Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Palau has 724 known species of native vascular plant, including at least 194 endemic species [ ] 176 The Palau Protected Areas Network Biodiversity protection in Palau has been undertaken mainly through the establishment of protected areas. Bio- diversity targets are identified, and an action plan with associated funding is developed to guide biodiversity conservation and resource manage- ment actions. The Palau Protected Areas Net- work (PAN) is a nationwide network of terrestrial and marine protected areas that aims to protect areas of significant biodiversity, important habitats, and other valuable resources that are essential to the future social, cultural, economic and environ- mental stability and health of Palau. To date there are 13 PAN sites that consist of single and networked sites. These sites have a management plan that guides conservation and natural resource management efforts within their borders, implemented by site conservation officers employed at the state in which they are located. A small number of terrestrial and marine species are on the IUCN Red List. Efforts to improve the conserva- tion status of these species are usually carried out as part of protected area management plan implementation. However, a number of these species are charismatic and have generated sufficient public interest, leading to the development of a standalone conser- vation action plan for the species in question. One such species is the Palau megapode, a IUCN endangered bird whose conservation status is being imperilled by coastal erosion through storm surges and climate change. In 2013, efforts began to draft a conserva- tion action plan to address the threats to the megapode’s status. The plan has been completed and is now being inte- grated into protected area management plans of Kayangel and Koror States. In 2011, the Koror State Rangers and Belau National Museum began an informal survey of the bird di- versity of the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). The preliminary results documented extensive activity of the endangered Palau megapode throughout the WHS. The outcome was a recommendation to conduct a full survey of the megapode popula- tion in the WHS in order to develop effective management strategies to conserve this important species and potentially valuable ecotourism at- traction. In 2012, Palau Conservation Society coordinated a full survey of the megapodes of the site in partner- ship with the museum and rangers, with funding from the BirdLife International Community Conserva- tion Fund through the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. Based on the results and recommendations of the two surveys, the Koror State Government included megapode conservation action items in their five-year management plan for the site. T he Republic of Palau is a Small Island Developing State located in the tropical north Pacific. The main island group lies approximately 800 km north of New Guinea and 800 km east of the Philippines. Only nine of the more than 340 islands that make up the country are inhabited. The inhabited islands are: Angaur, Babeldaob, Hatohobei, Helen Reef, Kayangel, Koror, Peleliu, Pulo Anna, and Sonsorol. Palau has a total land area of approximately 490 km 2 , and a total marine area of approximately 616,000 km 2 . Palau is divided into 16 states, including 10 states on the island of Babeldaob. Babeldaob is the largest island with more than 80 per cent of the total land area of the country. Milky Way LuxTonnerre on flickr Palau