver nature-based educational programs and inspire future conservation leaders. They also mobilize communities to advocate for environmental protection through organized protests, petitions, and community engagement.
Why They Need Your Help
Donations directly support Te Ipukarea Society’s wide-ranging conservation initiatives, including:
Invasive species eradication to protect native seabird populations
Habitat restoration and waste management awareness programs
Public education and advocacy around the environmental risks of deep sea mining
STEM-focused biodiversity monitoring programs for local youth
Your support helps ensure that balanced, science-based information reaches the community and empowers local people—especially young leaders—to become stewards of the natural world.
