Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Coastal region and small island papers 9

Annex 6.8
Palau perspective on wise coastal practices

Prepared by Mr Yimnang Golbuu
Revision date: 30^th November 2000

Background

The Republic of Palau is the westernmost archipelago in Oceania, located 741 km east of Mindanao in the southern Philippines and about 1,300 km southwest of Guam. The islands of Palau stretch for 700 km from Ngeruangel Atoll in the north to Helen Atoll in the south. The population is about 17,000. Palau has the most diverse coral fauna of Micronesia, with 1,449 reef fish species.

Palau is made up of 16 states; each state has its own governor and legislature; and each state has jurisdiction over its land and water out to a distance of 12 miles. The present main focus for the states is economic development and income generation. Dive-based tourism is the most important type of tourism. The country has a complex legal structure with State laws and Chiefs’ laws.

Principal and immediate coastal-related issues

Palau has traditional management systems for marine conservation. For instance, village chiefs could call for a ban (‘bull’) on fishing in certain areas or of certain species. However, with modernization, Palau is facing new threats resulting from development and population growth, e.g. pollution, erosion and sedimentation. These are new problems for Palau and there are no traditional systems to manage them.

The main environmental issues facing Palau are:

• Climate change and El Niño. The 1998 coral bleaching episode was very wide-spread extending to corals at depths of 125 ft. Some areas are showing recovery.

• Erosion, sedimentation and freshwater runoff, due to poor land-use practices, e.g. a major road-building project is causing erosion and landslides.

• Over-fishing of highly desired fish and invertebrate species.

• Insufficient infrastructure to support the population growth.

• Reef dredging for construction materials.

• Few informed stakeholders, and few stakeholders involved in conservation programmes.

• Insufficient collaboration and co-ordination among the different groups and agencies involved in monitoring, management and conservation.

• Inadequate land-use planning, regulations and enforcement.

Significant programmes and projects

Establishment of protected areas
One national protected area has been established, the Ngerukewid Islands Wildlife Preserve. Seven state marine protected areas have been established:

• Kayangel State: Ngeruangel Reserve;

• Ngiwal State: Ngemai Conservation Area;

• Ngeremlengui State: Fisheries Reserve;

• Ngatpang State: Ngatpang Reserve and Ngermeduu Bay Conservation Area (Aimeliik, Ngatpang, Ngeremlengui);

• Koror State: Rock Island Conservation Area (A Rock Island Conservation Management Plan is being prepared); and

• Ngerchelong State: Ebiil Conservation Area.

Local Marine Science Programmes
The Palau Community College is developing a Marine Science Programme.

Integrated Management Plan for Ngerikiil Watershed
This is being developed by the following agencies: Palau Community College, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, Bureau of Natural Resources and Development, Palau Conservation Society, Bureau of Public Works – Water Division, and the Airai State Government.

Palau International Coral Reef Center
This was built with funding provided by the Japanese Government, and its mission is to carry out research into coral reef systems, their conservation and management. It has been designated as a Node for Micronesia as part of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

Marine Resources Pacific Consortium (MAREPAC)
This is a network of several islands in the region (Palau, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, American Samoa) established to share information and expertise and provide for capacity building and collaboration among the different islands with the focus on marine resource management.

Significant gaps in ongoing and planned activities

There is a great need for further capacity building and training, particularly in the management of freshwater resources and aquaculture. An ICM plan is also needed.

Scope for potential CSI activity

Assistance is required in training and all aspects of capacity building, in particular:

• Assessment and monitoring;

• Socio-economic baseline surveys;

• Integrated coastal management; and

• Natural resources policy development.

Assistance is also required in awareness and sensitization efforts directed at all levels of society: villagers, traditional and political leaders, and policy-makers.

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