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PUBLIC AWARENESS AND CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC: A PROFILE OF THE PALAU CONSERVATION SOCIETY

As Pacific Islanders move into the 21st century, pressure is placed on the natural resources of our small nations. Many island nations have grown dependent on assistance from outside sources over the years. As we move toward self-sustenance and develop our own industries, such as tourism, fisheries, or other trade, long-term planning will be critical. We also face the acute threat of sea-level rise due to global climate change, especially on low-lying islands and atolls. Biodiversity and endemism values are high on islands, but islands are particularly susceptible to pressures on the limited resources available. New organizations are sorely needed to address the issues at hand and to make sure that industries develop in a sustainable manner.

The Palau Conservation Society (PCS) was established in 1994 to make sure that development does not jeopardize Palau's natural and cultural values. The Republic of Palau has been deemed a "living Eden" by PBS, called one of the "last great places" by The Nature Conservancy, and has dive sites that consistently rank among the best in the world. Three nutrient-carrying ocean currents merge here, placing Palau near the Indo-Pacific center of marine biodiversity. More than 400 species of hard corals, 300 species of soft corals, and 1300 species of marine fishes have been recorded in Palau. Palau harbors rich pelagic fisheries, seagrass beds that provide habitat for the endangered dugong, sea-turtle breeding grounds, extensive mangroves, and habitat for saltwater crocodiles, fruit bats, and eight endemic bird species. One guide to the region states, "If you have one day to spend in Micronesia, spend it in Palau's Rock Islands."

Clearly we have much of which to be proud. Yet Palau is still a nation struggling to define itself. Formerly a trust territory of the United States, we have been an independent republic since signing a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. in 1994. As we wean ourselves off of U.S. aid, development has begun to occur at an unprecedented pace.

For the past four years PCS has undertaken projects in the areas of scientific research, resource management, policy development, and public awareness to address the environmental issues facing Palau. The mission of our society is "to work with the community to preserve the nation's unique natural environment and perpetuate its conservation ethic for the economic and social benefit of present and future generations of all Palauans and for the enjoyment and education of all who visit our islands." With the help of The Nature Conservancy we established our non-profit organization in 1994 with a nine-member board of directors. We now have a full-time staff of ten.

Our work has concentrated on providing information to the communities of Palau. To do this, we have coordinated several scientific research projects aimed at bolstering resource management efforts. For example, our Grouper Spawning Aggregation Study analyzed the timing and behavior of species of reef fish that aggregate at particular times and locations in order to spawn. This information was then used to develop simple and efficient monitoring methods and to provide critical information for the management of these locations.

We also have assisted local and traditional leaders by providing technical assistance for natural resource management. For example, in Kayangel, an atoll in northern Palau, we helped the community conduct baseline resource surveys and then facilitated meetings to devise a management strategy for the reefs. The community decided to ban fishing and entry into one area for three years, after which they hope to develop a catch-and-release fishery, which we will help them market to tourists.

Palau's southern region, the Rock Islands, needs no assistance in attracting visitors to its world-famous dive sites. But the tens of thousands of annual visitors create a need for development of a comprehensive management plan. PCS has assisted in these efforts by conducting a study of the tourism industry, installing permanent mooring buoys at popular dive sites, and creating a nature trail at a popular tourist area where snorkelers can swim with millions of stingless jellyfish. We are now focusing our sights toward influencing state and national policy with a bearing upon the Rock Islands. One of our full-time employees has been charged with the difficult task of obtaining consensus among traditional leaders, government officials, tour operators, and other stakeholders regarding the proper management strategies for the islands.

Our public awareness program is a critical component of our work. In addition to supporting the efforts described above, we have embarked upon two major environmental education campaigns. The first, which highlighted the biib (Palau fruit dove), significantly increased awareness of Palau's environment through school visits, t-shirts, contests, and other activities. It even inspired the national government to adopt the biib as Palau's national bird. We then undertook a second campaign to bring attention to the plight of the endangered dugong (sea cow). We now are developing a third campaign focusing on Palau's impending land-based development.

While most of our work in the past has focused on marine issues, we are now moving into the terrestrial realm. Within the next three years, Palau will see the construction of a paved road circumnavigating Babeldaob, Palau's "big island" and the largest island in Micronesia after Guam. The road will have drastic effects on our nation by opening up Babeldaob and its lush primary forests, previously accessible only by boat or rough dirt roads, for the first time. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will build the road, as part of the compact agreement, so it will be built according to U.S. standards. But secondary roads and other development will no doubt place the large tracts of forest at risk. Several golf courses and hotels already have been proposed for the island.

We at PCS are striving to help Palau move towards self-sustenance while maintaining our cultural and ecological treasures. Thank you for honoring us with the SCB Distinguished Service award, but our work is not over yet. Because our forestry and terrestrial experience is limited, we can use the expertise of scientists and managers in these fields. Tourism development and marine issues are also a priority. Please contact us if you can help or collaborate with us in these fields: Palau Conservation Society, P.O. Box 1811, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, Telephone (680) 488-3993, FAX (680) 488-3990, Email pcs@palaunet.com.

The Palau Conservation Society received a 1998 SCB Distinguished Service Award for vigorous efforts to promote public awareness and conservation of the biological diversity of Palau and neighboring island groups in the South Pacific.

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