reef heron with a fish

Conservation

  1. Tetiaroa Society Programs
  2. Conservation

Conservation

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.  All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.     - Chief Seattle of the Suquamish Tribe, letter to President Franklin Pierce

Tetiaroa is a natural wonder of astonishing beauty and environmental, historical and cultural importance.  It is vital that this treasure be conserved, restored and protected so that its future is as rich as its past.

Tetiaroa Society is honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility for developing a plan for managing and conserving this natural marvel.  Our vision for Tetiaroa, which has guided the development of the plan, has been that the health, diversity, and resources of the Tetiaroa terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the wildlife they support, and the island’s rich cultural heritage, be protected forever.

Tetiaroa Society has put together a Conservation and Sustainable Use Plan which involves all stakeholders and serves as a blueprint for conservation work on the island. 

 

Tetiaroa Atoll Restoration Project | T.A.R.P.

After several years of effort, the rat eradication program carried out across the motus of Tetiaroa Atoll has been largely successful. Most of the motus are now free of rats, with the exception of Tiaraunu - the large western motu - and the smaller nearby motus, Tauvini and Ahuroa, where signs of rat presence remain. Our teams remain fully committed, and a new round of bait application is planned to complete the eradication on these islands.

In parallel, significant progress has been made in the fight against Yellow Crazy Ants. While a few small infestations were still detected at the end of 2024, three additional rounds of treatment were implemented, the last one taking place in May 2025. A thorough monitoring phase is planned to ensure that the ants have been fully eliminated.

Despite these residual detections, early field observations already show encouraging signs of recovery. Notably, many species of seabirds - including several that nest on the ground - are returning in greater numbers to the treated motus.

These positive results reinforce our determination to continue restoring the atoll’s natural ecosystems, step by step, with dedication and care.

tetiaroa society research
effects of rat eradication on atolls

T.A.R.P. | Rat eradication

Introduced rats are a major problem on Pacific islands. The rats thrive on coconuts but also eat seabird and turtle eggs and hatchlings, as well as invertebrates, and plants. Tetiaroa Society is working with invasive species specialists from around the world to rid the island of this serious pest.

Baiting Yellow crazy ants on tetiaroa

T.A.R.P. | Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication

Update: July 19, 2024 from Solene Fabre of the YCA eradication team
I am happy to announce that I have completed the mapping in Tiaraaunu to verify the success of the spreading efforts, and I did not detect any yellow crazy ants! This is the third motu where eradication has been successful. The last one to check will be Horoatera (scheduled for October and November).

male mosquito release

AeLIMIN + Mosquito population control

Our conservation efforts encompass monitoring, preservation, and restoration programs related to the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of tropical islands, as well as the preservation of their cultural heritage. Tetiaroa Society is supporting a project led by Institut Louis Malardé (Dr. Hervé Bossin) that explores innovative, more effective and environmentally safer methods for controlling mosquito populations.

Bird & Green Turtle Sanctuary

As an island with minimal human impact the atoll of Tetiaroa serves as a sanctuary for nesting seabirds and green sea turtles. Tetiaroa Society is working with local NGOs Te Mana o Te Moana, and Te Manu to monitor and protect these important breeding populations.

The Conservation Program on Tetiaroa

Our conservation efforts encompass monitoring, preservation, and restoration programs related to the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of tropical islands, as well as the preservation of their cultural heritage.

  • Preservation

    white tern with chick

    Protecting the young preserves the future.  Every egg counts.

  • Monitoring

    monitoring

    Under the sea and on land, monitoring the environment is crucial to understanding and predicting changes.

  • Restoration

    ground nest of brown booby

    The elimination of invasive species is an important step towards restoring the natural environment of the island.