Save Suwarrow’s Seabirds
DONATE TO TE IPUKAREA SOCIETY Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Te Ipukarea Society Location: Suwarrow, Cook Islands (Cook Islands National Park) Appeal Category: Ecosystem Restoration Education Endangered Species Key Species: Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) Challenges And Threats: Invasive rats threatening nesting seabird populations Invasive species deteriorating natural habitat and native vegetation Ecosystem degradation reducing nutrient flow to coral reefs Actions: Conduct feasibility study to assess rat populations Implement eradication project with field team Create awareness materials about island restoration benefits The Challenge Conservation organizations in the Cook Islands face significant challenges in securing unrestricted funding for critical conservation projects. This limitation particularly affects initiatives of high conservation significance, such as the urgently needed rat eradication project in Cook Islands National Park at Suwarrow Atoll. Invasive rat populations pose a severe threat to Suwarrow’s delicate ecosystem. These predators directly impact nesting seabird populations, deteriorate natural habitats by damaging native vegetation, and disrupt the natural nutrient cycle. When seabird populations decline, less guano enters the surrounding coral reef ecosystems, reducing marine productivity levels and affecting the entire food web. Despite the clear conservation priority, limited access to dedicated funding has prevented immediate action on this critical issue. Urgent Solutions Your support will enable Te Ipukarea Society to implement a comprehensive rat eradication project on Suwarrow Atoll, maintaining its predator-free status and protecting its unique biodiversity. With a goal of $50,000, this project will deliver lasting conservation impact. The project will proceed in three essential phases: Feasibility Assessment: Conduct a thorough study to identify which atolls have rat populations and determine the precise amount of bait needed for successful eradication. Field Implementation: Deploy a five-member field team with specialized equipment and sufficient bait, transported via cargo boat to this remote location. Community Engagement: Produce educational videos and articles to raise awareness about the eradication process and the ecological benefits of rat-free islands. Technical Support: Provide ongoing technical assistance to ensure project success and long-term monitoring capabilitie Why Your Donation Matters Your donation will directly Save Suwarrow’s Seabirds and restore the health of interconnected island and marine ecosystems. By making Suwarrow predator-free, we can achieve transformative conservation outcomes that benefit both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. The benefits of rat-free islands extend far beyond protecting individual species. Restored atoll habitats support the recovery of native vegetation, creating suitable nesting sites for seabirds. As seabird populations rebound, their guano provides essential nutrients that flow into surrounding coral reef ecosystems, enhancing marine productivity and supporting diverse fish populations, including endangered species like the Humphead Wrasse. This project represents a rare opportunity to create lasting positive change in one of the Pacific’s most important seabird sanctuaries. Your support will ensure that Suwarrow remains a thriving refuge for endangered species and continues to play its vital role in maintaining healthy Pacific Ocean ecosystems for generations to come. Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Top Accountability Effective Impact Conservation Action Heroes
Te Ipukarea Society
DONATE TO TIS Verified for authenticity Learn More 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 Save Suwarrow’s Sparrows Date Founded 1996 Website tiscookislands.org Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective 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.