Conservation Act 1986-87.

This Act makes provision for the conservation of nature and the protection of the environment in the Cook Islands. It shall apply to such parts of the Cook Islands and Cook Islands waters as are specified from time to time by the Queen's Representative by Order in Executive Council. The Act consists of 57 sections divided into 11 Parts.The Act establishes the Conservation Service as a body corporate. The Service shall administer national parks and reserves, protect, conserve, manage, and control wildlife, forest resources, catchment areas, soil resources and the coastal zone and control pollution of air, water, and land resources and carry out other functions as prescribed by this Act. There shall be a Conservation Council and a Director of Conservation. The Director may appoint Conservation Officers. The Queen's Representative may, on the advice of the Minister, proclaim that any land, lagoon, reef, or island, or any Cook Islands waters, or portion of the seabed of those waters shall be required for a national park or reserve. The Director shall periodically draft management plans for the protection, conservation, management and control of: (a) National parks; (b) Reserves; (c) Cook Islands waters and water resources; (d) coastal zones; (e) indigenous forests; (f) soil erosion; (g) pollution; (h) any other matter relating to the environment which in the opinion of the Council will benefit from a management plan. Plans shall be drafted, published and approved in accordance with provisions of this Act and acting contrary to any provision of a management plan in force shall be an offence. The Act provides for the protection of the foreshore and coastal waters by requiring prior consent in writing of the Council for specified activities affecting the coastal area and by giving the Director the power to require or take remedial action. The Act further provides for control of marine pollution, action to be taken by the Minister in case of marine casualties, the creation of the Conservation Fund, the control of litter and regulation-making powers of the Queen's Representative.