The Deep Blue Green Ambition

Tropical, Cook Islands - the nation's 15 volcanic islands and reefs scattered 2000000 miles square in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - a place where people are fleeing the country, when they need a break from busy lives, to forget problems the world. But life goes on, living here, and the islanders are increasingly aware of at least one problem: the ecological footprint.

In July, Prime Minister, Henry Puna, said the islands would be the first "green" destination in the Pacific, with 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2015 (just in time for the islands "50 th anniversary of independence). The nation expects to be 100 percent dependent on solar and wind energy by 2020.

There are plans for a wind farm on the main island, Rarotonga, and sustainable energy projects in other islands, power plants and Aitutaki Rakahanga solar, wind control units in Atiu and Mauke and support renewable energy plans in Pukapuka, Nassau, Suvorov and Manihiki in the northern group of islands. Funding sources include Japan, China and reduction Pacific Islands projects greenhouse gases renewable energy, funded by the United Nations.

"The truth is you really have no choice," said Puna. "Economically, the costs of our country much fuel bills to power [diesel generators] to our people, and Rarotonga in the islands. [Y] is important that we practice what we preach, and consider the adverse effects on the environment. "

The issues include waste management (some non-organic waste is sent to New Zealand, but most go to landfill, which is not sustainable in small islands), sanitation (he n 'there is no sewage system island-wide, even in Rarotonga, only septic systems on the site), the safety of the water (particularly coral atolls with no permanent water supply and low rainfall) and climate change.

"Because we know we will be among the first in the world to feel the effects [of climate change] - more frequent and intense hurricanes, ocean acidification, which will affect our coral reefs, rising sea levels - we make changes to be an example for other countries in the Pacific, "The Cook Islands Tourism Board first director of development for the destination, Metu Vaiimene said. Appointed last year Vaiimene is responsible for overseeing sustainable development." Are we the leaders of the Pacific? "Vaiimene request." Maybe not, but we really want to be. "

Most motherboards cooks island disaster risk management and adaptation plans to climate change. Many of the northern group of islands are coral atolls low are already feeling the effects of tides and neap tides in the sea, prompting residents to build new structures on the posts and install water tanks to "not depend on groundwater, which could be flooded with seawater Mauke in the southern island group of chefs, recently issued a decree prohibiting any development on the ocean side of the narrow side roads on the island.

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Tourism is a vital part of this drive, 75 percent of the island produce GDP comes from tourism, the islands received 102,000 tourists last year and the government expects 150,000 tourists per year over the next three to five years .

"Tourism is an important part of our economy, it is important to get the benefit of the country," said Vaiimene.

Are underway. Many of Rarotonga, in particular wild interior remains untouched by tourism development, almost all the island resorts and hotels are on the coast, built on both sides of the island's main road. There are areas designated for conservation and ra'ui six - parts of the lagoon and the reef is protected with the support of local leaders, clubs, communities and the conservation group WWF nature. The first of these marine reserves were declared in 1998, but ra'ui been used by generations of the Cook Islands to ensure marine life on which they depend are sustainably harvested.

Most Cook operators around the island are the environment, with good environmental practices in place, but not yet certified organic. Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa Resort and Pacific (Rarotonga and Aitutaki, respectively) are two of a growing number of stations to promote Responsible Tourism Code for the Pacific to their guests. Pacific Resort is Green Globe benchmark, as is the tour operator Holiday Island Hopper.

Most islands have little impact on tourism, such as snorkeling, diving, kayaking, kitesurfing, hiking, bird watching, caving, and whale-watching cruises, the islands have been a sanctuary for whales in 2001. Black pearls are now breeding in the Cook Islands Pearl Authority sustainable, Avaiki brand created last year, which is designed to maintain the quality and duration. And there are moves to create a "voluntourism" and preservation of experiences for visitors, and perhaps our Trees for travelers on a carbon-offset program, which is in Kaikoura, New Zealand.

Beyond Rarotonga, Atiu, an island of youth in terms of tourism, is becoming the first dedicated eco-island and a test case for the rest of the Cook Islands. And their bids based on nature, bird watching and hiking caving is scheduled for eco-lodges, bird sanctuaries (also in Aitutaki), renewables (wind and solar parks) and composting public toilets ( to solve the problems of waste and water).

The island moves to sustainability will be promoted to educate residents and visitors. Other islands in the southern group are also developing ecotourism projects, Mauke, Mitiaro and Mangaia, for caving such as planning and other eco-tours, and reservations and to protect ra'ui forests, wetlands, streams and endemic species.

"And 'our Polynesian nature of being in harmony with the environment," says Vaiimene. "So we have survived for thousands of years in these small islands."