July 25, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Farewell; Bird Indicators; PIEC and PCCP; Partners Meeting & Sustainability Workshop materials
​This will be my last #MainstreamingMonday. It has been an honor to work with you on the Palau Biodiversity Project (GEF6) and its many associated initiatives, and I look forward to continued partnership in new ways! Dolmii will be taking over this newsletter and I wish her and all of you the best as you continue your good work for sustainable development and environmental conservation in Palau and across the globe. THANK YOU for your friendship, camaraderie, and support!
- Anu
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What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The Bekai (Micronesian Megapode, found in Palau and CNMI) has been downlisted on the IUCN Red List from Endangered (EN) to NT (Near Threatened)! This is a lowering of threat level by two steps! While there is still more work to do (including verifying if the Bekai is its own unique species and recovering from recent massive loss of habitat in Angaur), this is also worth celebration! Decades of conservation work - multiple rodent eradications (with translocations), new protected areas, incorporation of birds into EAs and EISs (and avoidance of habitat loss), enforcement of no-take laws, monitoring, and education/outreach - are having an impact!
Of the three species that GEF6 reports on, Bekai have improved, Biib are stable, and unfortunately Belochel have declined. They have increased in threat status from NT to Vulnerable (VU) (found in Palau, FSM, RMI, Kiribati, and Nauru), although it appears to be recovering in Palau. See the attached report on Bird Indicators.
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​What's coming up?
The 31st Pacific Islands Environment Conference (PIEC) will be next week, hosted by Palau EPQB and US EPA. Find the program and registration here. Follow Palau EQPB on FB for updates.
Week of September 4: Palau Climate Change Policy (PCCP) - Update on Desk Review Validation Workshop. Contact the Office of Climate Change.
Ngchesar MP&LUP Writing - 7/26 @ 6pm
Hatohobei Land Use Planning - 7/28 @ 9am
Partners, financial and narrative reports are past due.
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Who's Doing What?Â
She sits in the back and keeps everything humming - and we totally forgot to thank her for her tireless efforts to keep the GEF6 project going!!! Thank you to Rica Ngirmang, our dedicated Financial Officer who is also one of the Core Team!!!
Last week's Annual GEF6 Partners Meeting verified the status of project's indicators (image above plus attached presentation) to be submitted to GEF in the annual Project Implementation Report (PIR). Through this amazing partnership, Palau has achieved its indicators! The meeting also included reports from all partners (including new ones like Entrepreneurs for Growth), expectations for co-financing, timelines for Q3, audits, and the Terminal Evaluation, and the proposed GEF6 Sustainability Plan.
The 3rd GEF6 Sustainability Workshop included an overview of the Action Plan template, which every state will receive in the next few weeks. See attached presentation.
Hatohobei started Land Use Planning.
Minister Victor is at the United Nations / FAO Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment representing Palau's #KeledANgercheled interests. Follow on social media using #UNFSS2023.Â
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers #BuyLocalByLocal #WeedsOnWednesday
GEF6 website (sites.google.com/view/gef6palau).
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Palau GEF6 Project
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE), Palau
~Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into land and seascape governance, planning, and management.
Through the GEF6 Project, the Ministry is protecting biodiversity and natural resources by improving National-State communication and coordination and expanding partnerships between the National, State, Nonprofit, and Business sectors. Activities include: 1) Landscape, Seascape, and Master Planning; 2) Biosecurity and management of Invasive Alien Species; 3) Use of Best Practices in agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, forestry, housing, and sustainable tourism; 4) Improved surveillance and enforcement; and 5) Gender and social mainstreaming and inclusivity.
July 17, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: 5-day Internet Outage; GEF6 meetings this week; Congrats to Peleliu; Native & endangered trees
According to PNCC, from Tuesday July 17 at 7 am to Saturday July 22 Palau will have a 5-day INTERNET OUTAGE. There will be NO INTERNET throughout Palau.
All scheduled GEF6 meetings are a go:
Wednesday, July 19 @ 8:30am: Sustainability Workshop #3 at GEF6
Wednesday, July 19 @ 1pm: GEF6 BOD meeting (local participants only) at West Plaza Lebuu
Thursday, July 20 @ 8:30am: Hatohobei Land Use Planning at GEF6
Thursday, July 20 @ 10:30am: GEF6 Annual Partners Meeting at Palasia Desomel Restaurant - INVITING ALL GEF6 PARTNERS & FRIENDS
Friday, July 21 @ TBC: GEF6 Retreat
Phone numbers are expected to work:
Anu: 775-4335 or 488-6611
Dolmii: 775-2626
Rica: 775-7422
Ophelia: 775-3077 or 488-6654
Unfortunately the GEF6 office phone is still not working.
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What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: No need to be bored this week! Download this page with pictures of Palau's Threatened Plants and then head out for a walk to appreciate them! Or, Meet Your Trees with the attached brochure from BOE DFLW.
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Who's Doing What?Â
Congratulations to Peleliu! The State held a formal ceremony to transition the Draft Master Plan from the Planning Team to the Commission. The new Planning Commission also held a Community Meeting to introduce the master plan to the community, after which they incorporated valuable feedback such as the need to incorporate the military.Â
Peleliu also celebrated the Restoration and Re-Launching of the Blil a Aol (Milkfish Farm)! As Minister Victor said during his celebratory remarks, the site is a perfect example of mainstreaming biodiversity into development: The site is nominated as a PAN site for its rare wetland habitat and cultural heritage, and is being developed as a joint food security/tourism site.
Anu's last day in Palau is July 28. I look forward to celebrating with you at the Partners Meeting on Thursday, July 20 at 10:30am!!!
MEN, Business Owners, and Tour Operators: I need your help! Please do the quick KAP survey: https://forms.gle/ttHxqKjH9XCTLFpW8
July 10, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Agri-Fair on Friday!!! Plus congrats to Aimeliik!
Happy Constitution Day, Palau! See you on Friday at the Agri-Fair!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: This year's Agri-Fair is a celebration of all things #KeledANgercheled and #BuyLocalByLocal, with a hefty helping of Best Practices as well. In addition to buying locally-grown (climate-resilient) products, learn about ways to efficiently expand agricultural and aquaculture production while safeguarding biodiversity - by using practices such as Integrated Pest Management, composting, integrated livestock and farming practices, and use of native species for food and rewilding.
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What's coming up?
Agri-Fair on Friday, July 14 @ 9:30-3:00
Peleliu Commission and Community Meeting on draft Master Plan - 7/11 @ 7pm
Peleliu Milkfish Farm Restoration & Relaunching Ceremony - 7/12 @ 11am
Hatohobei Land Use Planning - 7/13 @ 9 am at PALARIS
NEW DATE AND NEW TIME: 3rd Sustainability Workshop moved to July 19 @ 8:30am
GEF6 Board Meeting - 7/19 @ 1pm
Annual GEF6 Partnership Meeting - July 20 @ 10:30amÂ
Angaur LUP mapping with PALARIS - July 18-19
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Who's Doing What?Â
Congratulations to Aimeliik on passing State Planning Commission legislation! Now all 10 States on Babeldaob plus Peleliu have legislated, authorized Planning Commissions who are ready to implement their master plans.
Peleliu's new Planning Commission embraced their draft master plan and land use plan and after studying it, asked for an in-depth orientation in order to update it and implement it.
Both Ngchesar and Ngeremlengui continued working on detailed written drafts of their master plans. They are seeking executive endorsement by the end of the month.
Both the GEF5 and GEF6 projects are going through their Project Implementation Reports (PIRs). Good news - we have met most indicators in both projects!!!
Anu's last day in Palau is July 28. Please come to the Partners Meeting on July 20 so we can celebrate together and talk transition. See you there!
June 26, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Correct/Final dates for EDRR & IIB Workshops; Taro harvest
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Here is one more priority biosecurity species to prevent:
Little Fire Ant: This tiny ant harms people, crops, and the environment and is very painful and itchy. It needs to be identified under a microscope. Call Biosecurity if you see very tiny orange/red ants swarming. Prevention is best: these ants are in Hawaii, Guam, and Yap. They can enter on imported nursery plants and flowers, but entire swarms can be found in cargo and luggage, especially if sitting unused for a while. Learn a surveillance technique for ants at this week's EDRR/IIB Biosecurity workshops. See attached for more.
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What's coming up?
CORRECT DATES THIS WEEK: Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) and Inter-Island Biosecurity (IIB) Workshops (9am-3pm @ GEF6):
Tuesday: Babeldaob & Outer Island States
Wednesday: MAFE and Biosecurity Division
Thursday: Koror
Friday: Agency, NGO, and NISC partners
June 30 is the deadline to apply to participate in the Biannual UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum. Contact: Mikaila.Way@fao.org
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Who's Doing What?Â
Cheldebechel will be harvesting taro this week! Women's groups participating in the COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project (with ADB, BOA, PVA, and more partners) are preparing for their next harvest of this healthy cultural staple. Contact Ary at 775-3993 or Ongly 770-6855 to buy your taro. See the attached flyer to learn more about the project.
The second GEF6 Sustainability Workshop focused on communications, outreach, and mainstreaming with an emphasis on stakeholder identification and analysis. Participants also learned how to quickly create a Google website. See attached.
June 21, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Top biosecurity threats; EDRR and IIB Workshops next week
Dr. Miles' funeral is tomorrow at the Funeral Home.
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What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Let's get to know and **hate** our priority biosecurity species to prevent. These Invasive Alien Species (IAS) could wreak havoc to our food systems, economy, and biodiversity if they come into Palau.
At the top of that list is the Brown Tree Snake. The BTS costs Guam millions of dollars per year in electrical and infrastructure damage, and many of Guam's birds are extinct. Its tell-tale feature is that the head is wider than the body. See the attachment for photos.
Coqui Tree Frog. We will all go nuts if this tiny, ear-splitting frog comes here from Hawaii, plus it could eat all of our insects which means pollination could cease (food security!!!). They can spread on infested plants and flowers. You're looking for a round body shape and a broad rounded snout with "obvious toe pads."Â See the attachment for photos.
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What's coming up?
GEF6 Sustainability Workshop #2 - NEW DATE!!!! ("Growing your impact" - Communications, Outreach, Mainstreaming. Bring your laptop if interested in social media or a free google website) - Monday, 6/26 @ 11:30 at GEF6
Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) and Inter-Island Biosecurity (IIB) Workshops will be next week (9am-3pm @ GEF6):
Tuesday: Babeldaob Partners
Wednesday: Koror and Outer Island PartnersÂ
Thursday: MAFE and Biosecurity Division
Friday: NISC and government partners
The 2nd Agri-Fair is July 14 in Ngchesar!Â
The annual PIR is underway. Please stay tuned for requests for information. How many men and women have you worked with in the past year?
June 22 is the deadline to apply to be the GEF8 Project Document preparer.
June 30 is the deadline to apply to participate in the Biannual UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum. Contact: Mikaila.Way@fao.org
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Who's Doing What?Â
Thank you to all the wonderful State Partners who celebrated our combined legacy at the 8th Joint Coordination Body (JCB) meeting!!!
Partners celebrated World Ocean Day and built awareness of the Marine Spatial Planning Process, spatial mapping, and ocean conservation.
Partners celebrated Palau Conservation Day with PCS on their anniversary.
The GEF6 team went to Kayangel to work with the State Planning Team to finish their master plan. They also finished their draft land use plan at the 8th Outer Island Workshop.
Sonsorol finished their master plan!
Hatohobei finished their master plan!
Ngarchelong held a community meeting and received strong positive feedback on their master plan and land use plan.
Aimeliik starting working on a nearshore marine spatial plan to go with their land use plan.
Ngchesar State is finalizing its master plan for executive endorsement.Â
Melekeok is meeting regularly to update its land use plan.
June 12, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Remembering an IAS Warrior and his lasting legacy; The work goes on: events this week
Today's #MM is written in loving memory of Dr. Joel Miles. Rest in Peace, Toktang.
Dr. Miles was a tireless advocate for biodiversity and food security, and a warrior against invasive alien species (IAS). He built many of our invasive species programs from scratch, making Palau a safer place. His legacy will live on in the diverse partnerships that continue to prevent, control, and eradicate IAS:
MAFE institutionalized the Invasive Species Program in its organizational chart.
MOF Biosecurity Division inspects all incoming sea and aircraft.
Koror and Island Conservation (IC) are working to make Ulong rodent-free (it may already be!).
Partners from PCS to Ebiil Society to Hatohobei to Sonsorol have labored over the past decades to remove rats, cats, pigs, ants, and more IAS from high biodiversity islands.
States, communities, PAN Rangers, and volunteers continually invest their time into kebeas and busbus removal (native but invasive under human-influenced conditions).
The Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) and Inter-Island Biosecurity Plans (IIB) are finally done, with training scheduled for the last week of June (with BOE and IC).
BOA, BOE, and TTM are studying and reducing fruit flies.
PCC-CRE continues its research to understand and prevent the spread of CRB and to ensure aquaculture does not spread marine IAS.
CRRF continues its monitoring of marine invasive species and is creating a marine invasive species training program.
Private businesses like Paddling Palau regularly remove COTS (native, but invasive under human-influenced conditions) from our reefs.
TNC published a scoping report on IAS actions in Palau and is working with communities to implement NbS as an adaptation to climate-fueled spread of IAS.
DEH continues site visits and outreach to reduce disease vectors like rats and mosquitoes.
The MAFE/BD quarantine facility is built. X-rays are on-island (we're working on getting them installed).
EQPB enforces development and pesticide permit conditions, which helps limit the spread of invasive species.
The NISC is scheduled to update the NISSAP in the next few weeks.
PICRC has opened an exhibit about marine invasives. BNM is soon to open an exhibit about terrestrial species.
Macaques are still limited to Angaur (thanks to everyone's efforts!).
BOE and PCS are educating the next generation about invasive species.
KSG, MPII, and Palau Pledge each work to reduce solid waste and marine debris, which can harbor and spread IAS.
PALARIS has maps of IAS.
MAFE Legal continues to advance the new Biosecurity Regulations.
Rotary Palau is helping to remove invasive plants and replace them with native ones.
Palau has strong relationships with regional and global partners that assist with invasive species management, from SPREP to PII to USDOD to New Zealand and Australian governments.
Wow! That's a lot of action and a lot of partners (apologies if I missed you). I hope Dr. Miles would be proud. (AG)
In honor of Dr. Miles, please learn more about IAS in Palau:
Species that deserve respect: Native "pest" species that we don't like - but are not Introduced IAS.
See pictures of Invasive Alien Plants here. #WeedsOnWednesday
Last year, Dr. Miles provided GEF6 with a compilation of his work and with content for a future "Top 20 IAS App." These materials are on a drive and for all of us to share. Email.
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What's coming up?
GEF6 Sustainability Workshop #1 (Sustaining your commission or team) - 6/15 @ 11:30 at GEF6
Visit the PALARIS/GEF6 Booth and other partners at the PCS AGM Conservation Day Fair - Friday 6/16 @ 9am-2pm (followed by a special night market).Â
GEF6 grant applications are due June 17!!
EDRR and IIB Workshops from June 26-30 (with BOE and IC).
The 2nd Agri-Fair is July 14 at the BOA complex in Ngchesar! Â Call 622-5804 to register.
June 5, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Ocean Fest; Marine Invasives; Agri-Fair; and May news roundup
Welcome to the newest member of the GEF6 team, baby Benjamin born May 17! Congratulations Dolmii and her family!
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Happy World Ocean Day!
Celebrate at Ocean Fest 2023 on Thursday night, June 8 at a special 680 Night Market at Ernguul Park @ 5pm-9pm. Plus, show off your mad cooking skills at the Sea to Cuisine Cooking Competition! GEF6 partners will be highlighting their marine spatial planning efforts and other ocean conservation work.
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What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The Palau Biodiversity Project is partnering with the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) to fill a key gap in our IAS management - piloting a training program to identify and respond to Marine Invasive Species. Marine invasive species pose a threat to our native ocean biodiversity and to economic, food, and livelihood activities like fisheries, diving, and aquaculture. There are an estimated 20-40 known marine invasives already in Palau. Identifying new ones requires specialized knowledge of how to identify invertebrates, sea grasses, and vertebrates. A one-week training course is tentatively set for early September. Contact.
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What's coming up?
Ngarchelong - Finish LUP & MP - 6/6 @ 6pm at BOF
Aimeliik - MSP - 6/7 @ 6pm at GEF6
16th Babeldaob JCB - 6/8 @ 10am at Melekeok. Agenda.
Kayangel Master Plan Community Meeting - 6/9 @ 6pm at Kayangel
GEF6 Sustainability Workshop #1 (Sustaining your commission or team) - 6/15 @ 11:30 at GEF6
PCS AGM - 6/16
Peleliu - Ceremony for the rehabilitation of the milkfish farm - 6/29-30.
Ocean Fest 2023 in honor of World Ocean Day - Thursday 6/8 @ 5pm at Ernguul.
Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) and Inter-Island Biosecurity (IIB) Training Workshops will be June 26-30, in partnership with BOE and Island Conservation.
The 2nd Agri-Fair is July 14 at the BOA complex in Ngchesar! Farmers, Fishers, Aquaculturists, and Local Producers are invited to display and sell your locally-grown and locally-made products (make sure you have appropriate Health and Food Safety permits). You may register by email, by calling 622-5804, or by going through your state.There will be entertainment, prizes, competitions, and LOTS OF FUN activities!
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Who's Doing What?Â
We've been having some technical problems - Flickr photos will be updated as soon as possible.
Congratulations Ngaraard! The State passed legislation to create a State Planning Commission, they prepared a written draft of their Master Plan, the Commission endorsed it and then sent it to the Governor for endorsement and formal submission to the Legislature!
Congratulations Peleliu! Peleliu formally constituted their Planning Commission (by a legislative resolution following passage of their State Commission legislation). The volunteer State Planning Team officially transitioned the draft Master Plan and Land Use Plan to the Commission for their official review and adoption.
The Palau Chamber of Commerce continues to support and promote biodiversity-friendly local products as part of its continued partnership with the GEF6 project! You can now buy products online and pay with a credit card! We're hoping to have this capability up and running for the Agri-Fair!
In January the Palau Biodiversity Project worked with the Foreign Investment Board (FIB) to mainstream biodiversity into their first-ever Strategic Plan. That plan (attached) is now in use!
Congratulations to Kayangel and Hatohobei! They finished the main parts of their Master Plans and started land use planning.
Airai and Ngardmau started land use planning.
Ngarchelong did field verification to update and finalize their land use plan.
Ngatpang finished its Climate Change Vulnerability & Adaptation (V&A) Assessment and revised both its Master Plan and Land Use Plan to reflect climate risks and needs.Â
The GEF6 project continues to partner with the Office of Climate Change to identify climate risks and vulnerabilities. Ngiwal, Peleliu, Ngeremlengui, and other states have also added Special Management Zones (SMZs) to their Land Use Plans based on climate projections. Ngchesar is working on adding SMZ regulations to their zoning code.
Members of the #KeledANgercheled Food Systems Task Force and experts from BOA and BOF helped update a report on Palau's food systems in preparation for a UN Stocktaking Moment. There has been a lot of positive movement towards food security in the past two years, from increased production to increased consumption of local, healthy foods. See the attached reports.
BOA started working on an update to Palau's Agriculture Policy.
Melekeok started a mainstreaming exercise to align multiple plans for Ngardok: their Master Plan, PAN Management Plan, Melekeok Eco-Tourism Plan, and National Park Service (NPS) Foundation Document. Mainstreaming means ensuring that the plans are aligned and have no conflicts, there are no redundancies or gaps, and that budgets are not repetitive. In partnership with Palau Pledge.
MAFE and SPREP held a soft launch of the 2022-2030 Palau National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS) and celebrated SPREP's 30th anniversary! The NEMS will be posted online soon. THANK YOU to the 57 Palau experts who provided input to the NEMS. SPREP partners were in Palau to develop a Palau Country and Territory Strategic Partnership Framework (CTSPF, attached) and to review implementation of the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) (attached) in partnership with the Bureau of the Environment (BOE). Contact.
SPC and SPREP completed their assessment of NbS capacity needs (attached). Contact.
The Palau Biodiversity Project is partnering with the Palau Housing Authority (PHA) to mainstream biodiversity into an updated Strategic Plan.
The Palau Development Plan (PDP) is winding its way through the writing and analysis process. Community priorities from master plans have been integrated throughout. MAFE mainstreamed biodiversity into the agriculture, fisheries, and environment sector plans.Â
In partnership with IUCN, the request for Proposals for the Palau GEF8 full-size project preparation has been launched and available on the IUCN procurement website. The deadline for submission is June 22.
May 1, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Dry conditions and NO FIRE; Ngeremlengui draft, Pictures from Earth Day LUP Booth and Expo; CC V&A
Happy Senior Citizen's Day!
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What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The National Emergency Committee has placed Palau under Stage 1 of the Drought Action Plan due to dry conditions. The National Weather Service currently has Palau under an "El Niño Watch." El Niño weather patterns in this part of the Pacific usually mean drier conditions and warmer sea surface temperatures. Further impacts can include drought, increased/severe/repeated fires, coral bleaching, increased activity of invasive species and disease vectors, and more (see attached). Steps to protect biodiversity (and the human livelihoods that rely on biodiversity) including reducing pressure on/protecting resilient coral reefs, conserving water, and avoiding fires. Learn more about fires in Palau from the Pacific Fire Exchange.
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What's coming up?
Airai update of Land Use Plan - 5/2 @ 6pm in Airai
Conservation Consortium Meeting on PNMS Science & Monitoring Plan - 5/4 @ 10am at PICRC. Contact.
Ngiwal MP/LUP Completion Checklist #2 - 5/4 @ 6pm at GEF6
Aimeliik MP/LUP Completion & CC Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessment - 5/10 @ 6pm at GEF6
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Who's Doing What?Â
Congratulations to Ngeremlengui for being the first state to write a Draft Master Plan! In doing so, Ngeremlengui has provided all other state partners with a template (coming soon!). They also adapted their land use plan to address climate change vulnerabilities, and assessed vulnerabilities to cultural sites and practices. As always, Ngeremlengui showed off their #KeledANgercheled spirit! See pictures.
MAFE hosted an Earth Day Expo in partnership with Belau Modekngei School at Nekken. It gave students direct experience with livestock, forestry, and agriculture operations. Special thanks to Taiwan Technical Mission, Koror State, and USDA NRCS plus all the MAFE bureaus. See pictures.
Plan a visit to a little slice of paradise in Aimeliik: Check out the new Elauesauchel Trail at the MAFE complex at Nekken. Wander through a beautiful bit of native riparian forest and learn about local plant species! See pictures and video.
MAFE and PALARIS partnered to host a booth about land use planning for the Earth Day Green Fair. When asked "What would you do?" more attendees said they would zone a parcel of land "Agriculture" over "Housing." MAFE was also there in force! See pictures.
Airai started an update of its Land Use Plan, which was officially adopted after 2012 and is in force. The Commission adopted updates to their zoning code. The partnership with the Office of Climate Change (OCC) also continued, with OCC conducting a Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessment (CC V&A). See the attached CC "Cheat Sheet". See pictures.
Kayangel, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei are making great progress with their master plans! Sonsorol meets twice-monthly on Fridays and Kayangel and Hatohobei meet during monthly Workshops (we're up to #6).
Ngaraard completed its CC V&A with a consultation on environmental vulnerabilities and adaptation capacities.
Melekeok started an update to its zoning code and land use plan, which was drawn in 2015 but not implemented.
Ngatpang went through the Master Plan Completion Checklist, approved updates to the land use plan after field verification, and started their CC V&A.
April 17, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Happy Earth Day! Buying taro; Green Fair; Theme maps; Commission legislation; and Climate outlook
Happy Earth Day and Happy Earth Week!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: This year's global theme for Earth Day is "Invest in Our Planet". Palau's Earth Day Committee localized the theme to "Invest in Your Community." From mangrove cleanups to using leaves to make plates to recycling, Palau's communities invest their time, energy, passions, and money regularly into our environment and communities. Thank you!
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What's coming up?
#KeledANgercheled: Buy taro at BOA in Ngchesar on Thursday 4/20 and at the Green Fair on Friday 4/21 at Ernguul Park
Ngarchelong Land Use Planning - 4/18 @ 6pm at BOF
Airai Zoning - 4/19 @ 6pm at Airai
MAFE-Belau Modekngei School Expo - 4/20 @ 9-12 at Nekken
Green Fair - 4/21 @ 9-4 at Ernguul Park. Learn about Land Use Planning and Zoning from PALARIS and GEF6, and find MAFE's bureaus at the Green Fair!
Outer Islands Master Planning Workshop #6 - 4/25 @ 10am at GEF
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Who's Doing What?Â
11 State's Theme Maps for land use planning are now online. The Risks maps will be useful during Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments (CC V&As).
Congratulations to Ngaraard! We were pleased to see a copy of State Planning Commission Legislation that had passed its first reading. Ngaraard also started its CC V&A through a partnership with the Office of Climate Change and GEF6.
Ngiwal and Ngchesar both held meetings to compare their master plans and land use plans against a "Completion Checklist" as we all work to wrap up master planning this year.
An initial draft of the Palau Development Plan was presented to the President and members of the Cabinet. We were pleased to hear the core team discuss "Community Development Priorities" that have been integrated throughout.Â
A workshop this week presented the First National Climate Outlook Forum; it seems we are entering into an El Niño pattern (drier for us). There was info on the ongoing development and use of tools for early predictions of rainfall, temperature, and ocean parameters (temperature, height, coral bleaching, and fisheries convergence zone outlooks and uncertainties). Contact the Grants Office or Palau Weather Service for more information.
April 10, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Chemical Profile; Green Fair; Land use plan map; Koror RRI; many partner activities
Happy Earth Month!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: EQPB held a workshop to review a draft Chemicals Profile and Chemicals Strategy for Palau. The profile is attached and feedback is welcome. As with the Palau Biodiversity Project, the Chemicals Project calls for mainstreaming of chemicals - and minimizing of their impact - into national and state plans and policies. The draft Chemicals Profile found that chemicals are released into Palau via the following sectors that negatively impact air, soil, and water quality:
Agriculture - Pesticides and fertilizer
Tourism industry - Pesticides and detergents
Fishing industry - Used oil, fuels
Services: Retail and Construction - Solid waste
Services: Power - Used oil, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, carbon dioxide, particulates
Services: Water and sewer - Used oil
Managing the entire life cycle of chemicals (all of which are imported) is a key strategy to keeping Palau's human and environmental health safe.
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What's coming up?
Ngaraard Master Planning and Climate Change V&A - 4/11 @ 6pm in Ngaraard
Ngchesar Master Planning and Climate Change V&A - 4/12 @ 6pm at PALARIS
Sonsorol Master Planning - 4/14 @ 9am at GEF6
Airai Master Planning and Climate Change V&A - 4/14 @ 6pm at Airai
Ngarchelong Land Use Planning - 4/18 @ 6pm at MAFE
MAFE-Belau Modekngei School Expo - 4/20 @ 9-12 at Nekken
Green Fair - 4/21 @ 9-4 at Ernguul Park. Find MAFE and partners at the Green Fair!
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(IMAGE) Participants at a RRI Workshop to strategize ways to address top challenges in Koror.
Who's Doing What?Â
The partnership with PALARIS has been critical to land use planning and to grant proposals! See an updated spatial resources page for a sneak peak at how land use planning is shaping up in Babeldaob and Peleliu and access guidance maps for individual states (base maps, low-impact development recommendations, high-impact suitable sites, hazards maps, and suitable soils). Also find updated agriculture maps produced to help secure grants, such as from the World Bank and Taiwan ICDF.
PICRC announced that Dr. Golbuu will be leaving the Center after 21 years (Thank you Dr. Golbuu!!). He is moving to The Nature Conservancy, where he will address regional climate change issues and initiatives. PICRC is recruiting for a new CEO, with applications accepted until April 18.
Ngarchelong tackled some deep, philosophical questions as it began land use planning: how much risk are they willing to take?
Ngchesar's leadership reviewed and provided feedback on the draft master plan, land use plan, zoning code, and street names.
Melekeok updated its master plan with feedback from community meetings and prepared for leadership review.
Koror and PCS held a Resilient Reefs Initiative (RRI) workshop to develop Resilience Strategies for 9 top challenges that had been previously identified and prioritized by community focal groups and other stakeholders. At the March 29 workshop, small groups identified pathways for 4 of the top concerns: 1) Fisheries Management, 2) Preservation of Culture and Practices and Historical Sites, 3) Adaptive Management, and 4) Sustainable Financing. Email for more.
The Hatohobei Planning Team started identifying street names.Â
The Palau Biodiversity Project was very pleased to hear that State legislation to create a Sonsorol State Planning Commission had passed its first reading. Partners, we could use your input on where to place a Commission in the state branches. If you have an organizational chart to share, please email.
In case you missed it: Koror is collecting input for a potential water reclassification to create a beach near the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge. Reach out to your legislator if you have input.
MAFE/PALARIS's GIS Expert attended a Local 2030 Islands Network Conference to identify sustainable approaches to tourism, carbon mitigation, and more. She ran into a familiar face (hello - setbacks) from the Palau-Hawaii Zoning Exchange in Hilo, who was proudly sporting a very unique shirt!
The GEF6 Project Board held its 15th quarterly meeting, and were pleased to hear about an audit report with zero findings!
Happy Earth Month! Palau Pledge hosted a mangrove cleanup in Ngerbeched. It's amazing (and saddening) to see the junk pulled from our mangroves, which are essential habitats for young fish, invertebrates, and birds; and which provide essential ecosystem services such as storm and flood buffering and trapping of sediment from land. Missed it? Participate in a Social Media contest or come to the Green Fair on April 21 to celebrate Earth Day with lots of partners!
The GEF6 project continues to advocate for "Community Development Priorities" within the draft national Palau Development Plan. The draft plan is being presented to cabinet this week, ideally with priorities from State Master Plans integrated throughout.
March 27, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Birds; Resilient reefs; V&As; Outer islands; PHA; Local product ideas
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Palau is located in two major flyways for migratory shorebirds: the West Pacific Flyway and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). The EAAF has some of the highest diversity of migratory bird species of all flyways in the world. Several of the migratory birds that pass through Palau are globally threatened, including the iconic Delerrok (moneybird, Far Eastern Curlew). Peleliu and its landowners are working to protect the Lkes sandflats, a critical stopover for migrating shorebirds and a globally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). Palau also has two Marine IBAs: a radius of 36 miles (60 km) around Fana, and a radius of 7.5 miles around Helen. Endangered migratory birds that travel through Palau regularly include:
Far Eastern Curlew (EN), Delerrok
Japanese Night Heron & Great Knot (EN)
Providence Petrel, Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel, Common Pochard (all VU)
Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Red Knot, Streaked Shearwater, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint (NT)
EN: Endangered. VU: Vulnerable. NT: Near Threatened.
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What's coming up?
Koror RISL Resilient Reefs Initiative - Resilience Strategies Workshop with KSG and PCS - 3/29 @ 8am at PICRC
15th GEF6 Board Meeting - 3/30 @ 10am
Plan ahead: Technical support for master planning phases out in July 2023, support for land use planning ends in December 2023, and the entire GEF6 project closes in June 2024.
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Picture: Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessment during the 5th Outer Islands Master Planning WorkshopWho's Doing What?Â
GEF6 is partnering with the Office of Climate Change to update/develop State Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessments. The assessments will be used for the 3rd National Communication to the UNFCCC and the update to the Palau Climate Change Policy, and will be used to complete climate chapters in the state master plans. Assessment materials were tested during the 5th Outer Islands Workshop.
Sonsorol and Hatohobei continued with master planning at the 5th Outer Islands Master Planning Workshop, completing economic and environmental goals and objectives and starting social goals.
The Palau Biodiversity Project was pleased to assist the Palau Housing Authority (PHA) with strategic planning. It offered an opportunity to mainstream Palau's environmental laws, policies, and plans; and provided an opportunity to share information from housing suitability analyses and land use plans. Learn more about PHA's mandates and see an analysis of housing needs here.
Small business owners making local products in Guam stopped by MAFE last week with SBDC /Chamber to promote their products and learn about Palau’s biodiversity-friendly local producers. Their products consistently use labeling and certification to tell their cultural stories! P.S. They are looking for suppliers of coconut, chilis, and breadfruit, and are interested in taro flour. Anyone able to produce 5000 lbs of coconut meat per month? Get a look at their products, packaging, and labels here.
March 13, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: BBNJ; V&A; EDRR & IIB; Zoning breakdown; Community priorities; JCB materials on MSP, mangroves, & CC; Partner activities
Happy Youth Day from the Palau Biodiversity Project (GEF6)! Offices will be closed on Wednesday.
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BBNJ image link: https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/governing-areas-beyond-national-jurisdictionWhat's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Global ocean partners, including Palau's own team of international treaty negotiators, scored a big win for marine biodiversity in early March. Years of work on "BBNJ" (biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions) led to a High Seas Treaty. The legally-binding treaty will enable large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) on the high seas, which are international waters that span 2/3 of the ocean and cover 1/2 of the planet. The high seas are little studied, but are known to be home to hundreds-to-thousands-or-more fish, shark, and invertebrate species, marine mammals, seabirds, and reptiles. Individual seamounts (underwater mountains) and deep water coral gardens can be home to hundreds of endemic species. Oceans are also corridors for economically and culturally important migratory species. A network of high seas LSMPAs (reaching a target of at least 30% of the entire ocean) will complement the work of nations such as Palau that have protected portions of their EEZs via the PNMS.
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What's coming up?
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) Meeting - 3/17 @ 5pm at PC
Outer States Master Planning Workshop #5 - 3/21 @ 10am-3pm at GEF6
State Planning Teams and Commissions: GEF6 will be scheduling Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessments (with the office of Climate Change) in March and April.
Email if you would like to review copies of the Early Detection & Rapid Response (EDRR) and Inter-Island/Inter-State Biosecurity (IIB) (for prevention and control of invasive species) Situation Analysis or Draft Framework.
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Snapshot of land use planning and zoning so far in Palau
Who's Doing What?Â
Community priorities have been forwarded to the Palau Development Plan (PDP) for consideration and inclusion in the national plan, which will be tied to the budget process. Priorities came from the State Master Plans and have been guided by the Governors Association with input from the JCB. Read the summary document here (15th, #6).
Materials from the 15th JCB meeting are online, including an introductory presentation by BOF about MSP, an update on mangrove research from the PICRC-JICA project, copies of the 8 State Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessments (V&A), and State input on activities completed under the 2015 Palau Climate Change Policy (PCCP).
President Whipps, Jr. mentioned planning and zoning in his weekly press conference (starts at 11:03, zoning at 13:28). Zoning work continues in line with State Visions. 7 project States have completed land use planning and are working on adopting them as zones. See the graphic above for a snapshot of how those States are zoning their lands so far.
PICRC and partners published an article on maml and kamedukl populations in Palau in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, indicating that maml populations are in decline. The article and press release, summarizing a recommendation to keep both fisheries closed, are attached. Please email PICRC if you would like to attend a special Zoom presentation on the findings with lead author, Dr. Alan Friedlander (date TBD).
Hatohobei State held a community meeting to introduce Master and Land Use Planning and to review the draft vision and economic goals. Find the introductory presentation here (#12) and photos here.Â
The Ngaraard Planning Team did field verification of their proposed land use plan.
Check out the new PAN Video: "A Commitment: The Protected Areas Network".
EQPB published February's water quality testing results. EQPB also announced the dates of the 31st Pacific Islands Environment Conference (PIEC), to be held in Palau from July 31 to August 4, 2023. The theme is "Harmonizing Strategies in the Pacific: Islands, Oceans and Economies."
February 27, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Inter-island biosecurity; IAS pictures; Peleliu Commission & street names; PDP; GHG
Invasive plants Allamanda (yellow) and Bamboo Orchid (pink) are not on Peleliu (or are in very low numbers). Inter-island biosecurity is important to keep them from being introduced.
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) consultations are showing that Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are not distributed everywhere. We learned last week that Peleliu does not have many IAS Plants found in Koror and Babeldaob, and that some islands in Sonsorol and Hatohobei don't have Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles. It is essential to keep them that way! Inter-Island Biosecurity is critical before moving cargo and especially soil, plants, fruits, seeds, and animals between islands. As Koror says, "STOP - CHECK - GO." Taking the time to check your boats, airplanes, and cargo for IAS could keep these islands free of new threats. Here are pictures (what to keep an eye out for):
Invasive Animals (attached PPT)
Invasive Plants of Palau (2002, Palauan language)
Top 20 IAS Threats in Palau (website with links to more info)
What's coming up?
Airai Land Use Plan update - 2/27 @ 6pm
Governors Association Community Priorities for PDP - 2/28 @ 12pm
15th Meeting of the JCB - 3/2 @ 10am in Ngchesar
Ngaraard Land Use Plan Field Verification Day - 3/3 @ 9:30 at the Makit
Peleliu Community Meeting about Street Names
Who's Doing What?Â
Congratulations to Peleliu State on the passage of state legislation to create and empower a State Planning Commission and State Planning Office! Peleliu's Master Plan and Land Use Plan are complete. Once a Commission is named, the GEF6 team will help orient and transition the new Commission to the task of reviewing and adopting the plans before sending them to the State legislature for approval and implementation.Â
The Peleliu Planning Team identified possible Street Names, which were then debated at a Community meeting. The resulting names will be sent to the State legislature for their approval via Resolution.
The Palau Biodiversity Project (GEF6) is pleased to be able to assist the Governors Association with the identification of Community Priorities for the Palau National Development Plan (PDP). Together, Governors and Project Partners will pull out common themes across the State Master Plans and propose costed solutions for consideration in the PDP. See the attached MOF-PDP press release.
Ngarchelong started land use planning.
Kayangel, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei continued working on their master plans. They are nearly done with economic and environmental goals and objectives.
Training sessions on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories are under way. Expect to be queried in the next month on topics such as number of livestock, hectares planted, or solid waste composition.
February 20, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: SMAs, PNMS & GHG Workshops; Biodiversity & IAS Exhibit; Permitted/Prohibited debate; GEF8
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: A valuable tool in land use planning is the Special Management Area (SMA). State's draft zoning codes define the SMA as an "overlay" that goes on top of a zoning code to indicate that some sort of special conditions are needed. For instance, states are placing SMAs in areas where sea level rise, flood surges, landslides, repeated fires, or other impacts from climate change may occur and where specific building conditions may be necessary. SMAs can also highlight areas with high biodiversity, such as places with threatened or endangered plants, important forest areas, or important bird areas, and require conditions to protect that biodiversity. SMAs can also be placed on top of zones next to industrial or high-impact sites, to indicate that conditions are needed to ensure the safety of neighboring uses.
What's coming up?
4th Outer Islands Master Planning Workshop - 2/21 @ 10am
Ngarchelong Land Use Planning - 2/21 @ 6pm
Peleliu Community Meeting on Master Plan, Climate Change & Biosecurity Consultations, and street verification - 2/23-24
PNMS Draft Strategic Plan Review 2/24 @ 8:30am. Email PICRC.
GHG Inventory Hands-On Training & Workshops. Email OCC.
Energy & Transport - 2/24@ 9am
Industrial Processes, Products Use, and Waste - 2/24 @ 1pm
 Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land Use - 2/27 @ 10am.
15th Meeting of the JCB - 3/2 @ 10am in Ngchesar
Who's Doing What?Â
Go check out PICRC's new Biodiversity and Invasive Alien Species interactive (!!!) exhibit. You might be able to earn a fantastic t-shirt when you learn something new!
In the news: Palau Delegation visits Hilo, Hawai’i for Zoning Learning ExchangeÂ
More in the news: Palau delegation meets with UH Hilo students, encourages them to move home
Exchange participants met to debrief and agreed on several changes to the zoning code and land use maps. These included a spirited debate on the merits of including many more "Principle" (permitted) uses or instead listing "Prohibited" uses.
Ngchesar's Planning and Development Commission decided on a Variance and Amendment Process and incorporated it into their zoning code.
Ngatpang conducted a field verification day to review its proposed land use map and adjust zones to reflect conditions on the ground.
Ngaraard finished its land use plan and scheduled a field verification day, and planned for the process of getting community and leadership approval.
Melekeok prepared for a series of community and leadership meetings to seek feedback and approval on their updated master plan. The community meeting was scheduled for Monday, 2/20.
Experts from Hatohobei and Meriil continued updating their GIS maps with PALARIS as part of the Outer Islands Master Planning effort.
Palau submitted its GEF8 Expression of Interest (EOI) and thus starting a long 2-year process to developed the next GEF grant. Palau will be pursuing sustainable food systems transformation in GEF8.
Find results of a 2020 FAO-Partner study on food systems, Covid, and Tourism in the attached report. Also, check out this article: Agritourism promotes food traditions in Palau.
February 13, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Coconut Rhino Beetles; Exchange lessons; Special JCB meeting; Lots of mapping with PALARIS
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: After three weeks of consultations for an Inter-Island Biosecurity Framework and Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response Plan (EDRR), it is clear that invasive alien species (IAS) are having serious negative consequences on food security and livelihoods. In some of Sonsorol State's islands, for instance, the growth of the specialty coconut products industry is hampered by Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB). UOG's website includes several resources on controlling CRB, including covering piles of compost with fishing nets and creating different types of traps: https://www.uog.edu/extension/popular-publications (look under "Brochures"). A UOG-developed "tekken netting" technique for trapping CRB recently earned an award for innovative conservation! Speaking of IAS - the Palau Aquarium at PICRC has unveiled its new Biodiversity and Invasive Alien Species Exhibition! They have a fun incentive with prizes running to encourage visitors to come and learn about marine IAS.
What's coming up?
Sonsorol and Hatohobei mapping at PALARIS 2/15 @ 9am & 1pm
Melekeok Master Planning - 2/15 @ 6pm at GEF6/BOF 2nd floor
Ngchesar Zoning & Variances - 2/15 @ 6pm
Ngaraard Land Use Plan finalization and Action Planning - 2/16 @ 6pm in Ngaraard
Zoning Exchange Debrief #1 - 2/17 @ 11am at GEF6/BOF 2nd floor
Ngatpang field day to verify Land Use Plan - 2/20
Airai Land Use Planning - 2/20 @ 6pm in Airai
4th Outer Islands Master Planning Workshop - 2/21
Ngarchelong Land Use Planning - 2/21 @ 6pm
Peleliu Community Meeting on Master Plan, Climate Change & Biosecurity Consultations, and street verification - 2/23-24
15th Meeting of the JCB - 3/2 @ 10am in Ngchesa
Who's Doing What?Â
As we continue to process the lessons learned from the Palau-Hawaii Zoning Exchange in Hilo, one particular lesson stands out. The County of Hawaii Planning Director asked us to consider: "Are we moving towards what we want or are we moving away from what we don't want?" The only way to get what we want is to plan for it proactively. Planning for what we don't want means we could end up somewhere else.
The Babeldaob JCB held a Special Meeting last week to conduct consultations on Climate Change Policy activities and Inter-Island Biosecurity and Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) needs. All of the materials from the meeting - including presentations on climate change projections, the GHG inventory, the 3rd National Communication, and Invasive Species Prevention are online. All approved minutes and past meeting documents are also finally online. Special thanks to the Office of Climate Change for hosting the meeting. All 10 States were at this meeting, and they are extending an invitation to all the other States Planning Teams to send a rep to the next JCB meeting on March 2nd, as a way of expanding the country's capacity to coordinate planning across borders and islands (see the tentative agenda under "15th meeting").
In partnership with PALARIS, Aimeliik incorporated changes from its field verification day and finalized its Land Use Plan. The state will start community consultations soon on its master plan and land use plan.
New members on an expanded Planning Team for Sonsorol State were oriented to the master planning process and continued working on economic goals. Experts from the different islands have been working with PALARIS to update their maps in preparation for land use planning. Last week, Fanna stopped by.
Together with Airai's Rangers, the team mapped the trail to the beautiful Kmekumer waterfall, which is planned as an eco-tour destination.Â
February 6, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: STOP-CHECK-GO and Ulong; Special JCB, Palau-Hawaii Zoning Exchange
Koror State Ulong Island Eradication and Closure Announcement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u3eNcrexxO7y2HyZPo7nDmuiTlatrWDb/view?usp=share_link
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming:Â "STOP - CHECK - GO" Koror State Government has started public outreach in advance of the Ulong Rat Eradication scheduled from March 7 to 31, 2023 and as part of its interisland biosecurity regime to stop the reintroduction of invasive species. Rats are detrimental to biodiversity (especially to ground nesting birds such as the endangered Bekai (Palau Megapode)), human health, agriculture, and sanitation. This project will allow the Ulong island complex to return to a more natural state. As Koror reminds us: "Good biosecurity is dependent on the people that use the island to be good stewards of the land and sea. Anyone traveling to Ulong on in the Rock Islands is encouraged to STOP and CHECK their boats and equipment [for invasive species to be removed] before they GO." Ulong will be temporarily closed during the application of the rat bait. For human health and safety, there will be a moratorium on harvesting all species on or around the island for 6 months (including fishing, gleaning, and terrestrial plants/species). Koror will be publishing an official buffer zone. Keep our islands free of invasive species: STOP, CHECK, GO.
What's coming up?
Aimeliik Land Use Planning - 2/8 @ 6pm
Special JCB Meeting - 2/9 @ 9 am at Palasia Desomel
Melekeok Master Planning - 2/9 @ 6pm
Sonsorol Master Planning New Team Orientation - 2/10 @ 8:30am
Who's Doing What?Â
Last week 12 participants from Palau attended a Palau-Hawaii Zoning Exchange in Hilo, Hawaii to learn how to implement master plans, land use plans, and zoning. Participants included representatives of Babeldaob State Planning Commissions and Planning Departments, the Governors Association, and GEF6 partners. See pictures on Flickr and stay tuned for a lot more on the lessons learned! In addition to the exchange with the County of Hawai'i Planning Department, they met with Mayor Roth, Palauan students at UH Hilo, the Local2030 Islands Network, Pacific RISA, and USDA Rural Development Programs.
January 23, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Chamber event for producers; EDRR and Biosecurity; PICRC Gala; Gender Mainstreaming with Australia
#MainstreamingMondays will be on hiatus next week. Instead, follow us for updates on the Palau-Hilo-Hawaii Zoning Exchange! #gef6palau Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau)
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Partner event:
Register by today at noon for tomorrow's Chamber of Commerce Biodiversity-Friendly event. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2152857264909224&set=a.145547842306853
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The Invasion Curve: Biosecurity targets prevention of arrival, establishment and spread. Image courtesy of Monica Gruber: https://driv e.google.com/file/d/1hwXx5sSRwdtL14BD2IKxX_7tkX9Tsrc9/view?usp=share_linkÂ
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The Bureau of Environment together with Island Conservation and a company called Pacific Biosecurity are developing an Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) and Inter-Island Biosecurity Framework. Biosecurity are actions and processes that prevent the arrival and spread of invasive species in a country and between islands. Biosecurity is critical for protecting a nation's environment, health, food systems, cultural, and economic assets from harm. As part of the EDRR process, the team is trying to understand the level of risk: Species threats, Pathways for arrival and movement of invasive species, and Palau's capacity to respond to risks through prevention, detection, and response.
What's coming up?
3rd Outer Island Master Planning Workshop - 1/24 @ 10am
Ngatpang Land Use Planning - 1/24 @ 6pm at PALARIS
Ngchesar Land Use Plan Field Verification - 1/25
Melekeok Planning Team - Master Plan Leadership Meeting (with streets) - 1/25 @ 6pm at Bailechesau
Aimeliik Land Use Plan Field Verification - 1/26
Consultations are under way for the EDRR and Inter-Island Biosecurity Framework
Who's Doing What?Â
The Gender and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming webpage on the Palau Biodiversitiy Project (GEF6) site is back up! (Thanks!)
The project participated in a consultation to help develop the Australian Government's Palau Gender Country Plan. Materials from the consultation are attached and they welcome your feedback. Summary Document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y4SJT8y6VL3KXs7bjHguONerPiRB3okh/view?usp=share_link  Presentation on Digital systems and Social safety: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10HH9wdu5NrHd0hP2MKqdx4xeN28fPXkC/view?usp=sharing Â
The Ngatpang Planning Commission completed a draft of its Land Use Plan in one meeting - it can be done!
The Ngchesar Planning and Development Commission officially adopted its Zoning Code and began the final pieces of the master plan, including variances and amendments.
Have you participated in your State's governance? Street naming, like voting for Ngiwal's street names, is a great and easy way to start.
Hatohobei and Sonsolor updated their maps at PALARIS as part of land use planning.
January 16, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Threatened Plants; 100% reports due; Board materials; Land use planning; EDRR
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Did you know that Palau's plants are not protected, unless they are in a State's protected area? That is because there are no national laws establishing or protecting endemic, threatened, or culturally important plants. The GEF6 Threatened Plants page has been revamped to show pictures of species of concern, with links to learn more. Click on the map of known locations of threatened plants; many of these plants are in the southern part of Babeldaob, which does not have many terrestrial conservation areas. Land use planning and zoning - reserving these areas for conservation, watershed, or historic preservation - offers one layer of protection.
What's coming up? States and Partners, your 100% financial reports are past due!
Land use mapping for Sonsorol and Hatohobei - 1/17 @ 10am at PALARIS
Food Systems Pathway update meeting - 1/17 @ 10am at BOA
Ngchesar LUP - 1/18 @ 6pm
Conservation Consortium - Resilient Reefs and GEF8 - 1/19 @ 10:30am at PICRC
Gender Validation Workshop - 1/20 @ 2pm at Palasia
3rd Outer Island Master Planning Workshop - 1/24 @ 10am
SAVE THE DATE: The 3rd Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase will be on Friday, December 1, 2023!
Who's Doing What?Â
Materials from the most recent GEF6 Board meeting are online, with an update on project activities and links to the 2022 Project Implementation Report.
Airai finished the main body of its master plan!
Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, and Ngatpang all made progress on land use planning.
Through a partnership with Island Conservation, the process to develop an Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Plan for invasive species is underway! An IC-Consultant will be visiting Palau in January and February and holding Stakeholder Consultations.
January 9, 2023: #MainstreamingMondays: Summary of policies; Zoning exchange; FIB
Happy New Year!
What's being mainstreamed?
Everything Mainstreaming: How well do you know your policies? Start your 2023 off with this quick review of national environmental and other policies that impact development. Find links to more policies here: https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/palau-national-policies-plans.
What's coming up?
Airai (Finish) Master Planning - 01/09 @ 6pm in Airai
Ngaraard Land Use Planning (LUP) - 1/10 @ 6pm in Ngaraard
Showcase Debrief - 1/11 @ 11am
Ngarchelong LUP - 1/11 @ 6pm
Ngatpang LUP - 1/12 @ 6pm
The GEF6 Project is very excited about an upcoming Zoning Exchange to Hilo, Hawaii. Representatives from State Planning Commissions (who have completed Master Plans and Land Use Plans) will shadow the County of Hawai'i Planning Department and Windward Planning Commission and learn how land use permits, variances, zones, Special Management Areas, etc. are processed, approved, amended, and implemented. Additional financial support is from the Bureau of Fisheries.
Who's Doing What?Â
The Palau Biodiversity Project helped the Foreign Investment Board (FIB) prepare its first-ever Strategic Plan. The new plan includes environmental considerations and mainstream elements out of Palau's biodiversity policies.
Ngchesar finished its Land Use Plan.
Melekeok finished its Master Plan, with CIP Priority list, and prepared for community meetings.
The outer islands of Kayangel, Angaur, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei continued working on Master Plans during a 2nd Planning Workshop, finishing draft Visions and starting on Economic goals and objectives.
December 12, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Convention on Biodiversity; MAFE at the Christmas Program; Showcase feedback and photos; States finishing plans
Happy Holidays!
#MainstreamingMondays will be on break until January 9, 2023.
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is currently happening in Canada. Palau spoke on behalf of 20 Asia-Pacific Island developing nations last week to advocate for our collective biodiversity priorities. These include adequate resourcing for National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (see Palau's NBSAP 2015-2025), addressing invasive alien species and habitat degradation, and increased emphasis on ocean issues. Palau also called for biodiversity and climate change work to be "mutually reinforcing." Finally, Palau called for increased recognition of Small Island Developing States within the Convention on Biological Diversity.
What's coming up?
Find MAFE at the 2022 Annual Children's Christmas Program on Thursday, December 15 at Ngerulmud.
Ngchesar Land Use Planning 12/14 @ 6pm
Outer Islands States Master Planning Workshop #2 (Goals) 12/20
Airai Master Planning 01/04/23
A partner has asked us to remind everyone to take care of your own health too during the holiday season. The Palau Communicable Disease Unit is offering a free screening on Tuesday 12/13 @ 5-8pm. Stay healthy and well!
Who's Doing What?Â
The 2nd Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase was an amazing opportunity to meet over 35 local artists, producers, and craftspeople. Download Palau Biodiversity Project pictures here. Or check out the Office of the President's amazing pictures on FB: 1) This one includes a wonderful article and quote on the event and lots of pictures. 2) This post includes information on the musicians and a bit more on the event and its purpose. 3) This one features more pictures of producers.
Did you attend the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase? BNM & Chamber would love your feedback, especially on what day to hold the event next year! Please fill out this survey.
PICRC started construction of its Invasive Marine Species display.
The Babeldaob Joint Coordination Body had a packed agenda for its quarterly meeting, approving Nearshore Marine Spatial Planning "Zoning" definitions, hearing about ongoing PICRC-JICA research on mangroves and sedimentation, and providing feedback on a National Master Planning process, among other topics. As the Babeldaob JCB considers sustainability for the eventual end of the Palau Biodiversity Project (in June 2024), they agreed to invite other rural states to their next meeting to strategize together for long-term planning.
Ngarchelong finished the main part of its Master Plan, including a CIP priority list, and scheduled a community meeting.
Ngiwal finished its Land Use Plan and Nearshore Marine Spatial Plan!
Ngchesar continued with the restoration of its Hondoro Eco-Tour site. Ngchesar also started Land Use Planning.
Aimeliik has been on a roll! They completed their Aimeliik Land Use Plan and continued making progress with Street Naming.
Ngaraard continued with improvements to the Obakelderau Eco-Tour Site with a community work event.
November 29, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase on Sunday! Plus criteria; JCB; Outer Island planning; and all 11 states with draft master plans
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: See you at the 2nd Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase on Sunday, December 4th at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center! Public sales start at 2pm. A Buyer Preview and Showcase Opening (by invitation only, no sales) is from 12-2pm. Meet Palau's talented and sustainable producers and buy unique local products for the holidays! Belau National Museum (BNM) and Palau Chamber of Commerce (CoC) are partnering with SBDC, BCHP, PVA, and MAFE GEF6 on this year's exciting event. Website: bit.ly/BiodiversityShowcase.
Products meet Biodiversity-Friendly Criteria (see Biodiversity-Friendly Criteria Slideshow):
They avoid use or harm to any of Palau's protected or endangered species (including globally-endangered species)
They avoid harm to habitats and ecosystems
They celebrate Palau's endemic and unique species, habitats, and ecosystems
They celebrate cultural traditions and sustainable environmental practices
 Get a sneak peak of the list of confirmed producers below... the deadline to register is today in order to receive a profile. Walk-ins welcome, though.
What's coming up?
Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase - Sunday December 4. Public sales start at 2pm.
Ngarchelong Master Planning - 11/29 @ 6pm at BOF to finish the main part of their master plan
Ngiwal Master Planning - 11/30 @ 6pm at GEF6
Babeldaob JCB Meeting - 12/1 @ 10am in Ngiwal. Bring your own spoon and fork.
Sanctuary Kaustory Series - 12/7 and 12/8 @ 6:30pm at PICRC
Who's Doing What?Â
MAFE partnered with the Small Business Development Center to offer an Eco-Friendly Business Workshop, in preparation for the Showcase. Find the link to the Biodiversity-Friendly Criteria Slideshow above.
We began working with the four outer island states of Kayangel, Angaur, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei to develop Draft Master Plans and Land Use Plans. The project is using all the tools, templates, and lessons learned from the past two years to run monthly workshops for the four states to draft their plans.
Airai finished their last section - environmental goals and objectives. This means that all 10 states on Babeldaob plus Peleliu have completed all of their goals and objectives! This has been a massive undertaking and special thanks go to PCS, PALARIS, State Governments, and all the volunteer state planning teams and state commissions!
A small group - from MAFE/GEF6 and PCC-CRE - are representing Palau's Food Systems interests in Samoa at a FAO Meeting. They have already secured innovative financing for Palau!
Ngatpang started land use planning.
The Ngchesar Planning Commission and the Ngchesar Public Lands Authority decided to work together closely on land use planning and zoning.
November 21, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: 2nd Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase on Dec 4; Eco-Friendly Business Workshop on Nov 23; Master Planning expands; Agri-Fair and Youth Forum; A climate win
Happy Thanksgiving!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The 2nd Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase will be on Sunday, December 4th at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center. The Showcase highlights Palau's processed/souvenir food producers, artists, craftspeople, artisans, musicians, and creative-preneurs who use sustainably- and locally-sourced materials to make unique products. PUBLIC: Save your payday money and #BuyLocalByLocal this year! Open to the public from 2pm-6pm. BUYERS: Special Buyer Preview (by invitation only) from 12pm-2pm. No purchasing until 2pm, please. PRODUCERS: Register by Nov 29. Products must meet biodiversity criteria and should try to avoid plastic packaging. Belau National Museum (BNM) and Palau Chamber of Commerce (CoC) are partnering with SBDC, BCHP, PVA, and MAFE GEF6 on this year's exciting event. Info, biodiversity criteria, and registration: bit.ly/BiodiversityShowcase.
Biodiversity-Friendly Criteria:
Excluded products: No product that uses a protected species (turtles, dugong, red coral, etc.) is allowed.
No use of protected species. See list. No use of threatened plants: See list.
Nothing that promotes growth of invasive species.
Products should try to avoid using plastic.
Products that celebrate or educate about local biodiversity and/or traditional cultural uses of biodiversity are highly encouraged!
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What's coming up?
PRODUCERS, get help preparing for the Showcase at a FREE Eco-Friendly Business Workshop on Wednesday, November 23 @ 10 am. It will be held at the GEF6 2nd Floor Conference Room. Led by the Small Business Development Center Palau (SBDC).
Introduction to Master Planning Workshop for Kayangel, Angaur, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei. 11/22 @ 10-3 pm at GEF6 2nd Floor.
Ngatpang Master Planning 11/21 @ 6pm
Ngaraard Zoning 11/22 @ 6pm
Airai Master Planning 11/28 @ 6pm
Who's Doing What?Â
Congratulations to our hard-working team at the UNFCCC Climate Change Negotiations in Egypt! Together with other Small Island and developing nations, they have pushed for recognition of "Loss and Damage" due to Climate Change. At this year's Conference of the Parties (COP27), developed nations finally agreed to create a fund to compensate developing nations for climate harm.
At the #KeledANgercheled Youth Forum (in partnership with PCC), MHHS Minister Uherbelau challenged youth to think about individual change; Iris and Ivory Polycarp shared their fascinating stories about starting Miso Hungry and The Chop Shop; and Kiruu Kanai sought feedback on the draft Youth Strategy. PCC Students then discussed ways to improve Palau's food security on land and at sea, via consumption and nutrition, and in economic, social, and cultural sectors. See pictures here. The kickoff program was live streamed on Facebook. See attached for more on partners, an overview of Food Security issues, to think about "big issue" discussion questions.
The Agri-Fair featured a presentation by youth from the #KeledANgercheled Youth Forum. See pictures from the Agri-Fair here. The Business Feedback Board offered a great chance to let MAFE & BOA know what businesses need, and we'll be acting on that information (Thanks to the SBDC and Chamber of Commerce for your partnership).
Ngaraard, Ngchesar, and Aimeliik started land use planning.
The project participated in a community meeting organized by PALARIS (about Street Naming) to introduce the master planning process to Kayangel. Check out this amazing eye-to-eye picture of a young Kedam that popped down to pay a visit.
The Ngiwal Community reviewed the draft Master Plan and Land Use Plan, and gave the Commission and planning teams their approval! There was a lot of feedback on proposed Street Names, which will need more work. See pictures.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Aimeliik LUP - 11/8; Ngchesar LUP - 11/9; Kayangel Street Naming and Master Planning Community Meeting - 11/16-17; #KeledANgercheled Youth Forum - 11/15; Ngaraard LUP - 11/14; Ngiwal Community Meeting - 11/9; 2022 Agri-Fair - 11/18
November 7, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Agri-Fair; Biodiversity & Food Security; Youth Forum and #KeledANgercheled Week; Showcase
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity and Food Systems Mainstreaming: MAFE is hosting an Agri-Fair to highlight the role of local producers and foods in Palau's Food Security. Palau's agriculture systems are naturally in harmony with biodiversity. Different plants and animals provide a variety of ecosystem services: everything from pollination and seed dispersal to soil enrichment and soil stabilization. Palau has a growing number of organic farmers, who purposefully implement biodiversity preservation and avoid use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, thus minimizing impact off-site and downstream. Similarly, biodiverse marine habitats support healthier fish and invertebrate populations, with more sustainable fisheries. Connect with Palau's biodiversity-friendly growers, fishers, and food producers at the Agri-Fair on Friday, November 18 at BOA in Ngchesar! Please call BOA @ 622-5804 to participate.
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What's coming up?
Palau is celebrating World Food Day and #KeledANgercheled next week!
Start with a Diabetes Walk on Monday, November 14 @ 4:30pm on World Diabetes Day (led by MHHS)
Learn and share more at the #KeledANgercheled Youth Forum on Tuesday, November 15 @ 8am-12pm (in partnership with PCC and technical partners)
Buy and eat healthy, local foods, connect with Producers, and learn about food systems in Palau at the MAFE Agri-Food Fair on Friday, November 18 in Ngchesar @ 9am-4pm
Master Planning work continues, with many states nearing completion!
Aimeliik Land Use Planning 11/8 @ 6pm at PALARIS
Ngchesar Land Use Planning 11/9 @ 6pm at PALARIS
Ngiwal Community Meeting to review the draft Master Plan and Land Use Plan 11/9 @ 6pm at Labek
Ngeremlengui Master & Land Use Planning - Final Touches 11/10 @ 10am in Ngeremlengui
Ngaraard Land Use Planning 11/14 @ 6pm in Ngaraard
Kayangel Street Naming and Intro to Master Planning 11/16-17
Melekeok Master Planning 11/17 @ 6pm at GEF6
Ngatpang Master Planning 11/21 @ 6pm
PLAN AHEAD: Rural States Introduction to Master Planning for Kayangel, Angaur, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei 11/22
Who's Doing What?Â
It's official! The 2nd Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase will be on Sunday, December 4 at Ngarchamayong Cultural Center. Belau National Museum (BNM) and Palau Chamber of Commerce (CoC) are partnering with MAFE, SBDC, BCHP, and PVA on this year's exciting event. Info, biodiversity criteria, and registration: bit.ly/BiodiversityShowcase. SinceshorelyYours (jewelry), G&G Flower Farm (woven items); and Carol's Special (preserves) have already registered!
 Power outages won't stop the work! The joint Ngiwal planning team, with members from the Commission, NSPLA, and working group worked diligently through a power outage to finish their Draft Master Plan. They are presenting the governing plan (Vision, Goals, Objectives, Actions, and Policies) as well as the Zoning Code and Land Use Plan to the Ngiwal community this week.
UNDP requests youth input into a survey on digital technologies. Access it through Facebook Messenger: http://m.me/UNDPtech
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: PNMS Local Stakeholder Science and Monitoring Plan Consultation - 10/26; Ngiwal Street Naming and Objectives - 10/26; Aimeliik Land Use Planning - 10/27; Ngarchelong Finish Master Plan Part 1 - 11/1; BOE Invasive Species Workshop with UoGuam - 11/2; Ngiwal Finish Master Plan & Power Outage - 11/2; Ngeremlengui Master Plan Implementation, Variance, and Street Naming - 10/28; Aimeliik Leadership Review of Master Plan - 11/1; Airai Master Planning Cultural Objectives - 11/7
October 24, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Landfill fires and food systems; Consortium meeting; Food fair; FIB; MOF-NPS; Ngermalk trail and marine lake; and more
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity and Food Systems Mainstreaming: The landfill fire in Airai posed a threat to human health and biodiversity, directly from the fire and indirectly from polluted air and water runoff, and is very connected to our food systems. Decaying organic matter produces flammable gasses as well as heat, which can lead to subsurface fires. The majority of waste in Palau's landfills is organic (see page 8), coming from food waste, green waste (e.g. grass, leaves), and paper. Food waste made up 41-44% of Palau's waste in 2014-2015. Composting food waste - thus diverting organic matter from the landfill and returning nutrients to soils - is a much better alternative than throwing it in the trash. (Avoiding food waste is even better.) Koror State offers a composting service, Biogas is another available alternative (info), and composting is a ripe area for private business development.
What's coming up?
Conservation Consortium 10/26 @ 9am at PICRC (Agenda: PNMS Science Plan + other updates)
Ngiwal Master Planning (MP) 10/26 @ 6pm
Aimeliik MP 10/27 @ 6pm
Ngeremlengui MP 10/28 @ 10 am at PALARIS
Cheuais removal at Lake Ngardok, Melekeok 10/29 @ 8am-12pm
#KeledANgercheled Youth Forum on November 15. Info
#KeledANgercheled Local Food Fair on Friday, November 18! Register.
Who's Doing What?Â
The Palau Biodiversity Project was pleased to partner with the Foreign Investment Board (FIB) to mainstream biodiversity into their Strategic Plan. The FIB is an important avenue for States to promote their development priorities, and the project will work with State partners to submit copies of their Master Plans (highlighting sustainable development investment opportunities) to FIB.
Ngchesar completed the main body of its Master Plan, including CIP Priority List, and will move to land use planning.
Peleliu field validated its proposed land use plan, and the many changes were updated on GIS by PALARIS. Peleliu is almost done with its master plan, and now awaits legislative authorization and approval in order to finish the last few items.
Melekeok, Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the US National Park Service (NPS) invited stakeholders to learn about a partnership for Sustainable Visitor Use and Tourism Planning and review a draft plan for Ngardok Nature Reserve. The MOF-NPS partnership also includes work in Ngaremeduu Bay.
Last week saw a Training Needs Assessment for Nature-based Solutions, through a partnership with IUCN, SPC, and SPREP. This is part of a regional push to better equip Pacific islands countries and territories to adapt to Climate Change. Info.Â
Thank you to partners who made comments on the draft Biosecurity Regulations! Your comments and those from a Stakeholder meeting last week are being incorporated into the regulations through our partnership with MOJ.
Ngaraard's expanded State Planning Team met to familiarize itself with land use planning and zoning.
Congratulations to Koror State on the successful launch of the Ngermalk Trail during the 21st Constitution Day celebration! Development of the trail was led by Koror State and involved the partnership of MAFE, PVA/BOT, PCS, PALARIS, and BNM, with funding from GEF through UNDP. Signs highlight best practices and cultural and natural heritage in the rock island forest, and there is a sign about unique creatures in the island's marine lake (in partnership with CRRF). Koror also celebrated its biodiversity by giving its Constitutional Framers endemic Chebouch trees! Given the fragile rock island forest, be sure that your shoes are clean before you start!! Don't bring weed seeds and fungus into the forest.
MAFE's bureaus were present at the Koror Constitution Day and OBF. Find us at events and take home plants and plenty of best practices for #KeledANgercheled!
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngaraard MP - 10/19; Ngarchelong MP - 10/11; Ngermalk Trail & Koror Constitution Day - 10/21; PALARIS - LUP Work; Biosecurity Regs Review - 10/19; NbS Training Needs Assessment - 10/18; MOF-NPS-Melekeok - 10/18; Peleliu LUP Validation - 10/17; FIB Strategic Planning 10/12-13; Mapping farms and subdivisions - 10/11
October 17, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Celebrate the Palau Biodiversity Project Partnership this holiday weekend!
Happy 39th Koror State Constitution Day and Happy United Nations Day! Celebrate some of the biodiversity mainstreaming work of #gef6palau partners this weekend!
Be sure to check out the new Ngermalk Trail at Long Island Conservation Area, which offers an urban oasis of native plants and unique marine lakes. Led by Koror State, this project benefited from the expertise of BOT/PVA, PALARIS, BNM, MAFE, and others! Congratulations Koror! #TeamNGERMALK
While you are at Long Island Park, visit the “Oidel a Chas” Indigenous Medicinal Garden, created in partnership with Koror State and Ngara Maiberel, with additional assistance from BOT/PVA. Learn more about Palau's native plant biodiversity and its cultural connections!
At the Koror State Constitution Day Markets - both Day and Night Market - be sure to support #KeledANgercheled, especially those producers specializing in local, sustainably produced healthy foods that minimize plastic and celebrate culture! Visit the MAFE booth to learn more about Palau's biodiversity as well! #RespectProducers
At Monday's Olechotel Belau Fair in Ngardmau, check out the Eco-Huts, built by the Ngardmau community using best practices! Also be sure to appreciate the extensive work that Ngardmau, Ebiil Society, and their partners have put into replanting the bare hills around Ngmall, all using best practices and community participation. Congratulations Ongedechuul! (P.S. Be sure to support our #KeledANgercheled Food Producers at OBF too!)Â
October 10, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Food systems and Food safety; NBS workshop; Ngermalk; Agrifood Symposium; PESC; Biosecurity Regulations
What's being mainstreamed?
Sustainable Food Systems Mainstreaming: To achieve food security, Palau must increase production and consumption of healthy, local foods. Because our lands are so tightly linked to our coastal mesei and fisheries and gleaning habitats, any increase in production on land must be done with care to keep sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides from degrading these key areas. Crops and agroforests with high biodiversity are more resilient, with fewer vulnerabilities to storms, diseases, and other climate and human threats. Food safety is also key to food security. Per MHHS, a member of the #KeledANgercheled Task Force, gastrointestinal illnesses are one of the leading causes for visits to the ER in Palau (see attached), connected to unsanitary handling of foods or consumption of foods that have been outside for too long. Food producers must attend training and have a Food Handlers Permit.  Â
What's coming up?
Ngarchelong Master Planning 10/11 @ 6pm
Ngchesar Master & Land use planning 10/12 @ 6pm
PCS Gala 10/13 @ 6pm
Peleliu Land use planning 10/14
Workshop on Training Needs Assessment for Nature-Based Solutions 10/18. Contact.
Melekeok Master Planning 10/18 @ 6pm
Biosecurity Regulations Draft Review 10/19 @ 1pm
Cheuais removal at Lake Ngardok, Melekeok 10/29 @ 8am-12pm
Plan ahead: #KeledANgercheled and World Food Day will be celebrated on Friday, November 18! Register.
Who's Doing What?Â
Koror and partners mapped the updated trail to Ngermalk (Long Island). The trail features accessible Rock Island biodiversity and a unique marine lake, and will be officially launched on Koror Constitution Day, October 21.
The Asia-Pacific Symposium on Agrifood Systems Transformation, held last week in Bangkok, offered a sobering look at global food systems. Fuel and food prices are expected to rise again, and will impact rice. While there are many solutions available, all countries, including Palau, need to work harder to increase production and consumption of healthy foods, improve nutrition access in a fair and just manner, and increase food safety and environmental sustainability. Palau was honored to speak as part of a Pacific delegation, and our short message: "Our Food is Our Responsibility" made it into this short recap video. Find more here.
Participants in the Pacific Ecological Security Conference (PESC) endorsed action plans for priority invasive species, and committed to further regional coordination on the prevention, control, and eradication of invasive species in the Pacific.
Through a partnership with the Ministry of Justice, a draft of the updated Biosecurity Regulations is nearing completion. Request a copy of the draft.
The Ngatpang State Planning Commission reviewed objectives and developed their CIP Priority List, and is meeting with their Olbiil this week to review the draft Master Plan. They will begin land use planning next.
Airai continued master planning, with some frank discussions about the future of agriculture in the state.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Peleliu Milkfish Pond and Mangrove Restoration; Asia-Pacific Symposium on Agrifood Systems Transformation; PESC - Conference; Ngatpang Planning Commission 10/6; Ngermalk (updated) Trail mapping - 10/6; PESC - Ngeanges Site Visit; PESC - Ulong Site Visit; Ngaraard Makit - 10/8; Airai Master Planning 10/10
September 27, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Blue Prosperity Plan; Anti-Human Trafficking Art; Master & Land use planning progress; Peleliu Milkfish; Jellyfish Lake
What's being mainstreamed?
Sustainable Development Mainstreaming: Palau's Blue Prosperity Plan outlines the nation's course to achieve 100% management of Palau’s ocean by balancing protection of marine resources with their sustainable use. Three goals are Protection, Sustainable Economic Development, and improving the Enabling Environment. Key initiatives in the plan include:
Marine spatial planning
Offshore fisheries development
Restorative aquaculture
Infrastructure
Innovation
Regional Scaling
What's coming up?
Visit the Anti-Human Trafficking Art Exhibit at BNM before it closes on Thurs, Sept 29 @ 10am-4pm.
Pacific Ecological Security Conference (PESC) and Site Visits 10/3 to 10/6
Ngchesar Land Use Planning 10/5 @ 6pm
Ngatpang Master Planning 10/6 @ 6pm
Airai Master Planning 10/10 @ 6pm
Ngarchelong Master Planning 10/11 @ 6pm
Plan ahead: #KeledANgercheled and World Food Day will be celebrated on Friday, November 18!
Who's Doing What?Â
State Master Planning and Land Use Planning are progressing along very well, with most State partners on track to finish in early 2023, long before GEF6 support ends.
Both Ngatpang and Melekeok finished the hard work of drafting goals, objectives, actions, and policy needs! Melekeok presented this work to leadership last week.
Ngaraard welcomed new team members as it prepares to transition the planning team to a Commission. Ngaraard sought legal advice and has a draft Planning Commission Law ready to be introduced to the legislature.
Peleliu is also getting legal assistance to draft a Planning Commission law through their partnership with PCS. Peleliu also continued land use planning and finalized their CIP list.
More than 40 people attended the Ngchesar Public Hearing on the draft master plan, agreeing with proposed goals and providing feedback on proposed processes and priorities.
Leading the way, Ngeremlengui started Implementation, Variance, and Appeal processes as it wraps up master planning.
Peleliu is implementing its 2022 Best Practice Project to rehabilitate the Milkfish Pond, and the scope and transformation are amazing. After removing logs, debris, invasive vines, and trash from the mangrove, and fixing holes in the inlet/outlet, they are already seeing improved flow.
Koror State and CRRF issued a joint press release about declining jellyfish numbers in Ongeim L'Tketau Jellyfish Lake. The August estimate of the population of Golden Mastigias jellyfish is ~34,000.
The Palau Biodiversity Project is pleased to be able to represent Palau's #KeledANgercheled initiative at an upcoming Asia-Pacific Agrifood Symposium. Read  Palau's #KeledANgercheled Case Study.
A UH Graduate Student has drafted this Story Map about Coastal Food Security in Palau, and is seeking feedback.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Peleliu Streets-LUP-CIP - 9/26; Melekeok MP - 9/20; Ngaraard MP & New Members - 9/21; Ngeremlengui MP: Variance, Appeal, and CIP - 9/22; Ngatpang MP - 9/22; Ngchesar Public Hearing - 9/19; Airai MP - 9/19
September 19, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: PESC; Financials due; NEMS draft; UNDP site visits; Progress with land use planning
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity and Biosecurity Mainstreaming: Palau is hosting the first Pacific Ecological Security Conference (PESC) from October 3-5 to address regional threats from invasive alien species (IAS). Invasive alien animals, plants, and pathogens threaten food security in addition to our economy, culture, and environment. Attendees will develop plans to prevent and manage the spread of priority IAS, including invasive ants and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB), and plans for safely using biological controls to target weeds and pests. Find the conference program, concept paper, and draft strategic action plans for invasive ants, CRB, and BioControls online. Participation is by invitation only.
What's coming up? Reminder: Those who have not submitted financial reports, they are past due. Let's hit 80%!!!
Ngchesar Public Hearing on the draft Master Plan 9/19 @ 6pm
Airai Master Planning 9/19 @ 6pm
Melekeok MP 9/20 @ 6pm
Ngaraard Land use planning (LUP) and zoning 9/21 @ 11am
Ngeremlengui MP & LUP 9/22 @ 10am
Ngatpang MP 9/22 @ 6pm
Peleliu LUP 9/26
Ngiwal MP 9/26 @ 6pm
Plan ahead: #KeledANgercheled and World Food Day will be celebrated on Friday, November 18!
Who's Doing What?Â
Find the EQPB Strategic Plan online.
A draft of a National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS) is available for review. This umbrella document captures Palau's top environmental priorities and actions across multiple sectors and will communicate it to SPREP. Send feedback by Sept 23.
Peleliu started working on its Land Use Plan. They also started Street Naming with PALARIS.
Aimeliik finished the body of its master plan by reviewing and comparing objectives across sectors and by prioritizing their desired CIP projects!
Ngarchelong continued with master planning by finishing environmental objectives.Â
A Team from UNDP visited Palau to conduct site visits to Best Practice projects. The team visited Angaur (to see the emergency alert system put in place through a project with NEMO), Peleliu (to view the Forest of Hope Trail, aquaculture farm, IAS removal areas, and the emergency alert system), and multiple sites on Babeldaob. Partners visiting from Pohnpei were in luck, as the Ngaraard community market was in full swing, allowing them to see and taste #KeledANgercheled in action!
August 22, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Snails & Ants on Friday; JCB materials; Tax reform; Food security indicators; Technical input for nearshore MSP; Peleliu and Ngaraard Legislatures & Commissions
Learn about some of Palau's micro-biodiversity at a Snails and Ants talk on Friday at 10:30am at Kedarm Conference Room at PICRC. Co-sponsored by PCS and the Palau Biodiversity Project (GEF6).
Â
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Small creatures such as snails and ants are critical in Palau's ecosystems, as nutrient recyclers and movers of all sorts. Did you know: Palau has ~200 species of snails (Ngetmakl). 95% of them are endemic, with some species found only on single islands. Palau still has most of its snail species; elsewhere in the Pacific, up to 50% of snails have gone extinct. Learn more about Palau's snails on Friday, on the SnailEvolution website, or visit the Peleliu Forest of Hope trail!
What's coming up?
Ngchesar Land Use Planning 8/23 @ 6pm
Peleliu Land Use Planning 8/25
Snails and Ants Talk 8/26 @ 10:30am at Kedarm
Nature-based Solutions Validation Workshop 9/7 (by NbS Consultants). Email for information. Take the survey by 8/29.
#KeledANgercheled PLAN AHEAD: MAFE will support local food producers at events on October 1 and OBF (~Oct 24).
Who's Doing What?
 The materials from the August 11 Babeldaob JCB meeting are online. These include materials introducing the PICRC-JICA Coastal Management Project, an update from the Office of Climate Change, a graph showing the status of State Master Planning, Title 31 Amendments, and Draft Zoning Regulations. Minutes from the May 2022 meeting are also up, with State updates. Also see pictures from cross-site visits to Aimeliik, Ngardmau, Ngaraard, and Ngarchelong.
MOF is working to educate the public on tax reform starting Jan 1, 2023, which will impact fishers, farmers, and food producers. Access all Tax Reform materials here. Read a subset of information specific to small-scale/informal makit sellers here.
Palau's #KeledANgercheled Task Force met to identify indicators for food security. MHHS data indicates that consumption of healthy food has increased. Census data from 2015 to 2020 seems to indicate that the number of food producers has declined, although the incomes of those in the sector seem to have increased.
Thank you to Technical Partners who stopped by to provide input to nearshore marine spatial maps. In particular, partners from BOF, WASAP, and CRRF spent hours identifying potential sites for aquaculture around Babeldaob and Peleliu. PCS, CRRF, and BNM/TEI also updated biodiversity information. Missed it? Email to schedule time with PALARIS - BCHP is 8/23.
Ngchesar State continued its 2022 Best Practice project to improve a former Japanese School and Hospital site along the "Hondoro trail" for eco-tourism. Work included a drone survey, which made this cool 3D mapping possible.
Materials from the latest GEF6 Project Board meetings are now online, with updates from all partners.Â
A subcommittee of the Peleliu Legislature tasked with creating a State Planning Commission met with the Palau Biodiversity Project to review requirements and best practices. Find templates here.
The Ngaraard Legislature met with the Palau Biodiversity Project for final clarification before completing its Planning and Zoning Commission legislation. See the presentation about GEF6 and Ngaraard.
Aimeliik concluded the first part of master planning by finishing its objectives!
The Ngeremlengui Planning Commission presented its proposed land use plan and zoning codes to Rubak. With some tough feedback, it offered a critical lesson for project partners on best practices for communicating about this relatively new concept of land use planning and zoning.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Governance Clinic -8/9; Ngchesar Hondoro Survey - 8/9; Airai MP - 8/8; Ngarchelong MP (from June); JCB Site Visit to Aimeliik, Ngardmau, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong 8/11; 13th JCB Meeting - 8/11; Peleliu Legislature Subcommittee on Planning Commission - 8/12; #KeledANgercheled Farmers Market - 8/11; Nearshore MSP Technical Input Day at PALARIS - 8/16; Melekeok MP - 8/16; Aimeliik MP - 8/15; Palau Pledge-GEF6 Recycling and Biodiversity Signs; Ngeremlengui Rubak to Review Draft LUP - 8/18; Ngaraard Legislature about Planning Commission - 8/18
August 8, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: #KeledANgercheled and Tax Reform at the Farmer's Market; Planning for climate risks; Partner financial reports due
Join MAFE and MOF for a special #KeledANgercheled Farmer's Market on Thursday morning at Ernguul Park, followed by a Tax Reform workshop for farmers, fishers, and food producers. Help improve Palau's food security and learn about the rights, responsibilities, and benefits of the new tax law that starts January 1, 2023.
What's being mainstreamed?
Resilience Mainstreaming: Climate resilience is being mainstreamed into state land use plans, with maps indicating areas of risk from sea level rise, storm surge, landslides, and fire. It's a rapidly evolving area, with new data and scientific information being added regularly. A Special Management Zone (SMZ) has been added to the draft zoning regulations under consideration by States as a way to signify that some areas need special conditions before being developed. Related (and fascinating): 'Sand battery' could solve green energy's big problem. Does it hold promise for Palau?
What's coming up? Financial reports are due. The project is on a roll - let's keep it that way!
2nd Round of the State Governance Clinic (hosted by MOS) starts today at West Plaza Lebuu Street (Tuesday-Friday)
Ngchesar field visit to Hondoro 8/9 @ 1pm
MAFE-MOJ Partnership to create Biosecurity Regulations 8/10 @ 10am
Babeldaob JCB 8/11 in Ngarchelong
#KELEDANGERCHELED Task Force Meeting 8/15 @ 9am at MAFE
Zoom call about measuring carbon 8/15 @ 1pm
Aimeliik MP 8/15 @ 6pm
Marine Spatial Map - Technical Partner Drop in Day 8/16 @ 9-1 at PALARIS
Apply by 8/12 to be the Palau SGP National Coordinator
It's time to develop Annual Work Plans (AWP) for next year. Schedule your meeting.
Who's Doing What?
 PALARIS is finalizing their new strategic plan. There are exciting developments on the horizon, including a public website to access GIS data!
Ngaraard started the second phase of its 2022 Best Practice Project by clearing the stone paths and features at Ngebuked-Ngaruau.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngaraard Ngebuked-Ngaruau 8/3 (with BCHP); Ngaraard Master Planning 8/3; PALARIS Strategic Planning 8/4; Ngarchelong Master Planning 8/2; Ngchesar Hondoro Drone Survey 8/2
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
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August 1, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Protected species and Palau's new citation system; Ngarchelong street names; Partner updates
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Palau's Fish & Wildlife Protection (FWP) agency, under MOJ, launched a new citation system to help deter illegal activity and better safeguard Palau's protected species. Last week they issued a first citation to a person apprehended at a dock with undersized marine species. They could cite (ticket) the person immediately, rather than elevating the issue to a court case requiring a conviction. Find a list of all protected marine and terrestrial species here. Keep in mind these nationwide legal limits (states may have their own restrictions as well):
It is closed season for Melob (Green Sea Turtle) and Chesiuch (Blacklip Pearl Oyster).
Semum (Trochus) is currently closed.
It is always illegal to harvest, sell, or buy an egg-bearing female lobster, mangrove crab, or coconut crab. The minimum size carapace for:
Rock Lobsters = 3.5 inches
Mangrove Crabs = 6 inches (unless hatchery certified)
Coconut Crab = 4 inches
Belochel (Pigeons) and most birds are fully protected. They cannot be hunted or captured.
Maml, Kemedukl, Mesekiu, Chedeng, Ngasech (Napoleon Wrasse, Bumphead Parrotfish, Dugong, Sharks, Hawksbill Sea Turtles), Rays, Whales, and Dolphins are fully protected.
What's coming up?
Ngarchelong Master Planning 8/2 @ 6pm
Ngaraard Field Visit and Master Planning 8/3 @ 9&11am in Ngaraard
Airai Master Planning 8/8
Babeldaob JCB 8/11 in Ngarchelong
The vacancy announcement for the Palau SGP National Coordinator has been re-posted. Apply by 8/12.
Who's Doing What?
Congratulations to Ngarchelong! They held a community meeting, debated ideas, and worked together to identify street names, making them the first state to name their streets according to the PALARIS guidelines.
The Palau Biodiversity Project helds its annual Partnership Meeting in mid-July. Read updates from each partner here.
Ngaraard launched its new Best-Practice-Featuring Summer House with a multi-community Makit on Saturday, with at least 10 women vendors and 4 Fishermen participating.
Ngaraard kicked off its 2022 Best Practice Project to create a multi-site cultural tour that includes safe visitation to the unique petroglyph, Blotk el Llecheklel a chad el ngar er a Bad, Olebakelderau. The Bureau of Cultural and Historic Preservation and Micronesian Heritage Consulting (Dr. Jolie Liston) provided cultural expertise. Â
The Ngeremlengui Planning Commission verified its proposed zones by driving around the state, connecting maps to the real world. The Commission found that it needed to adjust many of the proposed zone edges.
Ngchesar became the latest state to complete the main body of its master plan - with all goals and objectives complete on a realistic timeline. They will move on to zoning. They join Ngiwal, Ngeremlengui, Ngardmau, Ngaraard, and Peleliu in nearing the end of master planning.
Last week were several partner workshops, including one with the Office of Climate Change, Palau Conservation Consortium, and SPREP on Scaling Up Pacific Adaptation (SUPA) and one with the PAN Fund on the "Micronesia Challenge 2030" Sustainable Finance Plan.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngarchelong Street Naming 7/22; Ngchesar Master Planning 7/27; Melekeok Master Planning and Street Naming 7/27; Ngeremlengui Proposed Zones Field Verification 7/28; MAFE Team Building 7/29; Ngaraard Makit at Sansaro 7/30; Ngaraard 2022 Best Practice Project Inaugural Work Day 8/1
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
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July 25, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Gender & social inclusion objectives; Biosecurity & traveling; MAFE-MOJ partnership; DFWP citations; Welcome BNM & PICRC to GEF6
Thank you, congratulations, and good luck to Gwen Sisior, as she leaves the GEF projects for her next life adventure!
What's being mainstreamed?
Gender and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming: Palau's policy: "To create all necessary conditions to ensure that our public policies and services benefit women and men and to take additional measures to remove barriers to gender equality and safeguard human rights." The Policy can be mainstreamed into plans and activities via four key objectives: 1) enabling participation in decision making by all genders; 2) offering equitable opportunities to men and women to earn income and meet needs; 3) protections at home, school, work, and elsewhere; and 4) making the resources needed to be healthy and resilient available to all women, men, girls, and boys. Find all materials from this year's Annual Gender and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming Workshop, hosted by MAFE and MOS, online.
Biosecurity Mainstreaming: With traveling becoming a regular part of life again, please take extra steps to protect Palau from invasive alien species (IAS). Declare all plant, fruit, animal, and food products to customs; do not bring in any prohibited seeds; and clean your shoes and gear after visiting natural places, especially by removing any soil. Inside Palau, check your boats, vehicles, and cargo for any unwanted hitchhikers such as rats, cats, mice, bamboo orchids or other priority species; and remember it is illegal to transport monkeys off Angaur (because they pose a huge threat to food security and biodiversity). MAFE and the Ministry of Justice signed a MOU and Addendum today to collaborate on biosecurity regulations and enforcement of environmental laws.
What's coming up?
13th GEF6 Board Meeting 7/26 @ 10am at BOF downstairs
Melekeok Master Planning and Street Naming 7/26 @ 6pm at GEF6
Ngchesar Land Use Planning 7/27 @ 6pm at PALARIS
SPREP SUPA Climate Adaptation Workshop (Wed&Thurs) 7/27 to 7/28 @ 10am-12pm
Micronesia Challenge Sustainable Finance Plan Workshop 7/28 @ 10am-1pm
Ngeremlengui Zoning Verification Field Day 7/28 @ 9am
The GEF6 office will be closed on Friday 7/29
Ngchesar Mapping 8/1
Who's Doing What?
Congratulations to our partners in Ngchesar and at the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism, and Development, Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation for completing the site rehabilitation and conservation of two historic sites: Boes er a Mekemad er a Roischesar and Ked er a Ngchelbakl, Kaliol. See pictures and read more on FB or Insta. Ngchesar will continue working to develop these sites and others as sustainable tourism sites, and they continued their Best Practice Project planning last week.Â
MAFE and the Ministry of State co-hosted the annual Gender and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming Workshop. See pictures.
After a tough verification day in the field, Ngiwal had to reconsider some of its proposed zones in order to keep its future residential areas safe and affordable. They also reviewed a draft of the master plan - which is almost done!
At the GEF6 Annual Partnership, MAFE officially welcomed new partners BNM and PICRC to the project! They have signed MOUs to incorporate outreach and awareness of biodiversity and invasive species into their collections.
DFWP announced that it finished its citations, and they are now in use! This is a major win for environmental law enforcement: previously all protected species infractions were elevated to a court case, which meant many were not pursued. A citation system creates a deterrence to lawbreakers.
Peleliu is almost finished with its master plan, including a CIP Priority List!
The GEF6 Team finally made it to the Ngeremlengui Wonder Pools. Please note the conservation area is closed to the public and permission to enter is needed from the State.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: MAFE-MOJ MOA; Ngeremlengui Wonder Pool; Peleliu Master and Land Use Planning; AImeliik Master Planning; Ngchesar Best Practice Site Planning; Ngardmau Master Planning; Ngarchelong Master Planning; MOS-MAFE Gender Workshop; GEF6 2022 Partnership Meeting; Keyan Farewell; Ngiwal Master and Land Use Planning; Ngiwal Water source and zoning verification field day; Airport Biosecurity Awareness Planning Visit; KeledANgercheled in Melekeok with the German Minister; PPUC Water Division Technical Assistance.
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
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July 11, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: Partners meeting Thursday; Gender Workshop next Tuesday; Koror fisheries measures; #KeledANgercheled with the Germans
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity and ecosystem mainstreaming: The Koror Southern Lagoon Coastal Fisheries Management Plan incorporates fisheries management measures to ensure long-term sustainability of key species fished in the Southern Lagoon. These include spatial measures (such as permanent and temporary closures), size limits, and seasonal closures, and best practices. The plan was developed by KSG DCLE, PCS, and volunteer Fishers/Gleaners; with PICRC, PALARIS, BOF, TNC, and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. (Currently voluntary) size limits ensure that the populations that remain after removal by fishing are able to reproduce and replace themselves, reducing overfishing:
18" (inches) - Kedesau, Melangmud
14" - Berkism, Beyadel/Ngesngis, Chum, Otord
12" - Besachel Otengel, Melechotech a Chau, Mesekelat Mellemau, Ngyaoch, Udoudungelel,
10" - Keremlal, Mesekuuk
8" - Cherangel, Biib el Mellemau, Mellemau #ONECOMMUNITY
What's coming up?
Annual GEF6 Partnership Meeting - Thursday, July 14. At least one representative from each Partner should attend. The meeting is open to all "informal" partners and friends as well! 9 am @ Palasia.Â
Annual Gender Mainstreaming Workshop - Tuesday, July 19 @ 9 am at Palasia, in partnership with MOS. See the attached report for validation: "Country Gender Assessment of Agriculture and the Rural Sector in Palau"
Ngarchelong Master Planning 7/12 @ 6 pm
Ngchesar Land use planning 7/13 @ 6 pm
Ngardmau Master Planning 7/14 @ 6 pm
Ngiwal Field Day to confirm zones 7/15 @ 9 am
NEMS - Governance Section 7/18 @ 10 am by Zoom
Aimeliik Master Plan 7/18 @ 6 pm (Hybrid)
Who's Doing What?
Koror partners are already training and building their capacity to implement the new Fisheries Management Measures while the plan is under review by the legislature.
PPUC's Water Operations Office provided technical assistance to help identify possible locations for a new water source in Ngiwal, and provided an assessment of other States' water planning needs
The #KeledANgercheled Constitution Day Farmers Market, Fair, and "Tabesul Belsoil" (balanced meal) were a hit in celebrating the nation's producers and connecting them to consumer who want to #BuyLocalByLocal. PVA, MAFE, MHRCTD, and the Office of the President sponsored the event.
Ngaraard's planning team completed objectives and a timeline for its master plan.
Ngeremlengui is almost finished with land use planning and a Zoning code!
Airai continued Master Planning.
PCS, Bank of Hawaii, and Peleliu State planted 350 trees in Peleliu as part of a restoration project.
The German Foreign Minister and her delegation met with technical experts in Palau to learn about the impacts of climate change on key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and homes. The Melekeok women demonstrated #KeledANgercheled.
Did you see today's Tia Belau? Ngarchelong is the first GEF6 partner (after Koror) to hire a full time State Planner to work directly with its new, legislated State Planning Commission! See the article.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: #KeledANgercheled Constitution Day Market and Meal 7/7; TNC Aquaculture Stakeholder Meeting 6/29; Koror Fisheries & Management Plan Training 7/5; Ngaraard Master Planning 7/6; German Foreign Minister Visit 7/9; KeledANgercheled in Melekeok 7/9; PPUC Water Division Technical Assistance - 7/6; Airai Master Planning - 7/7; Ngeremlengui Land Use Planning and Zoning
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers #BuyLocalByLocal #WeedsOnWednesday
July 4, 2022: #MainstreamingMondays: #KeledANgercheled, Farmers Market & Constitution Day; Organic certification; Koror RISL Plan & Anniversary; Ngiwal and Ngeremlengui land use plans
Happy Constitution Day! See you on Thursday at the Farmer's Market!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity and ecosystem mainstreaming: The Palau Organic Growers Association (POGA) in partnership with SBDC, with technical assistance offered by BOA and PCC-CRE, held an "Introduction to Organics" workshop on the "Organic Pasifika" certification program based on the Pacific Organic Standard. The very first standard mainstreams biodiversity: "Operators shall take measures to identify, maintain, protect and enhance biodiversity, which includes maintaining a significant portion of their farms to protect landscape and biodiversity values." Taro patches in Palau (Ngaraard) and products grown from those fields may become the first in Palau to be certified organic!
What's coming up?
#KeledANgercheled at the Farmers Market in honor of Constitution Day: Thursday, July 7 @ 8 am at Ernguul Park. Bring cash to support your farmers, fishers, and producers!
Koror Southern Lagoon Coastal Fisheries Management Plan Orientation and Training Workshop (with PCS, KSG, and other partners) 7/5-6
Melekeok Master Planning 7/5 @ 6 pm at BOF
Ngaraard MP, LUP, and Action Planning 7/6 @ 11 am at Ngaraard
Ngeremlengui MP, LUP 7/7 @ 10 am at PCC Hatchery
Airai MP 7/7 @ 6pm at Airai
Constitution Day Fishing Derby - Sunday, July 10. #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers
GEF6 Board meeting 7/11
Annual GEF6 Partnership Meeting is Thursday, July 14.
Who's Doing What?
Checks are in - so let's get going on those 2022 Best Practice projects!
Congratulations to Koror on the 10th Anniversary of the Inscription of the Rock Island Southern Lagoon (RISL) on the World Heritage List!
Ngiwal's Planning Commission made some hard decisions, but has drawn land use designations for almost their entire state! They will refine these further into zones.
Ngeremlengui also started drawing lines on their maps for land use designations. Land use planning, which is a thought process, comes before zoning, with is a state regulatory process.
Ngchesar's Planning and Development Commission met with state leadership to seek approval of their proposed master plan vision, goals, and objectives. After incorporating feedback, they will continue with land use planning.
Palau's Aquaculture Stakeholders met last week to review the Aquaculture Siting Tool produced by The Nature Conservancy, and to learn more about aquaculture planning and technical services. Stay tuned for the next draft of the Siting Tool document, which will be coming out for review soon. Check out this Aquaculture Toolkit to learn more about sustainable farming.
The GEF6 project bid good bye and good luck to Keyan Solomon!
The latest GEF6 Board Meeting materials are online.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngeremlengui LUP - 6/14; PCS AGM - 6/15; POGA Organic Certification Workshop - 6/16; IOM Climate Migration Workshop - 6/14; Ngchesar Planning and Development Commission with Leadership - 6/21; Koror RISL World Heritage Anniversary - 6/29
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
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June 13, 2022: Mainstreaming through land use planning; Organics and AGM; Title 31; NEMS; PICRC-JICA project; MAFE-PAN-MCT Climate Project
#KeledANgercheled opportunity on Thursday! Space is limited, please register.
What's being mainstreamed?
Many of the state partners are nearing completion of the body of their master plans - vision, goals, objectives, actions, and policies - and are moving to Land Use Planning and Zoning. This requires a fundamental shift in philosophy to go from ideas to physical space, writing to drawing, and sectors to zoning for an entire state. We commend our state partners for *volunteering* for this difficult task! With each state's environmental goals and objectives serving as governance, Land use planning is where the Palau Biodiversity Project truly mainstreams biodiversity. Base maps have identified the locations of endangered species and High Conservation Value areas, reserved regulated areas such as stream buffers and public water sources, and spatial analyses have given extra weight to biodiverse forests, erosion-prone slopes, and agro-biodiverse lands. Thus, states have detailed information on biodiversity-suitable locations for high-impact and low-impact development. These decisions were made by the Babeldaob JCB, a prototype of a Regional Planning Commission, as required by Title 31.
What's coming up? PCS is a critical partner to the Palau Biodiversity Project and its State Partners. Learn more about PCS's GEF6 activities at its Annual General Membership Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday.
 UNDP Annual Program Review 6/14 @ 9am at West Lebuu
Ngeremlengui Master Planning (MP) 6/14 @ 10am
Ngarchelong MP 6/14 @ 6pmÂ
IOM Migration Consultation 6/15 @ 8am at Palasia
PCS AGM 6/15 @ 11:30am
Ngiwal MP 6/15 @ 6pm
SBDC Organics Training 6/16 @ 9am at Penthouse. Please register.
Who's Doing What?
Amended Title 31 passed the House of Delegates and was transmitted to the Senate! A copy of the House bill is attached.
More than 20 partners from the private sector, NGOs, and semi/government participated in a consultation to identify gaps and priorities in the nearshore marine environment. Several gaps in Palau's existing and publicly available policies were identified during the quick 1-hour meeting, including mangrove management, aquaculture, data management and analysis, traditional knowledge and knowledge management, and economic development.
The Coral Reef Research Foundation is hiring a Marine Lakes Research Assistant. Qualifications include a 2-year PCC degree and comfort working in the field. Apply by June 24.
PICRC launched its Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Management Project, in partnership with JICA. Several aspects of the Coastal Project will build on GEF6 efforts (JCB, State Teams, Spatial data and processes). Pic from the event.
MAFE PAN and the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) held a consultation to develop activities for a GCF-funded Adaptation Project. GEF6 partners advocated for priorities from State Master Plans.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: GEF6 Partners at PICRC-JICA Coastal Project Kickoff - 6/7; Airai Master Planning - 6/6; Ngaraard Master Planning - 6/7; Ngarchelong Hamlet delegation and street naming with PALARIS - 6/8, MAFE World Ocean Day Open House - 6/8; Ngchesar Master Planning - 6/8; plus many more photos from the Peleliu Trail Ceremony on 6/3 and Planning and Site Visit on 6/2.
June 6, 2022: MAFE Open House on Wed, World Ocean's Day; Protected ocean species; Peleliu Trailside Ceremony at MVP Forest of Hope
Happy World Ocean's Day! #KeledANgercheled MAFE Open House this Wed, June 10 from 2-5 pm at the Bureau of Fisheries Hatchery in Malakal. Follow #KeledANgercheled on Facebook to take part in a fun photo contest and win prizes!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: World Ocean Day is June 8! Because it's June, we are deep into the closed season for Melob (Green Sea Turtles) and Tiau, Katuu'tiau, Mokas, Ksau'temekai, and Meteungerel'temeka (Groupers). Turtles are closed through August and Groupers are closed through October. Other ocean creatures that are always protected are Mesekiu, Whales and all Marine Mammals, Hawksbill Sea Turtles and all Sea Turtle Eggs, Kemedukl, Maml, and Sharks. Other species have size, timing, gear, and location restrictions. See a full list of all protected species here.
What's coming up?
World Ocean Day is June 8th! See you at the Hatchery Open House from 2 to 5 pm!
Airai Master Planning (MP) 6/6/ @ 6 pm
Coastal Ecosystem Management Project Kickoff 6/7 at PICRC
Ngaraard MP and AWP 6/7 @ 11 am at GEF6
MAFE-Climate Change-MCT Inception Workshop 6/8 @ 8:30 am at Palasia
World Ocean Day Open House 6/8 @ 2 pm
Ngchesar MP 6/8 @ 6 pm
NISC Meeting 6/9 @ 2 pm on Zoom
Ngatpang MP 6/9 @ 6 pm at BOFI
NEMS - Nearshore Marine @ 8:30 am on Zoom
Who's Doing What?
The huge news of last week was that Peleliu and its partners held a Trailside Ceremony to officially open the trail and celebrate biodiversity and cultural achievements on Jungle Trails at the MVP Forest of Hope!! Please see the MAFE Acknowledgements attached. Photos are just starting to trickle in - some are here and more will be added. Go to Peleliu and check it out!!! Find videos and photos online: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau).
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Peleliu Trail Ceremony 6/3; Peleliu Master Planning and Site Visit 6/2; Ngardmau Master Planning w/Climate Adaptation 5/31; Ngchesar Commission and PLA Joint Planning 5/30
May 30, 2022: Spatial Data; Climate Change presentations; Ngardmau eco-huts; JCB and marine planning; Ngaraard & Peleliu action Whales; Master planning with climate; Peleliu ceremony; Land use planning; Title 31 2nd reading
Happy President's Day!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: In honor of the upcoming World Ocean Day, we'll highlight some of Palau's marine mammals! Over half of the world's known species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) are known to occur in Micronesia, as well as our beloved - and very isolated - mesekiu (dugong). Survey work from 2010-2013 documented 12 species of cetaceans, but that number is now known to be much higher - at least 22. Hotspots in 2010-2013 were reef edges, the 1000-m depth contour, and undersea ridge areas. Trips outside the reef often reward explorers with an "escort" of the playful Spinner Dolphins, with an estimated resident population of nearly 2000 dolphins.
What's coming up?
World Ocean Day is June 8th! Stay tuned for an exciting #KeledANgercheled event!
Ngardmau Master Planning, with climate change and zoning 5/31 @ 6pm at BOF
Peleliu MP 6/2
Peleliu Trail Ceremony 6/3 @ 11am
Airai Master Planning (MP) 6/6 @ 6pm
NEMS - Nearshore Marine - June 10 @ 8:30
Who's Doing What?
Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, and Ngiwal continued land use planning. This includes reviewing maps and reviewing and setting zoning codes. Ngiwal identified most of its smaller area zones.
The Ngardmau Planning Commission has nearly finished its update to their master plan! They produced a draft that fills in almost every section of the template, including identifying CIP needs. They still need to go through the process of prioritizing CIP needs. There is light at the end of this planning tunnel!!!
The OEK House of Delegates passed the second reading for amendments to Title 31, requiring master plans and land use plans. Read the Island Times article about it.
The Palau Biodiversity Project and PVA/BOT planned out jointly-agreed activities for the rest of the year. Stay tuned for biodiversity-friendly product development, native plant landscaping, and more!
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Street Naming with Ngaraard; Ngeremlengui MP + LUP 5/24; Ngiwal LUP 5/25
May 23, 2022: Brown Treesnake; IAS on MAFE #MondaysMostWanted; Ngeremlengui plan approved; Ngarchelong logo; NEMS
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: With increasing ships and cargo coming into Palau, we should know what to look for: the highly invasive and damaging Brown Treesnake (BTS). This snake invaded Guam after WWII, where it continues to cause millions of dollars of damage to electrical, agriculture, and economic systems. #KeledANgercheled. It also decimated most of Guam's bird populations. BTS looks different from Palau's native snakes. Native snakes are a critical part of our biodiversity and ecosystems. Please learn to tell them apart. See more pictures of BTS on FB or Insta, and print and post the attached flyer.
Learn more about Invasive Species on the new MAFE social media series called #MondaysMostWanted.
What's coming up?
Ngeremlengui MP 5/24 @ 10 am
Ngiwal MP 5/25 @ 6pm
Airai MP 5/26 @ 6pm
Ngeremlengui Public Hearing on draft Master Plan @ 6pm
Who's Doing What?
The Ngeremlengui Planning Commission presented its draft Master Plan to the Rubekul a Ngeremlengui, and received formal approval! It had already gotten approval from elected leaders. They also reviewed maps of the State, including mapping that show that Ngeremlengui has large swaths of prime agricultural land that are critical to national food security and meeting goals of #KeledANgercheled. The legislated Commission will now move on to land use planning and zoning.
Ngarchelong continued with Master Planning. As a legislated Commission, they are also working on a logo to convey their responsibilities and duties. Ngarchelong has hired a State Planner who is an integral part of developing the master plan, and will be perfectly poised to implement it when complete.
Ngaraard used feedback and ideas from the Babeldaob JCB meeting to take a critical look at its Master Plan. They started to prioritize their objectives and also received a briefing on Street Naming from partners at PALARIS.
The last of the Peleliu signs were finished and sent to Peleliu! The Trail Ceremony is June 3rd.
Consultations are underway for the National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS). Last week, MAFE partnered with the Office of Climate Change to conduct a first consultation on the climate change chapter of the NEMS.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngarchelong Master Planning 5/17; Ngaraard Master Planning & Street naming presentation with PALARIS 5/17; Ngeremlengui Rubekul briefing 5/18
May 16, 2022: Spatial Data; Climate Change presentations; Ngardmau eco-huts; JCB and marine planning; Ngaraard & Peleliu action sites
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: In addition to being a critical partner for mapping, zoning, and land use planning, PALARIS plays a key role in storing and accessing Palau's spatial data. One of their activities, in partnership with the Palau Biodiversity Project, is to catalog and organize data, fill critical gaps (such as biodiversity layers), and create a streamlined system of access to ensure accurate analyses. See their data chart and find examples of spatial data here. Important biodiversity sites, such as locations of endangered and endemic plants and Important Forest Areas, have been added to PALARIS's database and continue to be updated.
Partnership Mainstreaming: Find presentations from the Palau Climate Change Hybrid Inception Workshop online. The planning process about to start by the Office of Climate Change will build on the existing capacity, partnerships, and momentum of GEF6-led master planning to ensure better sustainability for both efforts. Find information on climate projections here.
What's coming up?
Ngardmau MP 5/16 @ 5:30pm
Ngaraard MP 5/17 @ 11am
Ngarchelong MP 5/17 @ 6pm
Ngeremlengui Master Plan Leadership Review 5/18
NEMS - Climate Change 5/20 @ 8:30am
Koror-GEF6 Partnership working meeting 5/23 @ 10am
Who's Doing What?
The Project's Flickr account is a testament to the diversity of work undertaken by the partnership, and many new albums have been uploaded (see list in red below): https://www.flickr.com/photos/189071815@N08/albums
The Ngaraard Team began planning for their 2022 Best Practice projects, which will include restoration of cultural sites and development of those sites for sustainable tourism.
Ngardmau's Eco-Huts, their 2021 Best Practice Project, are done!
The Babeldaob JCB met to continue nearshore marine spatial planning, by identifying locations of fishing and gleaning grounds, merab and taoch, aquaculture farms (existing and proposed), cultural and historical sites, tourism sites, dumps (as point source pollution sites), and carbon sequestration sites. The JCB also provided input into undefined zones, reviewed commonalities among State Master Plans, and agreed to have existing teams work in partnership with upcoming climate change planning.
The Peleliu team conducted field work to plan out the specifics of their Milkfish Farm restoration, their 2022 Best Practice Project. The small signs for the MVP Forest of Hope were also delivered from the printer!
After seeking leadership input, the Melekeok Planning Team continued its revisions to their existing master plan.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngatpang MP 4/25; Peleliu Governor and Legislature Briefing and Forest Visit 4/27; Airai Governor briefing 5/3; Ngchesar Land Use Planning 5/4; Ngaraard Summer House Ribbon-cutting 5/5; Peleliu Milkfish Pond site visit 5/11; Babeldaob JCB 5/12; Ngardmau Eco-Huts; Ngaraard Action Site Visit 5/14; Ngarchelong Master Planning and Commission Logo 4/26; Climate Change Inception Workshop 5/2-3; Koror Floating Dock ideas; PALARIS Street Naming with Ngarchelong 5/10; Melekeok Master Planning 5/12
May 9 2022: Biodiversity-Cultural intersections in Peleliu; Babeldaob JCB; NEMS; New Governor briefings; Ngaraard and Ngiwal projects; and more
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The Best Practice project in Peleliu to develop safety features and interpretive signs for jungle trails in the MVP Forest of Hope is nearly done! The project wonderfully illustrates the intersections among biodiversity, cultural heritage, and food security. Many of the plants along the trail are used as medicines or food by humans, are habitat and food for animals, or play an ecosystem role. The signs feature original artwork by @Tiuladokow and rich content from local experts and the new Ethnobotany books. Here is a sneak peak of what you will see when you next visit Peleliu: "The Dekar (called Chebiei on Babeldaob; Marianas or Seeded Breadfruit Tree; Artocarpus mariannensis) here is the largest on the trail. Its nutritious seed is eaten as a starch by humans and is a favorite of Olik (Fruit Bats). It grows on steep ridges or shallow limestone soils where it is a soil stabilizer. Its wood is light and easy to carve, and is used for making canoes." #BiodiversityBenefits #KeledANgercheled
What's coming up?
Peleliu Aquaculture and Master Planning 5/11
Ngiwal MP 5/11 @ 5:30 at GEF6
Babeldaob JCB 5/12 @ 10 am at PALARIS
Melekeok MP 5/12 @ 6 pm at GEF6Â
NEMS: Land, Biodiversity, Freshwater 5/13 @ 1:30 by Zoom. Open to anyone who wants to review suggested national prorities in these sectors.
PacIOOS Liaison Officer applications due 5/13
Bill Raynor Micronesia Challenge Scholarship Fund applications due 5/15
Who's Doing What?
The Palau Biodiversity Project briefed Airai's new Governor on Master and Land Use Planning, and will begin working with the state's Planning Commission on an update of their master plan.
The Palau Biodiversity Project briefed Peleliu's new Governor and several members of the Legislature on master planning and the Best Practice projects. During a quick visit to the field, the Peleliu State Planning Team pointed out new safety features. As is MAFE's GEF6 policy, the meal was in line with #KeledANgercheled.
Ngaraard completed its 2021 Best Practice project, with the ribbon-cutting for the Summer House held on Senior Citizen's Day.
Ngiwal has begun its 2022 Best Practice project to protect and restore its coastline, using traditional methods. The project is designed to protect taro patches that are repeatedly inundated by saltwater, and reduces the growth of invasive species in disturbed areas. Ngiwal also continued its food security efforts by holding Taro Food Processing Trainings. #KeledANgercheled
Ngarchelong State welcomed a State/City Planner to its roster. The position is responsible for overseeing implementation of the master plan and adherence to zoning laws.
The Ngchesar Planning Commission is putting its expertise to work with zoning, and providing lessons for all of the other states doing land use planning.
Palau's Biosecurity Officers took their oath of office to uphold Palau's laws (such as the 2014 Biosecurity Act) and protect our borders. Thank you!!
PAN Fund held a PAN/MIcronesia Challenge Sustainable Financing Workshop to update its sustainable financing plan to meet the updated MC 2030 Goals.
The Office of Climate Change held a joint inception workshop for the 3rd National Communication and an update to the Palau Climate Change Policy. The Palau Biodiversity Project gave short presentations on how the initiatives and projects can be aligned. More info next week.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngaraard MP 4-19-22
April 25 2022: Â Top Biosecurity species; MC & CC Workshops; Zoning & Land use planning; Pole-and-Line; Earth Day pics
MAFE is on Facebook! @mafepalau #KeledANgercheled
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: If you missed the Earth Day Fair then you missed the chance to stare at preserved specimens of invasive alien (introduced/non-native) snakes, turtles, lizards and more! The National Invasive Species Program has been institutionalized in MAFE's organizational chart under the Bureau of Environment, and is spreading the news about Palau's top species to keep out (Biosecurity = Prevention):
Any other introduced Frogs
Seeds that could harm agriculture (e.g. beans, cabbage, kale, tapioca, etc.)
As the prevalence of online ordering and Amazon deliveries has increased, so has the import of dangerous seeds. Please take care when ordering seeds. BOA can help. #KeledANgercheled #WeedsOnWednesday.
What's coming up? Partners: Financial and Narrative Reports are due on Friday, April 29.
There is a Micronesian Challenge (MC) Sustainable Finance Plan workshop tomorrow, 4/26 from 9-3. The Palau MC and PAN Fund are seeking diverse perspectives and welcome your participation. Attend in person at the PICRC Kedarm conference room or virtually. Please RSVP. Tentative agenda attached.
Ngatpang MP 4/25 @ 6 pm at BOFI
Ngarchelong MP 4/26 @ 6 pm
Peleliu courtesy visit and field work day 4/27
Climate Change Inception Workshop (CC Policy, 3rd NatCom, and GEF6 Connections/Sustainability) has been moved to May 2&3
Babeldaob JCB 5/12 @ 10 am at PALARIS
Who's Doing What?
States are progressing with Master Planning, with many moving on to reviewing zoning codes and working on maps for land use planning. Ngaraard modified zoning codes to meet today's needs and has started land use planning.Â
April 19 saw the official handover of a Pole-and-Line Fishing Vessel from Japan to Palau. The boat, which represents the largest grant ever made through Japan's Grassroots Grant Project (GGP), will aid in the development of a sustainable pelagic fishery by providing affordable skipjack and other fish. The vessel will be managed through a partnership of MAFE Bureau of FIsheries and BOFI. The handover ceremony was live-streamed, plus find pictures and video here.Â
#KeledANgercheled: MAFE showcased its efforts to create sustainable food systems through agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, and invasive species management at the Earth Day Green Fair. Many other partners celebrated their environmental programs and policies!
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Aimeliik Eco-Tour with Sasakawa Peace Foundation; UN RC Site Visit to Aimeliik and Ngchesar; Pole-and-Line Boat Handover from Japan to Palau - 4/19/22 (pictures); Pole-and-Line Boat (video); Earth Day Green Fair - 4/22/22; Ngaraard MP 04-19-22
April 18, 2022: Â Earth Day is Friday; You gotta love these native species; OOC tidbits
Earth Day Green Fair on Friday, April 22
Long Island Park @ 9-3 pm
Invest in YOUR Community * Invest in OUR Planet
- Plant contest
- Seedling giveaways
- Local vendors
- Prizes and raffle drawing
- Partner interactive displays
- And much more fun! (Open to all!)
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: After the heavy content of the OOC, we'll go light this week. Love them or not, these creatures are native species (NOT Invasive Alien Species) and deserve our respect and understanding: 1) Ius (Saltwater crocodiles). They are protected by the international CITES treaty. 2) Uek (Australasian Swamphen). Often found investigating mesei, these birds are not protected by Palauan law and are becoming rare. 3) Tengadidik (Collared Kingfisher). This bird is also not protected, despite its important role eating bugs. 4) Chelub (Monitor Lizard). Not only is it a native species, it might even be endemic. 5-7) Rrusch (Crown-of-Thorns), Kebeas, and Besbus are all native species, but can become invasive in some human-induced conditions (like clearing and pollution).
What's coming up?
Ngaraard MP 4/19 @ 11 am at BOF
GEF6 Board meeting 4/19 @ 11 am on Zoom
Aimeliik MP 4/20 @ 11 am
Earth Day Activities and PVA Green Fair will be on Friday, April 22 @ Long Island Park
Ngatpang MP 4/25 @ 6 pm at BOFI
Who's Doing What?
You can read tidbits from the OOC, especially from Palau's speakers, on the GEF6 Facebook and Instagram accounts. Find pictures on Flickr
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Pictures from the Our Ocean Conference
April 11, 2022: Â Our Ocean Palau; Ocean Biodiversity; Earth Day; MAFE Strategy; Ngardmau huts; Ngaraard Summer House
What's being mainstreamed?
Ocean Mainstreaming: Delegates are here and work has begun. Watch as Palau and its local and global partners make ambitious commitments to support, conserve, and sustainably use ocean resources. See new short videos:
Sustainable Blue Economy, exploring ways to sustainably use the ocean to generate diverse, stable incomes and livelihoods and contribute to nation's economies.
Maritime Security, will focus on monitoring, control, and surveillance through the use of emerging and smart technologies, to ensure that our borders stay secure and our sustainable use laws are followed.
Also see this partner video by Rare on the Fish Forever Program.
Palau's own Noah Idechong will participate in a Conversation on Indigenous-led Conservation.
Random ocean fun fact: At least 12 species of whales or dolphins are known from Palau. Read more about Palau's biodiversity and cultural connections.
What's coming up? Earth Day Activities and PVA Green Fair will be on Friday, April 22 @ Long Island Park (tentative)
The public is invited to watch a livestream of the 2022 Our Ocean Conference from the PCC Cafeteria. The agenda is up.
Anyone interested in island and global Invasive Alien Species (IAS) management is invited to a special side event hosted by Island Conservation (IC), Palau, and Panama to launch the 2030 40x30 Island-Ocean Connection Challenge! Thursday, April 14 @ 8 pm at Ming's Hall, Palasia.
MAFE's National Invasive Species Coordination Office will be launching an awareness campaign about Palau's top 20 IAS at the Earth Day event.
Q1 Reports are due.
Who's Doing What?
MAFE's new webpage and 2021-2024 Strategic Plan are up. Learn how MAFE will achieve the vision of "A Palau where sustainable food production and wise stewardship of our marine and terrestrial resources enhances the wellbeing and economic livelihoods of all."
Ngardmau has finished its Eco-Huts (2021 Best Practice Projects) and is half-way through community meetings to validate and approve updates to their Master Plan.
Ngaraard's Summer House (2021 Best Practice Project) is almost done and is a model of cross-State cooperation and community-based sustainable tourism development.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngaraard Summer Houes - Feb-Mar 202
April 4, 2022: Â Our Ocean videos; Earth Day & climate report; Waste-to-energy & Biogas; #KeledANgercheled & SAFE launches; State planning continues
What's being mainstreamed?
Ocean Mainstreaming: The Our Ocean Conference is on April 13 and 14 (Wed and Thurs next week). Delegates at the Our Ocean Conference, convening from across the globe, will focus on six Areas of Action to identify solutions to manage marine resources, increase the ocean’s resilience to climate change, and safeguard its health for generations to come. Watch these short videos, each featuring an organizer in Palau and local resource users:
Sustainable Fisheries, highlighting the role and policy needs of small-scale fishers and their importance in global food security. Palau's own Ann Singeo will join other global leaders on the panel. The UN has declared 2022 the Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Marine Protected Areas, supporting the creation of large-scale MPAs and regional networks of MPAs that are properly managed, which engage indigenous voices, and which benefit local peoples. This is part of a global effort to protect 30% of the world's oceans. The conference allows Palau an opportunity to highlight its role as an incubator for ocean solutions. Minister Steven Victor joins the panel.
Marine Pollution, tackling solutions to stop pollution at its sources on land. Dr. Robert Richmond is the moderator.
Climate Change, discussing ways to track the consequences of climate change and ways to translate climate commitments and opportunities into real benefits for local communities. Dr. Jane Lubchenco, one of the world's most famous and inspirational marine scientists, is on the panel.Â
There are also panels on Sustainable Blue Economy and Maritime Security.Â
Also watch these videos on the importance of the ocean to Palauans and Youth who are #BuildingGenerationOcean and saying no to plastic waste.
What's coming up? Best Wishes and Thank You to all of the organizers of the Our Ocean Conference!
A full OOC Dry Run (with road detours) is scheduled for Thursday 4/7 am and pm
Thermal Conversion of Organic Materials (TCOM) System demonstration (technology that converts waste into energy) - 4/12 @ 10am at Palau Central Hotel
Earth Day Fair 4/22 @ 9am-3pm at Ernguul Park
Comments are welcomed on a draft Climate Change National Circumstances and Institutional Arrangements report, in advance of a Climate Change project inception workshop on 5/3-4 (attached)
Who's Doing What?
MAFE and the #KeledANgercheled Task Force launched the Keled A Ngercheled Initiative.
We learned about Biogas, a technology to turn organic waste into cooking gas and fertilizer. Contact.
Ngarchelong State continued with Master Planning and adopted a new development vision and began working on Goals.
Ngatpang and Aimeliik both continued Master Planning Planning by drafting objectives.
Ngiwal, Ngeremlengui, and Ngaraard continued with Land Use Planning by looking at recommended locations for housing and agriculture and defining zones.
Aimeliik continued working on its plans for Ngerchebal.
The SAFE Committee and Partners held a Traveling Fair and Night Market to share efforts towards "Ensuring our Security and Safety" and the new Seatbelt/Car Seat Law (get in the habit now!!!)
Take this Fishers Survey.
Congratulations to Melekeok State and the Ngardok Nature Reserve on your 25th Anniversary!
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: PVA Ocean Festival 4-2; Ngardok 25th Anniversary Festival 4-2; Ngiwal MP and Land Use Planning (LUP) 3-30; Ngeremlengui MP and LUP 3-29; Ngarchelong MP 3-29; Ngatpang Master Planning 3-28; SAFE Traveling Fair & Night Market 3-26; Keled A Ngercheled Launch 3-24; Ngaraard MP 3-22; Aimeliik MP 3-22; Biogas Demo with Tova 3-21
March 21, 2022: Â Keled A Ngercheled - Th; Night Market Traveling Fair - Sat; Fishers Forum - Wed&Th
Launch of Keled A Ngercheled!!
Join the #KeledANgercheled Task Force and its Champion, Minister Steven Victor, for a Keled A Ngercheled Launch on Thursday at 8 am at Long Island Park.
Display and Plant Sales by MOE High School Students
Display by Taiwan Technical Mission and BOA
Small biodiversity-friendly prizes for the first 20 guests to sign in (seating is at 7:45am, event starts promptly at 8 am)
Bring cash to support students and the Farmer's Market
Special Night Market/Traveling Fair on Saturday! #BuckleUpPalau
Learn more about Keled A Ngercheled at the Night Market Traveling Fair
Fishers Forum on Wednesday and Thursday this week (6-8:30 pm)
Tentative Program Day 1:
RARE - Fisher Registration; TNC - Fisheries data; BOFI - Domestic Offshore Fishery; Ebiil/ COS - Abalobi Survey; PCS – Koror Fisheries (TBD)
Breakouts: 1) Markets, 2) Development Programs 3) Policy (BOF/RARE - Marine Protection Act amendments)
Tentative Program Day 2:
Ebiil - Sea Cucumber Restoration; BOF - Post-Harvest Value Adding; Palau Biodiversity Project/MAFE – Keled A Ngercheled; TNC - Fishers Forum held at Eungel a Did; TNC – Northern Reefs & Ngaremeduu Bay
Breakouts: 1) Sustainable Practices (Women Fisheries & Community Cooperatives); 2) Intergenerational Knowledge; 3) Food sharing/Systems
Other News and Events:
Ngatpang (11 am) and Ngiwal (6 pm) Master Planning - Monday, March 28
Ngeremlengui MP - Tuesday, March 29 (10 am)
There are many new photos on Flickr - Ngeremdiu Trail Mapping with KSG & PALARIS, MOE Students & Keled A Ngercheled; Long Island Trail Mapping KSG & PALARI; Aimeliik Ngerchebal Survey
March 14, 2022: Â Keled A Ngercheled on Thurs, March 24; Peleliu interpretive signs; Aimeliik aquaculture & tourism
Launch of Keled A Ngercheled on Thursday, March 24!
Celebrate together! Join the #KeledANgercheled Task Force and its Champion, Minister Steven Victor, for an official launching of the Keled A Ngercheled Initiative next Thursday, March 24 at 8 am, tentatively set for Long Island Park. There will be prizes and MOE student plant displays and sales! Bring cash to support the Farmer's Market, which is moving from Ernguul Park to Long Island Park. Plus, meet the talented artist behind the winning #KeledANgercheled logo! The year of 2022 has been official declared "The Year of Keled A Ngercheled" to align with Presidential Proclamation 22-317: "Ensuring Our Security and Safety."
What's coming up? Financial reports due March 16. There will be a special PVA Night Market in partnership with the SAFE committee on 3/26 - learn about the seatbelt law and what it means to you :)
Koror and PALARIS are mapping trails on 3/16 and 3/18
Ngaraard Master Planning 3/21 @ 11am
Aimeliik MP and Action Planning 3/22 @ 6pm
Fishers Forum 3/23&3/24 @ 6pm
Keled A Ngercheled Launch 3/24@8am
Who's Doing What?
The Peleliu team and partners reviewed drafts of Interpretive Signs for the MVP Forest of Hope, comparing sign content with plants and animals in the field. The signs include information on biodiversity and its links to cultural practices.
The Aimeliik Governor, Aimeliik Planning Team, and GEF6 partners, with assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries, surveyed Ngerchebal MPA for locations for a community aquaculture farm, floating dock, mooring locations, and snorkeling sites. Please note Ngerchebal is closed to the public while they prepare it for mixed sustainable uses.
March 9, 2022: Â Public Hearing on HB 11-30-2S: "To temporarily allow long-line fishing and purse seining activities for commercial export..."
What's coming up?
Public hearings by the OEK House of Delegates, Ways and Means Committee on the PNMS are being held tomorrow, March 9. Information on times of the hearings are attached in the invitation letter, as well as a copy of the proposed bill.
March 7, 2022: Â Year of Keled A Ngercheled; Top 20 IAS; Peleliu-Aimeliik cross-site visit; FAO tourism video
What's being mainstreamed?
Food Security Mainstreaming: Minister Steven Victor officially declared 2022 "The Year of Keled A Ngercheled" to align with Presidential Proclamation 22-317: "Ensuring Our Security and Safety." In Ministerial Directive 2247, the Minister charges us "to implement #KeledANgercheled and #RespectProducers and #BuyLocal initiatives with a cooperative and coordinated society-wide approach to ensure Sustainable Food Systems and lasting Food Security." A public event is scheduled for March 23. Find the Proclamation, Directive, an earlier Directive committing to #KeledANgercheled and #RespectProducers, Remarks to the UN Deputy-Secretary General on "Accelerating Transformation to Sustainable Food Systems", and tools to help your organization mainstream online.
What's coming up? Partners: You should be finalizing your expenses and preparing financial reports which are due March 16.
Ngeremlengui Master Planning 3/8 @ 10 am at Ngeremlengui
Ngarchelong Master Planning 3/8 @ 6 pm at Koror
Aimeliik 2022 Ngerchebal Best Practice Project Field Visit 3/9
Peleliu Forest of Hope Signs Field Visit 3/14
Koror Trail Mapping 3/16&18
Keled A Ngercheled Launch 3/23 @ 4:30 pm
Fisher's Forum 3/23&24 @ 6pm
Who's Doing What?
MAFE and the Bureau of Environment (BOE) institutionalized the National Invasive Species Program and personnel into its organizational chart. An awareness program for Palau's top 20 Invasive Alien Species for Prevention and Control will be implemented this summer.
Peleliu and Aimeliik had a cross-site visit, with the Peleliu Planning Team learning from the Aimeliik Team about the Nature-based solutions and Best Practices they used on their trail at Ngerderar. Peleliu is working on the Forest of Hope Trail, adding safety features and interpretive signs about biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Watch the video: Sustainable tourism: Empowering women and men in Palau. Congratulations to the many partners in this beautiful FAO video about Palau as a carbon-neutral destination with "Slow Foods."
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Peleliu-to-Aimeliik Cross-Site Trail Visit 3/2/22; Ngchesar Land Use Planning 3/7/22
February 28, 2022: Â Archaeology & Terraces; New forest plan and others; Ngaraard, Ngchesar, Peleliu, and Aimeliik planning
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: The 2021-2030 Forest Action Plan (aka "SWARS") prioritizes reforestation of sites in Koror, Airai's Ngerikiil watershed, the Capitol area of Melekeok, Ngarchelong, plus new housing developments for climate adaptation (e.g. cooling), and to reduce fire risk, improve water quality, and provide habitat. Check out the Palau Biodiversity Project website for a long list of newly available plans and policies, which are being collected as part of an overarching National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS).
What's coming up? Partners: Q4 narrative reports are past due. Financial reports for Q4 are due March 16.
BCHP Public Lecture: Archaeology and Babeldaob's Terraces - TONIGHT @ 6 pm at Civic Center. Livestream on Facebook or YouTube.
Ngchesar MP 3/7 @ 11 am
Ngeremlengui MP 3/8
Fisher's Forum 3/23&24 @ 6pm
Who's Doing What?
Ngaraard's new Governor issued an Executive Directive extending the life of the Temporary Ngaraard Planning Commission so that it has authority to continue drafting the State's master plan and land use plan. The Temporary Planning Commission also presented the work done so far - vision, goals, and objectives - to the Governor for feedback before investing in detailed land use planning.
The Ngchesar Planning Commission briefed their new Governor and leadership on their master planning work so far and will incorporate feedback. The GEF6 team also briefed the new Governor of Ngchesar on the Palau Biodiversity Project, including the State's Best Practice projects (Cheuall and Jungle River-to-Century Tree Trail).
Partners in Peleliu continued working on the Forest of Hope Trail, and also added sites to their base map based on content in their draft Master Plan.
Aimeliik continued Master Planning, getting into the details of water needs and supply.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngeremlengui Planning Commission - 01-26-22; Angaur - PALARIS - Street - Jan 14; Ngchesar Governor Briefing 2/24/22; Ngaraard Master Planning - 02/21/22; Aimeliik Master Planning - 02/23/22; Peleliu Base map - 02/25/22
February 21, 2022: Â Zoning; State planning; NEMS; Ngarchelong Planner
What's being mainstreamed?
Sustainability Mainstreaming: The National Planning Act (Title 31) is an essential framework behind the Palau Biodiversity Project (GEF6), which aims to mainstream biodiversity and environmental policies, laws, and best practices into national and state plans and activities. The 11th OEK continues to work on amendments to the national law. Most of the 11 (Babeldaob+Peleliu) states that are doing Master Planning are ready to create land use plans, which will involve drawing lines on maps and zoning. Zoning will follow Title 31's Use Zones. The mapping work that partners have undertaken in the past year has prepared states to apply Zones based on the suitability of their land and in conformance with their vision, goals, and objectives (like this updated map of Babeldaob's public water system for use with the "Watershed (W)" use zone).
What's coming up?
Fishers Forum planning meeting 2/22 @ 1pm
NEMS - Chemicals & Solid Waste 2/22 @ 2:30
Ngeremlengui MP 2/23 @ 10am
Aimeliik MP 2/23 @ 6 pm
Ngaraard Leadership check-in 2/24 @ TBD
Peleliu Leadership briefing and Planning 2/25
Who's Doing What?
Under the NEPC, MAFE is facilitating completion of the National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS), an umbrella document that will capture the nation's top environmental priorities in 10 sectors: marine, land, freshwater, biodiversity, waste, chemicals, climate change, urban/built, culture and heritage, and governance. Want to participate?
Ngarchelong's State Planning Law called for the creation of a State Building, Planning, and Zoning Office staffed by a State/City Planner. They will be advertising for that position soon!
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers #WeedsOnWednesday
GEF6 website (sites.google.com/view/gef6palau).
February 14, 2022: Â Native species (pest or not); IAS priorities; Fruit flies; Forest restoration
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Palau has several native species that **some** people may consider "pests" but which are a natural part of Palau's biodiversity. Ius (Saltwater crocodiles), Uek (Australasian (Purple) swamphen), Tengadidik (Collared kingfisher), Chelub (Monitor lizard), all five types of native land snakes, and Chesechid/ Koklbetaot (lionfish/ scorpionfish) are native species. This means they occur here naturally and were not introduced by humans. These ones are also not invasive. Ius is protected as an endangered species by CITES, and Uek is actually an endemic subspecies found only in Palau. Both Uek and Tengadidik are excluded from the Protected Land Life Act, which is ready for an update (ironically, it protects the introduced Eurasian Tree Sparrow). Kebeas, Besbus, and Crown-of-Thorns are native species that can become invasive under certain conditions (such as clearing or eutrophication). Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are introduced by humans, and exhibit the ability to be detrimental to Palau's native species.
What's coming up? Funds are in!
#KeledANgercheled Task Force 2/16 @ 9am
Ngaraard SPT 2/21 @ 11am
Ngeremlengui MP 2/23 @ 10am
Aimeliik MP 2/23 @ 6 pm
Who's Doing What?
The National Invasive Species Committee Office (NISCO) has been institutionalized into MAFE's Bureau of Environment. NISCO is drafting IAS priorities that will inform the next NISSAP, which needs to consider real budgets. See the draft priorities here.
NISCO also released findings from a Fruit Fly study showing the locations and most prevalent types of fruit flies on Babeldaob and Koror. Information about fruit fly prevention is also online.
See a draft Forest Restoration Field Guide commissioned by BOA and produced by Ebiil Society.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau Biodiversity (GEF6) Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngchesar Century Tree Trail; Ngchesar Land Use Planning - 2/7/22; Ngaraard - Governor Sakuma - GEF6 briefing
February 7, 2022: Â Migratory species; #KeledANgercheled tools & targets; Climate change consultancy & alignment
What's being mainstreamed?
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Palau became a Party to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in 2008. For migratory species threatened with extinction, Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places they live, mitigating obstacles to migration, and controlling other factors that might endanger them (including Invasive Alien Species). Species in Palau include:
Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Leatherback Turtle
Whale Shark; Oceanic Whitetip Shark; Manta Ray; Devil Ray
Blue Whale; Humpback Whale
Great Knot; Far Eastern Curlew (Delerrok)
Palau has also signed CMS international/regional agreements to protect Sharks, Dugongs, and Pacific Island Cetaceans. Palau is also a Party to the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which covers the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna and other fish.
What's coming up? Status of the next funding tranche: UNDP has submitted for approval.
Ngchesar mapping (fill in gaps based on objectives) - 2/10
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) invites applicants for a consultancy to help Palau update and revise its Climate Change Policy to include nature-based solutions. Apply by February 20. See attachments.
Who's Doing What?
The #KeledANgercheled Task Force has started reviewing individual Ministry plans to mainstream food security and sustainable food systems. Download a tool to help with analysis of your own plans, or contribute your input on food systems targets.
MAFE is working with the Climate Change Office to align upcoming climate change planning projects with the Palau Biodiversity Project (GEF6), to avoid duplication of effort and build on existing momentum. A climate change inception workshop is set for early March.
January 31, 2022: Â Plant rules; Audit; Congratulations Aimeliik!
What's being mainstreamed?
Biosecurity Mainstreaming: Plant and Animal Quarantines and Regulations are in place to keep invasive alien species (IAS) out of Palau to protect food security and economic security plus biodiversity and health. Mainstream these plant rules into your travel and online ordering:
NO fresh fruits, vegetables, live plants or live plant parts, bark, grass, bamboo, cane, or palm fronds may be brought into the country via luggage, hand carry, or mail (unless with a permit and phytosanitary certificate).
Small packets of seeds are allowed, with exceptions. Prohibited seeds: beans, cabbage, cauliflower, crucifers, maize, tomatoes, banana, tapioca, grass, bamboo, cane, palm, and anything the BOA Director deems has the potential to become invasive (including anything on Table 1 of the B&W List).
What's coming up? The GEF6 Project will have its first full Audit in February. Partners, please make sure all your financial and programmatic paperwork is in order.
Peleliu AWP & MP - 2/1@10 am via Zoom
USAID Pan American Fund due 2/4. International Climate Initiative Grants due 4/15.
Ngchesar MP - 1/7@11am
Who's Doing What? Congratulations to Aimeliik on the completion of their 2021 Best Practice Project at Ngerderar Conservation Area! The improvements to the trail showcase biodiversity protection, preservation of Traditional Knowledge, and Nature-Based Solutions combined with climate resilience and long-term financial sustainability. Knowing that they did all this through community work and by hand - so as to minimize environmental impact - makes it all the more amazing! See FB and Insta posts or pictures on Flickr.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Aimeliik Ngerderar 01-29-2022 and Ngchesar Cheuall Best Practice Project; Updates to Invasive Alien Plants (avoid); Updates to Native and Non-Invasive Plants (okay to plant)
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers #WeedsOnWednesday
January 24, 2022: Â #KeledANgercheled Task Force; Master Plan mainstreaming; Ngchesar Cheuall; Ngarchelong PC; NISC; Babeldaob JCB
Hope everyone is staying safe! We are here to serve you, and are happy to help you transition to virtual work or meetings.
What's being mainstreamed?
Sustainability and Food Security Mainstreaming: The #KeledANgercheled Task Force, with Members from each Ministry, formally launched last week, as part of a coordinated, Whole-of-Government effort to increase Food Security. Its first task is to choose the #KeledANgercheled logo!
Biodiversity Mainstreaming: Each State that has progressed through the master planning template with MAFE GEF6 has developed environmental goals and mainstreamed biodiversity or environmental protection into their legislation and visions as well as their economic and social goals or objectives. Compare State Master Plan content here. Some examples:
Ngarchelong State Legislation (passed 08/30/2021): "The Master Plan shall cover the entire State, account for social, economic, environmental, and cultural considerations for better use of land, both public and private, to provide adequate open spaces, to prevent undue concentration of population, to conserve and protect the natural environment and its biodiversity, and to assure adequate provision for community utilities and facilities"
Ngchesar Economic Goal: "In 10 years, Ngchesar has at least one thriving eco-cultural tour offered as a Signature Product, with enabling mechanisms that support low-impact high-end tourism development that minimizes environmental and social impacts."
Aimeliik Economic Goal: "In 10 years, tourism revenues increase from land and marine activities operating under capacity caps that maintain environmental values, with development of at least two additional sites."
Peleliu Social (Governance) Objective: "Within 5 years, State Buildings are at least 50% solar powered."
What's coming up? Aimeliik will be "closing" its 2021 Best Practice project at Ngerderar this Saturday!
Ngaraard Master Planning - 1/25 @ 11 am via Zoom
Ngeremlengui MP - 1/26 @ 10 am at GEF6
Aimeliik MP - 1/27 @ 6 pm via Zoom or at GEF6
Peleliu - 1/28 (tentative)
Apply for the GEF SGP Coordinator Position by January 28
Aimeliik Ngerderar 2021 Close-Out - 1/29 @ 9 am
USAID Pan American Fund due 2/4. International Climate Initiative Grants due 4/15.
Who's Doing What?
 Congratulations to Ngchesar on completing their Best Practice project at Cheuall! The site now offers safe access to the river for swimming and kayaking.
The Ngarchelong Planning Commission met for the first time to organize and begin Master Planning. Congratulations to the new Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer! Stay tuned for a job announcement for a Ngarchelong City Planner.
The National Invasive Species Committee (NISC) met today by Zoom and heard a summary of the TNC IAS Scoping Report (which concluded that IAS are a major threat to Palau), agreed to use the HPWRA as the basis for Palau's plant risk assessments (plantpono.org), will develop SOPs/a Flowchart for animal and pathogen risk assessments, and will develop an Invasive Species Policy that clearly lays out national and state laws and priorities.
The Babeldaob JCB met in mid January to approve the base map for marine spatial planning (it uses the NOAA marine habitat layer based on availability at PALARIS) and to learn from and compare and contrast each other's master plans.
January 10, 2022: Â Lots of partner news to kick off a new year! #KeledANgercheled Kickoff & $250 Logo Contest; IAS Compilation; BOT-KSG-Maibrel Medicinal Garden; Koror Coastal Fisheries Plan & Bill (w/PCS); Ngarchelong Planning Commission; Ngiwal Watershed; Ngeremlengui Clam Aquaculture; Board updates indicators and logframe
Happy New Year 2022!
[Photo link]
Year of #KeledANgercheled
Stay tuned for a year of activities, starting with a LOGO CONTEST and a special #KeledANgercheled (Our Food is Our Responsibility) Kickoff on Thursday, January 27th at 8 am at the Ernguul Park Farmer's Market (bring cash and support your producers). See all Sustainable Food Systems materials online.
[Photo link]
Biosecurity will help keep the Invasive Alien Brown Tree Snake (BTS) out of Palau
What's being mainstreamed?
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Mainstreaming: Through a partnership with Dr. Joel Miles, the NISC now has a compilation of information on invasive alien species (IAS), including those species here already and those targeted for prevention by biosecurity. The compilation includes thousands of pictures of invasive alien insects, land and aquatic invertebrates, mammals, birds, and more; hundreds of publications including best practices, research reports, laws, field guides, plans, and protocols; and a wide variety of presentations and training materials. Materials will eventually go on the NISC website; in the meantime look for "New" links on the GEF6 Invasive Species page. ~An upcoming NISC meeting is scheduled for the end of January. Review materials, including a Draft update to the NISSAP and Draft Weed Risk Assessments are online. MAFE serves as the Secretariat for the NISC (National Invasive Species Committee). ~KSG DCLE and Island Conservation are scheduling a rodent eradication for Ulong in March. Success and biosecurity will need full community involvement.
[Photo link]
​Biodiversity Mainstreaming: ~Congratulations to the Bureau of Tourism in MHRCTD, Koror State DCLE, and Ngara Maibrel on the continued growth of the Oidel a Chas Indigenous Medicinal Garden on Long Island Park. It illustrates the intersection between sustainable tourism products and biodiversity and cultural protection. Signs educate about native and endemic plants.
[Photo link]
~Koror Fisheries Planning Team, in partnership with Palau Conservation Society and others, submitted the #OneCommunity Koror Southern Lagoon Coastal Fisheries Management Plan 2021 and its accompanying proposed Koror Coastal Fisheries Management bill to the new Koror administration for their deliberation. Find the Plan, Bill, and Bill summary online. The plan blends traditional fishing knowledge with new data on minimum size limits and temporal closures, with gender and social inclusion, to ensure sustainable vertebrate and invertebrate fishing and protection of coastal biodiversity.
What's coming up? Quarter 4 Narrative Reports are due on Friday.
Babeldaob JCB 1/13 @ Ngaraard (See draft Marine Spatial Base Map)
Inaugural #KeledANgercheled Task Force 1/17 @ 11:30 at MAFE in Malakal
#KeledANgercheled Logo Contest due 1/18 @ 5 pm
First Ngarchelong Planning Commission Master Planning (MP) Meeting 1/18 @ 6 pm
Aimeliik MP 1/19 @ 6 pm
PICRC Gala 1/20
Who's Doing What?
Congratulations to Ngarchelong State for confirming their legislated Planning Commission Members!
Learn from partner states and see if these plans can be replicated in your state:
Ngiwal's Watershed Plan is online.
The Ngeremlengui Clam Aquaculture Program 2021-2022 Work Plan is online.
Producer Profiles, Biodiversity-friendly criteria, Results/Statistics, Acknowledgements and more from the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase are all online!
The GEF6 Project Board met in late December to approve a number of changes to the GEF6 project, based on the findings of the Mid-Term Evaluation. The Board approved revised indicators, activities, and the 2022 AWP. See the quarterly update for information on Partner activities and State Master Planning progress as well.Â
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
January 3, 2022: Â #KeledANgercheled (Our Food is Our Responsibility) Logo Contest
Please help spread the word! Open to all local residents.
For details, rules, and directions go to https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/gef6-key-sectors/sustainable-food-systems
December 20, 2021: Â Showcase acknowledgements and results; GEF6 Reports due; Ngiwal Taro Forum
#MainstreamingMondays will be on break until January 10, 2022. Have a wonderful holiday and a very happy new year!!
1) What's being mainstreamed? Thank you to everyone who produced, attended, performed, MCd, purchased, promoted, displayed, planned, or worked at the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase! It was an amazing experience that showcased Palau's creative talent and strong dedication to the environment. It illustrated high interest in our Producer's Stories and confirmed intense demand for unique, eco-friendly local products. The webpage has been updated with profiles, biodiversity information and producer eco-stories, acknowledgements, "Results," and links. Please provide your feedback. The Showcase was planned by MAFE and the Palau Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with BNM and PVA, with support from UN Micronesia (Food Systems), UNDP, and GEF.
2) What's coming up? 80% Financial reports due December 28. Quarter 4 narrative reports due January 14.
Airai MP 12/21 @5:30
GEF6 End-of-Year Partner Meeting and Holiday Luncheon 12/27 at Palasia @9-12
GEF6 Project Board meeting 12/28 @9am
Ngchesar MP 1/10/2022 @ 11am
3) Who's doing what? Congratulations to Ngiwal State on the Ngiwal Taro Forum! See pictures on Flickr. And thanks to Ngiwal for donating the Producers Bags at the Showcase.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngiwal Taro Forum - Dec 11; Ngaraard Master Planning - Nov 17; Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase - Dec 16
December 13, 2021: Â (Tropical Storm Rai)
The Government was closed from December 13-16 to minimize damage from Tropical Storm Rai.
December 6, 2021: Â #RespectProducers at the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase
1) What's being mainstreamed? #RespectProducers at the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase!
"Biodiversity-Friendly" products avoid Protected Species (no uel, mesekiu, chedeng, kemedukl, maml, etc.)
Are made from sustainably-sourced, grown, or harvested natural local ingredients and materials.Â
Products can be labeled "Low Carbon" if they avoid plastic and use local materials.Â
~Calling all Local Producers: If you make shelf-stable food products and souvenirs (like jams, sauces, candies, flours, chips, spirits, canned foods, or livestock or pelagic fish jerky) or natural gifts (like weavings, jewelry, art, pottery, carvings, fashion, crafts, oils, or lotions) made from sustainably sourced local materials then you register to display and sell your products for free! Register online, by email at gef6palau@gmail.com, or call 488-6212.
Store Buyers and Policymakers: Preview hour from 10-11 am.
WHEN & WHERE: Payday Thursday, December 16 from 11 am to 6 pm at Palasia. FREE.
WHO: All local producers making shelf-stable food products and natural gifts. Open for public shopping at 11. The Showcase is organized by MAFE and the Palau Chamber of Commerce in partnership with PVA and BNM. Please share the word. Sorry, no fresh foods.
2) What's coming up? 80% Financial reports due December 28.
Ngiwal MP 12/7
Ngeremlengui MP 12/14
Ngaraard MP 12/15
80% Financial Reports due 12/28
3) Who's doing what? ~Catch up with photos on Flickr:
Oikull mapping in Airai - Nov 29
Rock Island mapping in Airai - Dec 1
Slow Food Day Market - Dec 1
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: PNMS Derby - Dec 5; Slow Food Market - Dec 1; Airai Mapping - Rock Islands - Dec 1; Oikull - Nov 29; Non-Invasive and Native Plants in Palau; IAS: Invasive Alien Plants #WeedsOnWednesday; Ngchesar Master Planning - Nov 15; Peleliu Trail and Master Planning - Nov 10-12\
November 29, 2021: Â #KeledANgercheled Slow Food Today; #RespectProducers at the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase
1) What's being mainstreamed? #RespectProducers at the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase on payday Thursday, December 16 from 11 am to 6 pm at Palasia! "Biodiversity-Friendly" products avoid Protected Species and are made from sustainably-sourced, grown, or harvested local ingredients and materials. Products can also be labeled "Low Carbon" if they avoid plastic and use local materials. ~Calling all Local Producers: if you make shelf-stable food products and souvenirs (like jams, sauces, candies, flours, chips, spirits, or livestock or pelagic fish jerky) or natural gifts (like weavings, jewelry, art, pottery, carvings, fashion, crafts, oils, or lotions) made from sustainably sourced local materials then you register to display and sell your products for free! Register online, by email at gef6palau@gmail.com, or call 488-6212. ~The Showcase is organized by MAFE and the Palau Chamber of Commerce in partnership with PVA and BNM. Please share the word.
2) What's coming up? Support local #KeledANgercheled farmers and food producers TODAY at the Slow Food Day Market at Ernguul Park. Hurry! It ends at 1 pm.
Airai Master Planning 12/1 and 12/2
Aimeliik MP 12/1
GEF7 AWP 12/3
Fishing Derby in celebration of the PNMS 6th Anniversary 12/4
Ngchesar MP 12/6
Ngiwal MP 12/7
80% Financial Reports due 12/28
3) Who's doing what? ~The GEF6 Team has started master planning in earnest with Airai State! See pictures from our first full-fledged mapping days in Airai on Flickr. ~Find all the #Weeds OnWednesday photos on Flickr. Pictures are organized into folders with all the Invasive Alien Plants in one folder and the Native and Non-Invasive Species in another. Get caught up with all posts so far by searching for #WeedsOnWednesday on social media.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Airai Mapping - Oikull - Nov 29; Non-Invasive and Native Plants in Palau; IAS: Invasive Alien Plants #WeedsOnWednesday; Ngchesar Master Planning - Nov 15; Peleliu Trail and Master Planning - Nov 10-12
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers
GEF6 website (sites.google.com/view/gef6palau).
November 22, 2021: (Thanksgiving Holiday)
May the spirit of community and nature sustain you this week.
#MainstreamingMondays will return on November 29.
In the meantime, please help spread the word about the Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase to the producers in your life. #RespectProduceers bit.ly/BiodiversityShowcase
November 15, 2021: Biodiversity; Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase; Master Planning with States; Peleliu Trail Best Practices
1) What's being mainstreamed? The GEF6 project is about biodiversity, which includes all of Palau's native species with particular emphasis on Endangered species and Protected Species. Genetic variation within a species (e.g. varieties of taro) and variation among habitats is also biodiversity. See lists of Palau's Protected Species and Endangered Species. Best Practice projects on agriculture, aquaculture, and sustainable tourism are meant to illustrate that economic development can co-exist with and complement biodiversity. Learn more about the ecology of Palau's Biodiversity and learn about some of Palau's native plants.
2) What's coming up? Save the date: Biodiversity-Friendly Local Product Showcase on Thursday, December 16 (a payday)! #BuyLocalByLocal #RespectProducers. Planned by MAFE and the Chamber of Commerce.
MAFE GEF6 Marine Spatial Planning 11/16 @ 8 am
Aimeliik Leadership - Check in on Master Planning 11/16 @ 6pm
Ngaraard Master Planning 11//17 @ 11am
Melekeok Master Planning 11/17 @ 6pm
Ngiwal Master Planning 11/22 @ 11:30am
3) Who's doing what? ~Peleliu State and Technical Partners identified 13 locations for interpretive signs along the "Forest of Hope" (also known as Death Valley) Trail. Interpretive signs will highlight biodiversity along the trail, such as the endemic and spatially restricted Giant White Eye bird, delicate endemic ground Orchids, at least 12 species of native ferns, tiny endemic snails, trees such as Rebotel and Kesiil used for medicinal purposes, and an endemic Pandanus tree. Endemic = Found only in Palau. Thanks to Dr. Ann Kitalong (BNM) and Heather Ketebengang (PCS) for assisting with identification of species (the GEF6 partnership at work!). Interpretive signs will be printed through a partnership with Peleliu State, Bureau of Tourism (BOT), PALARIS, and MAFE. This GEF6 project uses several Best Practices (e.g. a trail that minimizes disturbance to soil, safety ropes instead of concreted stairs, community involvement, and interpretive signs), and will illustrate that the value of a tourism product can increase when biodiversity is protected and celebrated.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr NEW: Peleliu Trail and Master Planning - Nov 10-12; Ngchesar Master Planning - Nov 15
November 8, 2021: Safeguards; Marine spatial plans; Peleliu signs; State MPs; Aimeliik, MOJ, & Ngerderar; Biosecurity building
1) What's being mainstreamed? State Partners, please use these "2022 AWP Requirements and Guidance for State Funds" to mainstream biodiversity, biosecurity, climate, and social/cultural safeguards:
No actions can restrict human rights, hurt Palauan cultural heritage, harm human health or wildlife, harm the environment or biodiversity, or increase climate risk or vulnerability.
Projects must include multiple social groups and cannot discriminate.
NO loss of mangroves, harm to endangered or protected species, degrading of water, fire, eradication of native (nuisance) species.
All national regulations must be followed (e.g. 60-foot stream buffers).
NO IAS (see also #WeedsOnWednesday on social media)
2) What's coming up? MAFE and GEF6 are holding an introductory Marine Spatial Planning Meeting on Tuesday to provide State Governments with spatial guidance for marine zoning. The meeting is for any stakeholder with an interest in marine zoning. ~The GEF6 team will be in Peleliu this week, working on interpretive signs for the Forest of Hope, continuing Master Planning, and working on their 2022 AWP.
First ever "Call to Earth Day" is Nov 10. Join the #CalltoEarth conversation online.
Ngchesar Planning Commission 11/15 @ 11am
MAFE GEF6 Marine Spatial Planning Introductory Meeting 11/16 @ 8 am
Aimeliik Leadership meeting about Master Planning 11/16 @ 6pm
Ngaraard Master Planning 11//17 @ 11am
Melekeok Master Planning 11/17 @ 6pm
3) Who's doing what? ~Aimeliik State has been active with its Ngerderar Best Practice project, stabilizing the bridge and improving the pathway. They are partnering with the Ministry of Justice on activities. ~Finally, the Biosecurity Building is almost done with construction!Â
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr NEW: Biosecurity Building - Oct 2021; Aimeliik - MOJ - Ngerderar
November 1, 2021: Partner IAS reports and info; 2022 Funding Guidance; Ngeremlengui & Airai Master Planning; #KeledANgercheled news and photos
1) What's being mainstreamed? Partners in Palau and regionally are working to raise the profile of invasive species and biosecurity. A TNC Scoping Report describes IAS as "a
significant threat affecting human health, economic livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation in Palau." While many of the foundational elements for IAS management are in place, additional work is needed. See a summary of findings and download the report on the GEF6 News page. ~Review October's #WeedsOnWednesdays posts on the GEF6 News page. ~Finally, the findings of a New Zealand DOC survey of IAS capacity needs in Pacific Islands is on the GEF6 News page.
2) What's coming up? QPRs & AWPS! Find the updated "2022 AWP Requirements and Guidance for State Funds" document online.
1st Saturday Birdwatching 11/6 @ 6 am at Long Island Park
PSFA's Noriwo Ubedei Fishing Derby, held in support of the PNMS's 6th Anniversary 11/6
First ever "Call to Earth Day" is Nov 10. Join the #CalltoEarth conversation online.
Ngiwal Planning Commission 11/9
Peleliu Trail Workshop and Master Planning 11/10-12
3) Who's doing what? ~Ngeremlengui's Planning Commission met with the GEF6 Master Planning team for the first time last week to continue Master Planning (started by the Planning Team) in line with the National Planning Act. ~Master Planning also continued with Airai! ~Check out BCHP's Newsletter to see its "Registered Sites Corner". Registered sites were mainstreamed into the Babeldaob Land Use Guidance maps. Find the newsletter on the GEF6 News page. ~Excellent #KeledANgercheled news from the Ministry of Education: breakfast and lunch programs serving healthy foods sourced from local farmers and fishers! #RespectProducers. ~There are lots of new photos on Flickr, including many excellent ones from the #KeledANgercheled Banquet.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Lots of NEW Keled A Ngercheled Banquet photos - Oct 23; PNMS 6th Anniversary at Kokusai; Ngaraard Master Planning - Oct 28; Ngchesar Planning Commission - Oct 27; Ngeremlengui Planning Commission - Oct 26.
October 25, 2021: #KeledANgercheled Banquet & Producer Profiles; Master planning; PNMS; Tourism Carrying Capacity Report; Airai mapping
1) What's being mainstreamed? MAFE and MHRCDT co-sponsored the #KeledANgercheled Banquet on Saturday to recognize the importance of Palau's farmers and fishers (#RespectProducers) in achieving Food Security. Locally-grown foods were prepared in both traditional and innovative ways by local chefs. Find #KeledANgercheled and Sustainable Food Systems Palau materials online. Check out: Farmer Profiles (Joe Tiobech, Fuana Rengulbai, Rusty Rodas, Lorenza Olkeriil, & Lucio T. Obakerbau) and Fisher Profiles (Simeon Eberdong, Hadley Renguul, Domingo Kerai). ~Sustainable Food Systems in Palau must be nature-positive and protect and perpetuate biodiversity.
2) What's coming up? QPRs (Quarterly Programmatic Reports) are due. Partners should also be thinking about their 2022 AWP. Checks are ready and are already being distributed!!
Ngeremlengui's new Planning Commission meets for the first time on 10/26 @ 5:30
Ngchesar MP 10/27 @ 5:30
Ngaraard MP 10/28 @ 11
Peleliu MP 10/29
Fishing Derby held in support of the PNMS's 6th Anniversary 11/6
3) Who's doing what? ~Koror State released its Tourism Carrying Capacity Report. ~Mapping started in Airai! Now all 10 States on Babeldaob are actively writing or updating Master and Land Use Plans!
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: MAFE at OBF - Oct 24; Keled A Ngercheled Banquet - Oct 23; Airai Mapping Day 1 - Oct 22; Fruit Fly Update - Oct 20; Ngardmau MP - Oct 13; Aimeliik MP - Oct 19; Melekeok MP - Oct. 20
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers
October 18, 2021: MAFE's strategy, logo, and facility tours; BOE Acting Director; KBRUDSAP; Ngchesar & Ngaraard, #KeledANgercheled & #RespectProducers; PNMS activities; Street naming
Happy Koror Day and Happy UN Day!
1) What's being mainstreamed? On World Food Day (October 16) MAFE launched the #KeledANgercheled (Our Food is Our Responsibility) and #RespectProducers campaigns. These campaigns aim to achieve more sustainable food systems, where "Palau’s Blue and Green Food Systems are coordinated holistically across sectors, are modernized and efficient, support sustainable livelihoods, drive nutritional hunger to zero, and are environmentally and culturally sustainable and resilient." MAFE's Minister issued Ministerial Directive 2184/21, directing all MAFE food orders to "purposefully and explicitly request" locally-grown foods, pelagic and/or aquacultured fish or invertebrates, and be Plastic Free; and to update forms, label orders, and track impact. Participate on FB, Insta, and Twitter, and more events are planned as we head into 2022, “Year of #KeledANgercheled.”
2) What's coming up?
Aimeliik MP 10/19 @ 6pm
Melekeok MP 10/20 @ 6pm
#RespectProducers Banquet 10/23
PNMS Fishing Derby 10/24. Briefing 10/21.
Ngeremlengui's new Planning Commission meets for the first time on 10/26 @ 5:30
Ngchesar MP 10/27 @ 5:30
PNMS 6th Anniversary 10/28 @ 5:30 pm in Ngatpang. Art Contest deadline is 10/21.
Peleliu MP 10/29
3) Who's doing what? The Street Naming Project led by PALARIS is underway! States have already started brainstorming street names during master planning meetings, following the JCB-agreed framework of using traditional State names for the major roads and keeping names locally and culturally relevant (including highlighting endemic and native biodiversity). See the Guidance Manual for more information.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
Links:
Previous #MainstreamingMondays
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau) #KeledANgercheled #RespectProducers
October 11, 2021: MAFE's strategy, logo, and facility tours; BOE Acting Director; KBRUDSAP; Ngchesar & Ngaraard
​1) What's being mainstreamed? The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE) released its new strategy and logo. Download the MAFE Strategic Infographic to see MAFE's Impact Areas, Values, and Thematic Areas: https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/governance/mafe-strategy.
Vision: The Ministry envisions a Palau where sustainable food production and wise stewardship of our marine and terrestrial resources enhances the wellbeing and economic livelihoods of all.
Mission: Provide clear direction and leadership in natural resource management that optimizes benefits to our people, economy, and the environment.
2) What's coming up? World Food Day is October 16. Follow GEF6 on Social Media (see below) so you don't miss new hashtag campaigns.
Ngardmau MP 10/13 @ 6pm in Ngardmau
PNMS 6th Anniversary Fishing Derby (tentative) 10/24
PNMS 6th Anniversary 10/28 @ 5:30 pm in Ngatpang. Art Contest Deadline is 10/21.
3) Who's doing what? ~Congratulations to Leena Mesebeluu, the new Acting Director for MAFE's Bureau of the Environment (BOE). ~MAFE closed (to the public) on Friday to launch its new Strategy and so that its 61 staff could visit aquaculture, forestry, livestock, and agricultural facilities. See pictures on Flickr. ~The KBRUDSAP (Koror-Babeldaob Resilient Urban Development Strategy and Action Plan) is now online: https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/gef6-key-sectors/master-land-use-planning. ~Ngchesar launched its Master Planning process with an inaugural meeting of the State's Planning Commission. ~The GEF6 team continued chasing waterfalls, mapping one downstream of the Ngerchokl cultural site in Ngaraard.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: MAFE New Logo and Team Building - Oct 8; BOF Aquaculture Facility visit; BOE Forestry & BOA Livestock at Nekken; BOF Aquaculture; Ngaraard Waterfall and MP - Oct 6; Melekeok MP - Sept 29 (new photos added)
October 4, 2021: EN & TH plants; World Food Day; State planning; Food Systems Summit Statement; PNMS Anniversary
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE) will be closed on Friday, October 8.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau's endangered (EN) or threatened (TH) plants were incorporated into the Babeldoab Land Use guides. 5 species are EN and at least 13 are TH; official designation awaits adoption of Endangered Species regulations. Endangered plants include the endemic palm trees Chesebouch (Palau Palm) and Bochelauchererak (Rock Island Palm); the restricted-in-range and popular-with-pollinators Kmekumer tree (Parkia); the living fossil Remiang/Ocheall (Cycas micronesica); and the newly discovered Osmoxylon ngardokense (Kesiamel), a tree found only in the Ngardok Nature Reserve.
2) What's coming up? More good news: The next tranche of funding was received in Palau this weekend! It takes two weeks to process.Â
World Food Day is October 16. Stay tuned for exciting activities and news as we transition to more Sustainable Food Systems!
PNMS 6th Anniversary 10/28 @ 5:30 pm in Ngatpang (see flyer)
Ngchesar Master Planning 10/5 @ 5:30
Ngaraard MP and mapping 10/6 @ 11 am in Ngaraard
MAFE closed 10/8
Ngardmau MP 10/13 @ 6pm in Ngardmau
3) Who's doing what? ~The President's Statement at the UN Food Systems Summit is now online. ~States have been hard at work on Master Planning, and some have even started thinking of street names. See pictures from Master Planning with all of our State Partners in our Flickr albums.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE. You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project or you came to a GEF6-Partnership event.
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September 27, 2021: Biodiversity in land use guides, Project Board update
The UN Food Summit was September 23. See Palau's Pathways.
Happy Independence Day!
1) What's being mainstreamed? At their quarterly meeting, the Babeldaob JCB updated the Babeldaob Land Use Guides with new information that mainstreams biodiversity and other environmental and cultural information. ~Maps show the locations of Important Forest Areas (digitized from SWARS and then updated), Mangroves, Important Bird Areas (IBAs), locations of Endangered and Threatened Plants (from the Belau National Museum database and BOA Forestry Division), Swamp Forests and marshes (using their soils as a proxy since they are rare and not well mapped), and Registered Cultural Sites (noting four tentative World Heritage Sites). These will be added to the "Low Impact" guidance map. ~Locations of repeated Burns will be added to the "High Impact" guidance map and targeted for more intensive action, conversion, or development. ~See input maps here. ~Babeldaob States plus Peleliu also started working on Street Naming (a PALARIS project), which seems like it will be a fun celebration of culture, history, biodiversity, and food!
2) What's coming up? Good news: UNDP approved the release of the next tranche of funds, which could arrive in Palau next week.
Aimeliik MP 9/28 @ 6 pm
Melekeok MP 9/29 @ 6 pm
Friday 10/1 is a holiday!
Ngchesar Master Planning 10/5 @ 5:30
Ngaraard Master Planning and Mapping 10/6
3) Who's doing what? ~The GEF6 Project Board held its quarterly meeting on September 21. See a PPT that summarizes how the project is doing across all activities. In addition to the quarterly update, the Board also planned for a redesign of some project indicators and activities, as recommended by the Mid-Term Review (MTR), due to the "over-ambitious" PIF and ProDoc. Also discussed: Resolution to the ongoing slow finance issue. ~This worked: In addition to written Policy Briefs for the JCB meeting, we made simple YouTube videos with the same information that were viewed.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Babeldaob JCB - Sept 23 (Ngardmau); Peleliu Master Planning - Sept 27
September 20, 2021: KSG Glass Art; Babeldaob JCB tomorrow; Food Systems Summit and Pathways
1) What's being mainstreamed? ~Congratulations to GEF6 Partner Koror State on the opening of its Glass Art Craft Center! The site mainstreams biodiversity through ocean-themed art, is purposefully accessible and welcoming to all, offers an alternative low-nature-impact tourist destination, uses recycled plastics as a fuel source, and is a space to bring recyclables and compost. You can even #BuyLocalByLocal at the gift shop. Find it. See photos & videos.
2) What's coming up? The Babeldaob JCB meets tomorrow to consider additions to the Babeldaob Land Use Guide. Proposed additions to the Low Impact Development map include endangered trees, Important Forest Areas, Important Bird Areas, Swamp forests/soils, Mangroves, Registered Cultural Sites (especially tentative World Heritage sites). Repeated burn areas are suggested for addition to the High Impact map. See agenda, policy brief, and draft maps.
Babeldaob JCB 9/23 @ 9:30 am in Ngardmau
UN Food Systems Summit "The People's Summit" is open to all. Register. President Whipps Jr. will deliver his statement between 7-9 am Friday (6 pm New York)
Peleliu MP 9/27 @ 10 am
Aimeliik MP 9/28 @ 6 pm
Melekeok MP 9/29 @ 6 pm
3) Who's doing what? Following the Food Systems Dialogues, Palau prepared a "Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems in Palau" document. Ministers held a retreat last week to begin the transformation to a "Systems Perspective." All Food Systems documents, agendas, presentations, and more are online.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Koror Glass Art Craft Center - Photos and Videos; Demok Festival; Food Systems Ministerial Retreat - Sept 16; Peleliu Master Planning and Trail Mapping - August 19-20 (more photos); Peleliu Action Planning - July 29 (more photos); Peleliu Trail Mapping - March 11; (more photos); Gender Workshop (new photos); Palau Biodiversity - Photos (new ones)
September 13, 2021: IAS survey; IAS & B-Virus; #FoodSystemsPalau; Biodiversity & forests into maps
1) What's being mainstreamed? Survey findings on the public's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and Biosecurity reveal that there is room for improvement. 24% did not know what IAS were, and up to 40% of people don't know how to minimize impacts of IAS. Data is gender disaggregated. Willingness to undergo inter-island biosecurity, such as letting cargo sit in quarantine, is low (40% were willing). Read a summary of IAS findings or download the entire KAP report and find Best Practices: https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/gef6-key-sectors/invasive-species. ~IAS can be dangerous to human health!!! Monkeys on Angaur are carriers of Herpes B-Virus, which does not cause serious disease in monkeys but can be very serious to humans: It has been fatal in over 70% of reported human cases. See a PowerPoint on B-Virus prepared by Dr. Miles. It is illegal under Koror State law to possess a monkey anywhere in Koror State.
2) What's coming up? Ministers will meet on Thursday to review Palau's proposed "Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems". Read the updated draft document.
Support #FoodSystemsPalau at the Demok Festival 9/18 @10-4 in Ngaraard
Ngardmau Master Planning 9/20 @5:30
10th GEF6 Project Board Meeting 9/21 @9 am
Ngeremlengui MP 9/21 @5:30
Peleliu MP 9/22
Babeldaob JCB Meeting 9/23 @9:30 am at Ngardmau
3) Who's doing what? ~Forestry and Biodiversity partners provided input to the Babeldoab Land Use Guides, which are being updated to include High Conservation Value Areas (locations of endangered plants, high biodiversity areas, swamp forests, Important Bird Areas, and prime agricultural soils) and priority sites for restoration (repeatedly burned areas). The maps are also being updated with registered cultural sites. Business partners also had a chance to review the maps. These maps will be reviewed by the Babeldaob JCB before being transferred to States for Land Use Planning. ~PALARIS has been working with PCS and farmers to add additional farms to base maps. ~The #MappingTogether team added the beautiful Ngerbadlmangel Waterfall to Ngatpang's base map. ~Ngarchelong started clearing the GEF6 Best Practice Mesei Access Trail and began building new bridges out of plastic wood.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngarchelong Mesei Trail Site Visit - Sept 8, Ngatpang Ngerbadlmangel Waterfall - Sept 10, Biodiversity & Forestry input to maps - Sept 9; Ngardmau MP - Sept 8; Ngchesar Dry Litter Piggery Drone Mapping - Sept 7; Ngatpang MP - Sept 7; Ngiwal MP Review of Progress so far - Sept 9; Aimeliik Legend of the First Bai
September 6, 2021: Updated fish news; Map day; MTR and PIR available
Happy Labor Day!
1) What's being mainstreamed? Information from PICRC that clarifies and updates last week's #MM: "While many sites are overexploited, there is some good news from the report as we stated in our Press Release. The ban on export has really helped as well as the local state initiatives. Overfishing did not happen overnight, it took decades to overexploit our reef fisheries. So recovery will not happen overnight, our reef fisheries will also take time to recover. We have just finished our latest report from our 2019 data, and the data show recovery is continuing, with more species with higher than 20% than in 2017 and the biomass of herbivores has significantly increased compared to 2017. The report and paper referred to [in last week's #MM] are from the 2017 data. ~During Berius el Chais at Palau Wave Radio last Tuesday, we discussed our new paper on fish connectivity and the new technical report coming out with our latest fish stock surveys and the positive results from that report. ~For SPR, 40% is best and what we aim for. Over 20% shows that there is enough reproductive output for recovery and less than 20% shows that it is in decline and heading in the wrong direction."
2) What's coming up? Interested individuals are welcome to view and provide feedback on the Babeldaob Land Use Guides on Thursday at PALARIS. Biodiversity and forestry are from 9-11 and Chamber of Commerce and business folks from 11-1. But you are welcome to drop in anytime before 1pm.
Ngatpang MP Goals and Objectives 9/7 @ 11:30 am
Ngarchelong Trail Visit 9/8 @ 8 am
Ngardmau MP Objectives 9/8 @ 5:30 pm
Map Feedback 9/9 @ 9am-1pm at PALARIS
Ngiwal MP Goals and Objectives 9/9 @ 6:30 at Labek
Ministerial Sustainable Food Systems Retreat 9/14
Ngaraard Master Planning 9/15 @ 11 am
10th Project Board Meeting 9/16 @ 9 am
Babeldaob JCB 9/23 @ 9 am
3) Who's doing what? Two new reports about the GEF6 Project are out: 1) The independent MTR - Mid-Term Evaluation Report and 2) the 2021 PIR - Project Implementation Report. The Project was assessed as Moderately Satisfactory in both.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Cheuall Site Inspection - Sept 2; Ngiwal Waterfall Trail Mapping - Sept 2; Aimeliik Master Planning - Brainstorming Goals - Aug 31
August 30, 2021: Sober fish news; Good money news; Excellent Ngarchelong news
1) What's being mainstreamed? A new journal article published by partners at PICRC confirms traditional knowledge and presents a sobering baseline: "Overall, the low fish biomass and SPRs suggests that many of Palau’s principal fisheries species have been overexploited." The highest biomass was found at western fore-reef sites and the lowest at inner reef sites. Reef fish biomass was low at 83% of sites. Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) for 7 commercially important species was between 20 and 40%, meaning they are likely overexploited. (An SPR of 40% is generally a proxy value for maximum sustainable yield, so lower SPR means fish are being taken beyond their ability to replace themselves.) Access the technical publication that the journal article was based on here. ~ Findings from the three-part Food Dialogue are available. These findings, combined with scientific findings such as the PICRC report, will guide transformation of Palau's Food Systems in the coming years.Â
2) What's coming up? Good news! We hit our 80%, financial reports were done, and our next request has been submitted!! Thank you GEF6 partners - "all for one, one for all!"
Aimeliik Master Planning (MP) Goals 8/31 @ 6 pm at BMR
Ngiwal field mapping 9/2 @ 8 am
Ngatpang MP Goals and Objectives 9/7 @ 11:30 am
Ngardmau MP Objectives 9/8 @ 5:30 pm
Ngiwal MP Goals and Objectives 9/9 @ 6:30 at Labek
Babeldaob JCB 9/23 @ 9 am
3) Who's doing what? ~Congratulations to Ngarchelong State for passing the Ngarchelong State Planning Commission Act! Governor Ngiratrang signed it into law on August 30. The State modified the Template to fit their own needs. ~ Keep up with pictures from the Ngiwal Food Security Project here.
August 23, 2021: Leaders' Pledge for Nature; Zoom time; Almost 80%; MAFE Acting Chiefs; State Visions
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau is one of 88 countries to have endorsed the "Leaders' Pledge for Nature: United to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 for Sustainable Development."Â Commitments include:
A green and just response to the health and economic crisis
Halting human-induced extinction of species
Representative, well-connected, and effectively managed systems of Protected Areas
Ending silo thinking about biodiversity loss, degradation, pollution, and climate change
Sustainable food systems that meet people’s needs within planetary boundaries
Aligning domestic climate policies with the Paris Agreement and Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions
Ending environmental crimes
Mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral and cross-sectoral policies at all levels (that's GEF6 work!)
Integrating a “One-Health” approach that addresses health and environmental sustainability in an integrated fashion.
2) What's coming up? If you would like help setting up Zoom, using Google Drive, or going digital, email. ~We only need two last State partners to submit their Financial Reports, plus a check for the Biosecurity Quarantine Facility to go out, and we will hit 80%. Thank you to ALL of our Babeldaob State partners for submitting your financial reports.
3) Who's doing what? ~Lots of work on Master Planning: The Peleliu State Planning Team updated their Vision, started goals and objectives, and updated maps. Lots on FB. Aimeliik reaffirmed its Vision. Ngatpang crafted a draft Vision Statement. ~Koror State held a Leadership Meeting to review a proposed #OneCommunity Sustainable Fisheries Management Plan. Proposed measures include size limits, gear restrictions, zoning, temporary closures, and MPAs. This work is led by KSG DCLE and PCS in partnership with BMR, PALARIS, PICRC, TNC, MAFE GEF6, and MCT. ~The Ngarchelong Planning Team held a community consultation on their Mesei Access Trail and Bridge Project. ~MAFE's new Acting Chiefs:
Joyce Beouch, Acting PAN Coordinator
Larry Mamis, Acting Chief of Division of Forestry
Percy Rechelluul, Acting Chief of Division of Aquaculture
Kathy Sisior, Acting Chief of Division of Oceanic Fisheries
Fabio Siksei, Acting Chief of Division of Coastal Fisheries
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Peleliu Master Planning Aug 19-20; Ngarchelong Community Consultation Mesei Trail - Aug 18; Ngatpang Master Planning - Aug 18; Aimeliik Master Planning - Aug 17; #OneCommunity Koror Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Meeting - Aug 17
August 16, 2021: IPCC Report, climate projections & transformations; Financial Reports past due; Acting Directors; Ngiwal, agency reports, NISC
1) What's being mainstreamed? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN's body for assessing climate change science, released a new Assessment Report (AR6). Read: a summary Powerpoint, a summary for Policymakers, and a Small Islands Regional Fact Sheet. In the Western Pacific, 1) marine heatwaves and ocean acidification will increase, 2) sea levels will rise; w/storms will exacerbate coastal inundation and intrusion, 3) shorelines along sandy coasts will retreat, and 4) heavy rainfall events will continue. Urban areas are seeing warmer air temperatures. Warming will continue, and transformational change will be needed to limit it. Although Palau's total carbon emissions are relatively low, per capita Palau is one of the highest emitters of carbon in the world. Global transformations (like a shift to electric vehicles and phasing out of fossil fuels) will impact us, and we need to incorporate transformations plus climate projections into our plans. Plus: "Biodiversity loss and climate change are both driven by human economic activities and mutually reinforce each other. Neither will be successfully resolved unless both are tackled together."
2) What's coming up? Financial reports are past due! We are not at 80% yet and won't know if we are until Partners turn in their reports. We can't request the next tranche until we hit 80%. Please send them to Rica right away.
Aimeliik Master Planning 8/17 @ 6 pm at BMR
Aquaculture Virtual Stakeholder Meeting (TNC) 8/18 @ 9
Ngatpang Master Planning 8/18 @ 6
Ngarchelong Community Meeting 8/18 @ 6
Peleliu Master Planning 8/19-20
Melekeok Master Planning 8/25 @ 6
3) Who's doing what? Thank you to MAFE's new Acting Directors: Gwen Sisior is acting Director for BOA and Adelle Lukes Isechal is Acting Director for BMR.
Ngiwal's men's and women's clubs have been conducting quarterly river maintenance, and the Taro Project (a partnership between the State Government and mesei owners) used best practices like crop rotation, bong/waterway system maintenance, control of taro plant bacterial diseases (such as obei), and adaptive measures to reduce the impacts of kind tides along riverbanks. Ngiwal also started a Home Garden Project with 20 households (composting, germination and seed transplanting, integrated organic pest management, and soil health measures). Around 40 men and 100 women have been involved.
EQPB: Hired an Outreach Officer and started with outreach in Airai.
PALARIS: Updated the 2015 Aquaculture and Agriculture layers with new information.
DFWP: Continued cross-training and joint enforcement with State & PAN Rangers.
NISC: Identified priority species for a household outreach campaign. Download the group photo here. Documents with IAS findings/data from the KAP and Gender studies will be uploaded here.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: NISC Members (August 12)
August 9, 2021: Biodiversity & CoC Presentation; NISC; State updates; New photos
1) What's being mainstreamed? The Palau GEF6 Biodiversity Project presented to the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, August 10. Download the presentation and find links to more land use guidance maps to learn about biodiversity mainstreaming activities and land use planning efforts that have relevance to the private sector. ~Read a quick overview on Palau's biodiversity here, watch a video about Protecting Palau's Rich Biodiversity (featuring people in the private sector), and watch a NatGeo video about Palau's stunning marine biodiversity.
2) What's coming up? There will be a NISC meeting on Thursday morning to agree on outreach and awareness messaging. Financial reports are due on Friday.
NISC 8/12 @ 8 am at Penthouse
Koror Fisheries Plan Leadership meeting 8/17 @ 11
Ngatpang Master Planning 8/18 @ 6
Peleliu Master Planning 8/19-20
3) Who's doing what? ~ Quarterly Narrative Reports are in and partners have been up to amazing work! See Flickr for many new photos. (Agency partner updates next week.) Highlights include:
Ngeremlengui: Congratulations on passing legislation to establish a State Planning Commission!
The Aimeliik community restored sections of its Ngerderar trail and built benches out of plastic wood to improve the site as a tourist product.
Ngchesar began building a community structure at the Cheuall tourist site and kayak launch point
Ngarchelong: Landowners and the State reached a compromise solution for the Mesei Access Trail to pass through their lands. Ngarchelong also bought plastic wood in preparation for building new bridges in the mesei.
Ngaraard finished the blueprints for a community-run tourism center built using traditional methods and best practices, gained strong community support, and moved the Planning Commission legislation through the State legislature.
Melekeok is rapidly progressing through Master Planning, meeting nearly every week.
Koror and PCS have been working together with PALARIS to create a comprehensive Fisheries plan for the entire Koror lagoon area. The in-depth plan includes spatial references, legislative tasks, and measures to improve fisheries.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Aimeliik Ngerderar Q2, Ngchesar Cheuall Q2, PALARIS Street Naming Project, Ngarchelong Legislature meeting (more photos), Koror Fishery Planning July 16 w/PCS, Koror Fisheries Planning July 16 w/PCS, Koror Fisheries Planning - Invertebrate Experts - July 20 w/PCS, PALARIS Field Training with US Military, Peleliu Planning July 29 (more photos), Aimeliik Ngerderar Group (taken Feb 5), Ngeremlengui master planning - Aug 3, Ngatpang Visioning Aug 4, Ngardmau - Objectives Aug 9, Ngaraard - Objectives Aug 11.
August 2, 2021: Gender & social analysis, tools, info; QPR guidance; Peleliu trail
1) What's being mainstreamed? "With the 99-year lease law, my sister can't access her land," said a participant at last week's gender workshop. This is an example of an action that might have benefited from more gender and social analysis and mainstreaming. As we learned from the MOS Gender Division and partners at Ebiil Society, gender mainstreaming is not about taking things away from men and it's not about criticizing cultural practices. It is about thinking through today's modern decisions thoroughly. All materials are online and you should use them to do your own impact analyses and to avoid unintended consequences - with relevance across every sector. 1) Demographics about Knowledge Management: in the KAP survey, men reported using Facebook much less as a source of local Palauan news than women. 2) Uses of marine and forest resources vary greatly between genders, and each group faces different threats. 3) Men are more likely to think tourism is a strong contributor to the economy than women (60:40). Also in the KAP: women report "knowing how to manage IAS" with less certainty than men (29% to 40%); Hypothetically, if a Rock Island were "closed for biosecurity," 7% of women and 19% of men would "stay to take a look"; If a developer wants to build in a conservation area, 12% of women think the project should go ahead, 47% of men think so. Also online: Tools, templates, data, and examples you can use to mainstream social and gender inclusion.
2) What's coming up? Your Quarterly Project Report (QPR) is due (scroll all the way down).
Ngatpang Master Planning 8/4 @ 6 pm at BMR
PNMS Strategy 8/5 @ 9 am
Protected Area Scorecard 8/5 @ 1:30 pm
GEF6 @ BOT 8/5 @ 3pm
Ngardmau Master Planning 8/9 @ 5:30
NISC 8/12 @ 8 am (Details coming)
3) Who's doing what? State partners are making excellent progress with Master Planning, with many developing specific objectives, including those tied to land. These are the basis for land use plans. ~Peleliu calculated its community needs for the Forest of Hope trail (its 2021 Best Practice project), with a mixture of biodiversity, accessibility, and safety features going in along the trail.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: July 29 Peleliu Trip; Gender & Social Mainstreaming workshop; more from the Project Partners meeting.
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Palau GEF6 Project, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE), Palau
Additional Information on the QPR (aka Narrative Report):
The new template is really quite easy to use! You could literally write 4 sentences and be done. Of course, we welcome more.
If you are having trouble with the links, please email Anu or text her at 775-4335. Your patience is appreciated.
To do the report you only have to answer 5 questions:
Include a few lines about your activities and achievements. What did you do? How far did you get with your activities? Did you finish anything?
Include a link to evidence (ideally, upload it into your "Project Partner" folder or include a link to Facebook or Flickr) or say that you'll be emailing it
List any issues or challenges you had. What was hard?
Include any lessons or thoughts you want to share.
Count up the number of men and women from your sign-in sheets
That's it!
July 26, 2021: Gender workshop tomorrow; Orchid-gami; State Master Planning galore; Leadership briefing; End of quarter is here!
Gender Workshop tomorrow (Tuesday, July 27) at Palau High School Cafeteria. Designed for GEF6 partners and open to the public.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Biodiversity is important to Palau's economy, ecosystem functions, and food systems. Sometimes it's also just fun! Download this "orchid-gami" of the Palau Hyacinth Orchid. This endemic orchid is found in forests on Babeldaob where it attracts pollinators. Directions.
2) What's coming up? All Gender Workshop materials will be posted here. PHS @ 8:30 am, Agenda attached.
Ngatpang Master Planning 7/28 @ 11 am (to be confirmed)
Melekeok Master Planning 7/28 @ 6 pm at BMR
Peleliu planning 7/29
Ngeremlengui Master planning 8/3 @ 5:30
3) Who's doing what? ~ The Leadership Briefing presentation from the National Food Dialogue on Agricultural Food Systems is online. See pictures from the Leadership Briefing. ~ Project Partners - the end of the quarter is here! Spend your funds! Narrative and Financial reports are due.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Food Dialogue Leadership Briefing (Executive Branch)
July 19, 2021: Welcome new Minister (for real this time!); Gender mainstreaming workshop
Congratulations and Welcome to our new Minister, Mr. Steven Victor!! Welcome to MAFE (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment)!
1) What's being mainstreamed? Partners should incorporate Palau's National Gender Mainstreaming Policy so that policies and services benefit all women and men and so that all men and women have equal rights, equal opportunities and responsibilities, and equal access. ~ All women and men should be able to participate in decision making, have the same opportunities to earn incomes and fulfill needs, and access the resources they need to be healthy and resilient. ~ National Strategies include 1) Integrating gender perspectives in policies, plans, laws, and programs; and 2) Monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability. ~ This is why the GEF6 project asks you to create gender-balanced planning teams, actively recruit from both genders, and track participation. ~ The GEF6 Gender Workshop next Tuesday 7/27 will help with integration of gender perspectives: ~ The 2020 Natural Resource study found that women are more likely to use forests for agriculture, food plants, and medicines, while men are more likely to use forests for hunting. Closing a forest may have unintended gendered impacts. ~ The KAP survey found that men are more likely to get news from newpapers, radio, and YouTube; women are more likely to get news from TV, Facebook, or friends.
2) What's coming up? GEF6 Gender Workshop on Tuesday, July 21 @ 8:30 am @ Palau High School Cafeteria. ~ Ngardmau C
Ngaraard Master Planning 7/21 @ 11 am at BMR
Food Dialogue Leadership Briefing: 7/22 @ 11 am at Palasia
Ngeremlengui Master Planning 7/26 @ 5:30 at Ngeremlengui
Melekeok Master Planning 7/28 @ 6 pm at BMR
BOT Certification ThinkTank moved to 8/3
3) Who's doing what? ~ Materials from the Mini-NES/National Food Dialogue on Agricultural Food Systems, including the Conceptual Model, are online. The group photo is on Flickr. ~ Ngardmau continued with Master Planning, including some spatial land use planning. ~ Thank you to Partners for coming to last week's Partners Meeting.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Day 2 of the Food Dialogue, GEF6 Partner's Meeting, Ngardmau Master Planning
July 12, 2021: New Date for Food Dialogue; Tourism ThinkTank; Partners meeting WED; Indicator table input
NEW DATES:
Day 2 of the Agricultural Food System Dialogue has been moved to THURSDAY, July 15 at Palasia. Agenda attached.
GEF6 Partners Meeting is now on WEDNESDAY, July 14 @ BMR at 2 pm. Apologies.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau's Responsible Tourism Education Act of 2018 tasked PVA and BOT with developing and administering an accreditation or rating system for businesses based on their "commitment and contribution to protection of the local environment or preservation of Palauan culture". Such an accreditation system would certify that businesses are in compliance with existing regulations (tour operators, boat owners, and sunscreen) and then promote extra steps taken to ensure a sustainable tourism industry. Several programs are in development or in place (Green Fins/Boots, Carbon Neutral, Sustainable Business, Slow Food, Turtle Friendly, etc.) and so PVA and BOT will convene a ThinkTank next week to coordinate these certification programs.
2) What's coming up? Day 2 of the Mini-NES/National Food Dialogue is now on THURSDAY, 7/15.
National Food Dialogue Prep Meetings: 7/13@1pm and 7/19
GEF6 Partners Meeting - WEDNESDAY 7/14@2pm.
BOT's Palau Tourism Certification Programs ThinkTank Meeting: 7/20@9am at Civic Hall
Ngaraard Master Planning MOVED to 7/21 (thank you!)
Day 3 of the Food Dialogue (Leadership Briefing): 7/22
Empowering Fact-Checking in the Pacific project - Info attached: Application deadline extended.
3) Who's doing what? ~The Mid-Term Review is still underway. At our Partners Meeting, we will review and come to consensus on the status of the Project's Indicators. Please see indicator chart attached. Input on Indicators 1.3.2, 6a (EQPB), 9, 10, and 14 would be most appreciated! ~Aimeliik worked on its GEF6 Action project this weekend in Ngerderrar.
July 5, 2021: Food Systems Dialogue; Native/Introduced species; MTR interviews; Medicinal garden & Endangered trees
​1) What's being mainstreamed? How well do you know your native vs. introduced plants? Download this presentation and run it as a slideshow to test your knowledge. ~Speaking of native species, in the 2020 KAP survey, 64% of respondents incorrectly listed a native species as an introduced species. While some may consider them "pests or nuisances," they are part of Palau's biodiversity. Native species include: kebeas, besbus, chelub, tengadidik, and uek.Â
2) What's coming up? Day 2 of the Mini-NES/National Food Dialogue: Identifying Pathways to Palau's Sustainable Agriculture Food Systems is next Wednesday, 7/14.
Our Ocean Conference planning meeting: 7/8@9 am at PICRC
Ngardmau Master Planning 7/12@4pm
National Food Dialogue Prep Meeting: 7/13@1pm
GEF6 Partners Meeting 7/15@2pm.
BOT Certifications Programs ThinkTank 7/20 (tentative)
3) Who's doing what? ~The Mid-Term Review for Palau's GEF6 Project is underway. If a consultant reaches out to you to schedule an interview, please respond right away. They have a tight deadline. ~Congratulations to Koror State, BNM, and Ngaramaiberel on the grand opening of the "Oidel a Chas" Indigenous and Medicinal garden at Ngermalk, Long Island Conservation Area! See a FB video. KSG and BNM also signed a MOU to safeguard and protect endangered tree species in Koror State! ~The Ngarchelong Legislature met to advance their Planning Commission legislation. ~Ngeremlengui continued Master Planning.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
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Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngeremlengui Master Planning, Ngarchelong Legislature Meeting; KSG Indigenous Medicinal Garden.
June 28, 2021: Safety; Birds; Planning meetings; Biosecurity Building; Melekeok; Bkul Ngriil
1) What's being mainstreamed? In the absence of building codes, land use planning here in Palau will play a role in keeping our communities safe. As MAFE facilitates Master and Land Use Planning with the 10 States on Babeldaob, we will follow criteria and best practices for safety. ~Criteria for housing subdivisions state that "Any site less than 3 meters above sea level is Not Suitable," operationalized as three blue lines on this Restrictions Map. It removes a lot of land from consideration for subdivision development, for safety purposes. ~Soils limit where development can go. Soils that cannot absorb pollutants from septic tanks, or soils that are unstable or prone to landslides are unsafe. Many soils on Babeldaob are not suitable for intensive development. ~Safety is captured in the core values for development on Babeldaob: "Change will occur safely." ~Best practices and management practices (BMPs) reduce risk: see  Climate Smart Guide and SOP for reducing stormwater and erosion. More BMPs here.
2) What's coming up? BNM/KSG's "Long Island 1st Saturday of the Month Birdwatching" is this weekend, 7/3. A young birdwatcher recently got a glimpse of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (subspecies is endemic) and was so excited! ~In the mood for another hands-on activity?- Melekeok Cheuias removal is Saturday (7/3) at 8 am. Also:
Ngatpang Planning Commission 6/29@5:30.
Ngarchelong Leadership 7/1@10:30am
Mini-NES Food Dialogue Preparations 7/2@9am at BMR
National Food Dialogue (Mini-NES - National Environment Symposium): 7/14@8am-4pm and Leadership Briefing 7/22.
BOT Certifications Programs ThinkTank 7/20 (tentative)
3) Who's doing what? ~Construction on the Biosecurity Building has started!!! ~Melekeok's new planning team met for the first time to begin Master Planning. Ngaraard, Ngardmau, and Ngeremlengui also continued with Master Planning. ~ Ngarchelong finalized a draft of its State Planning Commission Legislation, which is ready for the legislature to consider. Ngarchelong also continued working on the mesei trail, which has to navigate environmental and social best practices. ~ PCS is a critical partner - helping to facilitate all groups! ~Ngeremlengui did a site visit to its cooperative aquaculture site, in their Bkul Ngrill Conservation Area, that will use best practices to minimize environmental impacts while maximizing social impacts.Â
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
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Photos (Flickr) NEW: Melekeok - Master Planning; Ngaraard - Master Planning; Palau Biodiversity - Photos; Ngeremlengui Fam Tour - Bkul Ngriil Aquaculture sites; 9th Project Board meeting (more photos); Mini-NES Tech Day (more photos); Ngeremlengui Master Planning (more photos); Ngarchelong Trail 2021 (more photos)
June 21, 2021: More on trochus; Our Ocean; State planning; Project Board meeting and report
1) What's being mainstreamed? With Trochus (Semum) season open until July 17, new rules apply: Executive Order (EO) 446. In addition to the 3 inch size limit (7.7 cm), harvesters must carry a measuring tape or ruler with them while harvesting. DFWP, DEH, and other law enforcement agencies will enforce 446's rules. ~While on the reef, be sure to follow the Green Fins Code of Conduct and Environmentally Friendly Guidelines. ~A 2020 PICRC Study reported that the 2019 population of trochus on Palau's reef crests was high enough (757 trochus/hectare) to support a short, regulated harvest. See the report for abundance by area. ~Trochus is a large marine snail that feeds on algae. See video#1: their role in keeping reefs and fisheries healthy. See video#2: food and economic benefits. ~See an updated map of Protected Areas where harvest is restricted. ~With global prices for trochus down, this is a great opportunity for a local processing industry to make buttons, jewelry, and handicrafts (see page 14-15).
2) What's coming up? The Vice President and PICRC have invited the Conservation Consortium to provide input on the "Our Ocean Conference" to be held in early 2022: 6/24@9am at PICRC Kedarm.
Ngarchelong planning 6/22@2pm.
Melekeok planning 6/22@6pm.
GEF7 PNMS Induction Workshop 6/23@8:30am.
Ngardmau planning 6/23@@5pm.
Ngaraard planning 6/24@11am.
North Pacific Development Fund (New Zealand Embassy; for NGOs/CBOs) applications due 6/30
NEW DATE: National Food Dialogue (Mini-NES - National Environment Symposium): 7/14@8am-4pm.
3) Who's doing what? ~The GEF6 Project Board, including President Whipps Jr. in his capacity as Acting MAFE Minister, met on June 17 to hear a report on Q2. See the PPT for an update on the entire project.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
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Photos (Flickr) NEW: 9th Project Board Meeting (with President Whipps Jr.); Ngeremlengui Master Planning (new photos from planning team and Legislature meeting); Mini-NES Tech-Day (Food Dialogues#1) (more photos); Food Systems Summit planning (more photos); Koror-PCS Fisheries Workshop in May; Land use planning Technical Advisory Group; Melekeok Cheuais removal
June 14, 2021: Trochus; Mini-NES/Food Systems Dialogue; JCB Babeldaob land use guide
1) What's being mainstreamed? Trochus season is set to open in a few days on June 20 until July 17, per 24 PNCA 1241-1246. Collection is further subject to State laws and restrictions (See an updated map of Protected Areas). During open season, the minimum allowable size for trochus (semum) must be at least 3 inches in diameter at the base. Size restrictions are designed to protect juvenile trochus. Additional rules include no commercial processing or storage of trochus within 200 feet of residences, and requirements for sanitary, safe, and permitted commercial processing and storage.
2) What's coming up? The National Food Systems Dialogue (Day 2) has been moved to July 14; with a Leadership Briefing on July 22. Next prep meeting is 6/17@2pm. ~GEF7 Induction & Indicator Workshop: 6/23@8:30. ~GEF6 Board Meeting 6/17@9am. ~Ngeremlengui Master & Action Planning 6/17@5:30. ~Ngardmau Master Planning 6/23@4:30pm. ~Ngaraard Master Planning 6/24@11am. ~KIWA follow-up meeting 6/24. Find the Climate Change Report here. ~June is the end of Q2 and narrative reports will be due soon. A new online template is coming.
3) Who's doing what? ~Q1 funds are finally in. If you haven't picked up yours, contact Rica. Try to spend 80% by the end of July. ~The Babeldaob JCB adopted an overarching land use guide for Babeldaob. See pictures. The land use guide includes large suitable areas for agriculture, more suitable housing sites, tourism assets for protection, and expanded protection around water sources. This land use guide will be the starting point for State Land Use Planning through Master Planning. Technical Partners, including EQPB, BOA, PVA, and BOT provided advice. ~In this year's Mini-NES, Technical Partners identified components in a Conceptual Model of Palau's Sustainable Agricultural Systems, as part of Palau's Food Systems Dialogues. ~Ngaraard State advanced its Planning Commission Legislation, with an Executive Order to enable work right away also in the works. ~PICRC launched a National PNMS project (GEF7) with an Inception Workshop.Â
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
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Photos (Flickr) NEW: Food Systems Mini-NES; 9th Babeldaob JCB meeting
May 31, 2021: Good news; New name
Short and sweet today:
Happy President's Day!
GOOD NEWS: The GEF6 money is on-island!!! It is being processed at Finance right now! States and Partners: Get ready to rumble....... Seriously - get ready to spend 80% by the end of June so we can request the next disbursement and really get back to business. Dolmii will be in touch this week with specifics.
MNRET is now MAFE - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment. New logo coming soon - please switch the name in any of the GEF6 correspondence you might use.
2) What's coming up? Â ~Babeldaob JCB 6/2@9:30 at PALARIS. ~BDA Climate Change Meeting 6/3@8:30. ~Wildfire Warning System Webinar 6/3@9am. ~Ngatpang Planning Commission Visioning 6/4@5:30. ~Food Systems Mini-Symposium Conceptual Modeling 6/8@8am.
May 24, 2021: National landfill; Battery collection; States busy with Master Planning
Due May 31: Co-Finance and Asset list. Thank you to Aimeliik, Ngaraard, and Ngeremlengui for co-finance information!
1) What's being mainstreamed? The Earth Day Committee visited the new National Landfill today, seeing a mound of waste already piling up in the new space open only for a few months. A steady stream of trucks entered the landfill to dump more. Even with a more modern waste management system, the new landfill is still a source of nonpoint source pollution into the surrounding lands via leacheate. "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" (the preference shall be to reduce the generation of waste) and "Product Stewardship" (those involved in producing, importing, selling, using and disposing of products have a shared responsibility) are principles in Palau's National Solid Waste Management Strategy 2017-2026.
2) What's coming up? #EarthDayEveryday: Battery Collection this week: DSWM and KSG-SWM Earth Day Activities. ~Koror-PCS Fisheries Workshop 5/25@9am. ~Ngeremlengui Legislature 5/25@7pm. ~Zoning Tech Day with PALARIS 5/26. ~Babeldaob JCB 6/2. ~Ngatpang Commission Vision 6/4@5:30. ~GEF7 Inception Workshop 6/10. ~Food Systems Dialogue: BOA Dry Run 5/27; Mini-Symposium Conceptual Modeling 6/8; Mini-Symposium Pathways and Priorities 6/22.
3) Who's doing what? ~Check out pictures from today's visit by the Earth Day Committee to the new National Landfill. ~Ngiwal continued with Master Planning, meeting on its own to finalize goals and start objectives. ~Ngeremlengui continued with Master Planning by working on goals, and continued planning for Aquaculture Leasing. ~The Ngaraard Legislature met to advance their Master Planning and Planning Commission legislation. ~The Ngardmau Planning Commission met to review GEF6 tools, templates, and processes in order to revise their existing Master Plan. ~Ngarchelong completed a draft of their Planning Commission legislation and sent it out for review. Something they are working on is how the Master Plan should be implemented: via an (unfunded) Planning Office or through the existing (and funded) Public Works Division.
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MAFE GEF6 (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: #EarthDayEveryday - Landfill & Tree Planting; Ngatpang State Master Planning (more photos from mapping); Ngeremlengui Master Planning; Ngardmau Master Planning (more photos from Legislature meeting)
May 17, 2021: Clams; Environmental law; DSWM & KSG-SWM Earth Day; Co-finance & Assets; Senate hearing; KAP report & Gender reportÂ
1) What's being mainstreamed? Indicator #20 (p.23) in the 2019 SOE on the status of Giant Clams on reefs. Outer reefs had the highest abundances (in 2016) and were increasing in abundance, but with differences by depth. Abundances on patch reefs and inner reefs were low; with decreasing abundance on inner reefs. ~Title 24 is Palau's visionary Environmental Protection Law. When it was passed, the OEK recognized "the critical importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the overall welfare and development of humankind." The law set the policy of the "national government, in cooperation with state governments, and other concerned public and private organizations, to use all practicable means and measures, including financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which humankind and nature can coexist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of the Republic."
2) What's coming up? Make-up dates next week: DSWM and KSG-SWM Earth Day Activities. ~Submit Co-Finance information. It's also time to review and update your Asset list. May 31 is the due date. ~Senate Hearing on proposed State EQPBs and FIBs; and Clams Tuesday@1pm at the old OEK. ~Ngeremlengui Planning 5/18@5:30pm. ~Ngaraard Legislature on Master Planning 5/19@11:30. ~Koror-PCS Fisheries Workshop 6/20@9am. ~Zoning Tech Day with PALARIS 5/26. ~Babeldaob JCB 6/2. ~Food Systems Pre-Symposium 6/8 & Mini-Symposium 6/22. ~GEF7 Inception Workshop 6/10.
3) Who's doing what? ~2 new GEF6 reports are available: 1) Baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Survey Report (on IAS and Land use planning, plus new demographic and knowledge management info) & 2) Gender and Natural Resources 2020 National Report (by Ebiil Society). ~PALARIS, PCS, Ngatpang, Ngaraard, and MNRET GEF6 continued #MappingTogether, by updating asset maps. In Ngatpang we mapped an old road and in Ngaraard we mapped a new dam. Best wishes to Ongly, the GEF6 Production Support Specialist, as she starts the next exciting chapter in her life!
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MNRET GEF6 (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
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Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngaraard new water system dam; Ngatpang State Master Planning (new photos from mapping the old road)
May 10, 2021: Co-finance; Species laws; MTR; Turtle enforcement; Biosecurity moves; LIDAR, Ngatpang, Ngiwal
1) What's being mainstreamed? It is closed season for Green Sea Turtles (Melob), May to August. There is a complete moratorium on Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Ngasech) until April 2027. Turtle eggs are always off-limits. ~It is closed season for Groupers (through July). ~Several States restrict Land Crab harvest before and after the full moon (May 26). ~See a complete (working) list of Palau's species laws and restrictions.
2) What's coming up? The GEF6 Mid-Term Review (MTR) begins soon. You will be hearing from an international or local consultant (selected by UNDP) with requests for meetings or information. With GEF7 funding partially here and GEF8 soon to be negotiated, the MTR matters - responsiveness is one indicator. Also, please help us estimate co-finance. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL "PARTNER" YOUR TIME SPENT ON GEF6 IS VALUABLE. PLEASE USE THIS FORM TO REPORT CO-FINANCE. ~Mini-Symposium planning 5/12@11am. ~Palau Agriculture Consortium 5/13@2pm. ~Ngardmau Master Planning 5/13@6pm. ~Ngatpang road mapping 5/14@9:30am. ~PCS-PALARIS Fishery Field Day 5/18. ~Ngaremlengui Master Planning 5/18@5:30pm. ~Babeldaob JCB 6/2 (tbd). ~Food Systems Mini-Symposium 6/22. ~Graduation schedule.
3) Who's doing what? ~DFWP began enforcing Senate Bill 10-5 (10-year moratorium on Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Ngasech)) by visiting vendors and educating them about the law. As a conservation community we need to do better: between 2018 and 2020 agencies (including MNRET) were supposed to educate the public about the moratorium and conduct an inventory of toluk, but these activities did not happen. As we advocate for Endangered Species and CITES laws, we need to be ready to follow through. ~The Ministry of Finance formally welcomed the Biosecurity Division to its ranks. The Minister assured BOA and BD that they would maintain their close relationships. ~PALARIS completed its LIDAR reference points with a visit to Kayangel. Storm damage and the influence of climate change is evident. ~Ngatpang's Planning Commission began Master Planning. ~Ngiwal completed its Goals as part of Master Planning. The next step is the nitty-gritty of objectives (actions and spatial). ~Ngarchelong continued planning for its mesei trail. ~See the zoning "magic" happen in Koror (with PCS and PALARIS).
#MainstreamingMondays is a product of MNRET GEF6 (written by Anu Gupta and Dolmii Remeliik). You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the Palau GEF6 Project.
Links: Photos (Flickr) NEW: Kayangel with PALARIS, Ngatpang MP, Ngarchelong Trail planning; Koror-PCS-PALARIS zoning (scroll down for new); Ngiwal Master Planning (scroll down for new)
May 3, 2021: Vulnerable birds; State planning meetings; GEF6&SORA; Earth Month
Happy Senior Citizens Day! Wednesday is a holiday.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Have you noticed some of Palau's birds acting strangely? Laib close enough to see their shimmer, Kiuid pecking at the ground, or Biib flying at eye level? Birds are feeling the impacts of Typhoon Surigae, which knocked down trees and reduced the availability of their foods. Our birds are very vulnerable right now. Please use this time to appreciate the up-close views while showing them compassion. Palau's Birds are fully protected by the Protected Land Life Act: "No birds shall be taken, intentionally killed or harmed, nor their eggs taken." In Palau, birds are integral to culture, spread seeds, and are valuable to eco-tourism.
2) What's coming up? PCS-Koror-PALARIS Fisheries Project: 5/4@9am. Mini-Symposium planning: 5/4@11:30. MICCO19 Ngeremlengui State Launch: 5/4@10am. Ngiwal Master Planning: 5/4@6pm. Ngarchelong SPT: 5/6@9am. Ngatpang Planning Commission: 5/6@5:30. Palau Agriculture Consortium: Thursdays@2pm.
3) Who's doing what? ~The translated version of President Whipps Jr.'s first State of the Republic Address (SORA) delivered to a joint session of the OEK last week and foreign dignitaries referenced the GEF6 Project and regional planning on Babeldaob! ~The Ngiwal Planning Commission reaffirmed their development vision, and continued with Master Planning by developing economic and social goals. ~Partners met to brainstorm ways to educate and enforce the Hawksbill Sea Turtle law. Educating businesses about the law is the first step. ~PAN Officers from several Terrestrial PAN Sites worked with PCS, NISC, and GEF6 to set Kebeas monitoring. They committed to monitoring Kebeas over the next year. ~The online TNC GIS course on Aquaculture Spatial Planning launched last week. If you missed it, be sure to login, watch the Zoom video, and complete the module. ~The Palau Earth Day Committee closed out Earth Month (it's more than just a day!) by visiting outlying States to plant trees and clean up beaches. And Congratulations to the Dngeronger Youth (KSYC) for winning the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award! ~Ngaraard SPT, MNRET GEF6, and PALARIS mapped more current and potential tourist sites in the State - there is a lot to see (and also a lot of typhoon damage).
Photos (Flickr) NEW - MANY UPDATES: Ngiwal SPC - Visioning; Ngeremlengui SPT Planning (x2); Babeldaob JCB; Ngaraard Mapping; Peleliu Mapping
April 26, 2021: Repair loans; Biosecurity; MTR & co-finance; Food systems mini-symposium; Gender consultation; Ngaraard
~NDBP is offering small loans for customers (residential and business) to help with emergency repairs from Tropical Storm Surigae. Â ~Applications for the GEF6 MTR Consultant are due TUESDAY by 1 pm. Terms of Reference.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Biosecurity is the protection of a nation's environment from biological threats, including invasive alien species, diseases, pathogens, and pests. Biosecurity occurs at borders AND within Palau and between islands. Biosecurity is about keeping Palau free of unwanted organisms and for controlling, managing or eradicating them, and to prevent or reduce any damage they may cause. Biosecurity in Palau takes many forms: regulations, scientific research, technical assessments prior to importation and after possible exposures, inspections and quarantine at the border, monitoring within country, island-to-island surveillance and tracking, and biological and physical control and follow up within the country. Biological threats can be devastating to agriculture and fisheries, and environmental science is needed to track and mitigate invasive species. The GEF6 project, based at MNRET, is advancing biosecurity with our partners and States. Palau's Biosecurity Act should be mainstreamed into GEF6 activities: SPREP's Battler Series is a great resource.
2) What's coming up? The GEF6 Mid-Term Review (MTR) will begin in the next few weeks. Partners, please expect to spend some time working with the GEF6 office and a local consultant to assess the project and collect documents, and start calculating your total co-finance so far. ~NISC: 4/27@2. ~BOA begins its MICCO19 State meetings 4/27 in Ngeremlengui. ~Koror-PCS-PALARIS Fisheries mapping field day 4/27 ~GIS Course launches 4/28@10. ~PAN Site Reps meeting about IAS monitoring: 4/28@1:30. ~Ngiwal Master Planning 4/28@6:30. ~Enforcement Partners: 4/29@2. ~Ngaraard mapping field day: 4/30.
3) Who's doing what? ~NEPC and Partners are planning a mini-symposium on Food Systems, building off the 3rd NES and preparing for Food Systems Summit 2021 Dialogues. It is tentatively scheduled for the last weeks of June. ~MOS led a National Gender Consultation last week, and the GEF6 Project's efforts to mainstream gender and social inclusion are important nationwide. It's also clear that more training is needed. ~Ngaraard planned out its budget and approach for an eco-tour Summer House as its 2021 action project.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Earth Day 2021 Green Fair (pictures and fashion show video!); Ngaraard 2021 Action planning
April 19, 2021: MTR Consultant; Mainstreaming CC; Earth Day cancellations; Hatchery losses; Aimeliik & Ngchesar projects
GEF6 needs a National Consultant for the Mid-Term Evaluation, who cannot be a partner. The Terms of Reference document includes directions on how to apply. Applications due April 27.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Typhoon Surigae is a reminder that we must mainstream Climate Change into our plans. For an overview of what to expect by sector, download Climate Change in Palau: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors - Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA 2020). At the GEF6 Project, considering climate change is part of our governance. ~See post-Surigae safety tips from MOH.
2) What's coming up? ~Palau National Consultation on Gender Priorities 3/20@Palasia. ~While Earth Day is always April 22, due to Surigae most events have been postponed. See the list.
3) Who's doing what? ~20,000 clam seedlings and 2,500 rabbitfish fry died at BMR's hatcheries during Typhoon Surigae. ~Aimeliik and Ngchesar planned out their budgets for their 2021 projects. Aimeliik will improve bridges and reduce erosion on the trail to Ngerderar (using plastic wood for longevity). Ngchesar will build a floating dock and small hut at Cheuall swimming hole. These will be community-built projects.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: BMR Surigae damage; more pictures from the Ngardmau Legislature master planning briefing
April 12, 2021: Groupers closed; Birds protected; Stop saltwater; MTR consultant; Board update; LiDAR; State projects; LATE REPORTS
Thank you Ngiwal and Ngardmau for turning in your narrative report! BOT, BADG, BOA, DFWP, PCS, and EQPB have also turned in reports. All other Partners - all of y'all are late!!!! (Next week we're naming names...)
1) What's being mainstreamed? ~As of April 1: Grouper (temekai, tiau, mokas, etc.) season is CLOSED. Rabbitfish (meyas) season is OPEN. ~Please remember and remind: Per the Protected Land Life Act (PNCA Title 24 Chapter 14), birds are protected. It is illegal (and hurts biodiversity) to harm or eat Belochel, Laib, Biib, Kiuid, Bekai, or other birds & eggs. There are only 4 exemptions: Chickens, Uek, Yakotsiang, and Tengadidik. Partners are working on revisions to the law, but please respect Palau's unique birds! ~Looking for technical expertise: How can our communities cope with saltwater intrusion into mesei right now? (As in, before the next King Tide and even before this upcoming storm?). Email with advice.
2) What's coming up? ~GEF6 is looking for a National Consultant for our Mid-Term Review (MTR). The consultant cannot be a partner. If you know someone who might be interested, please email. ~Aimeliik SPT: 4/15@3:30. ~Ngaraard SPT: 4/19@9:30 ~Earth Day is April 22.
3) Who's doing what? ~The GEF6 Project Board quarterly update was last week; the PPT presentation gives a brief update on activities. ~Noticed the twin-engine plane flying around? It's the LiDAR Project through PALARIS. ~States continued with Action Planning for their 2021 projects: Ngiwal: A series of connected activities to move farms upland, restore and expand on their mesei program, and clear out waterways. Ngardmau: Small community-built huts as part of an eco-tour program. Ngarchelong: Technical experts scoped out a new trail with a gentle slope to their southern mesei, and started mapping/counting infrastructure improvements within another mesei (e.g. bridges). The Ngardmau Legislature was briefed on the Master Planning process.
You are receiving this email because you are a Partner to the GEF6 Project.
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Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngardmau MP, BIOTA with Palau Pledge, KSG SPT Visioning, Ngardok Trail, PCS Fisheries Zoning meeting, Ngardmau 2021 Project planning, PCS PAN IAS Workshop, Ngarchelong Mesei Trail Scoping, Angaur w/PALARIS for LIDAR points
April 5, 2021: Ngasech moratorium; New Ag eBook; Reports past due; BOT workshop & certifications; Ngarchelong trail; Ngeremlengui goals; Kebeas&Rrusch forms
Thank you Ngardmau for turning in your narrative report! BOA, DFWP, PCS, and EQPB have also turned in reports. All other Partners - your reports are due.
1) What's being mainstreamed? ~Senate Bill 10-5 went into effect on April 17, 2018. The law, which had strong support from Mechesil Belau, established a 10-year moratorium on the harvesting, taking, selling, purchasing, or killing of Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Ngasech). The law included a 2-year "sell-off" period: Businesses that possessed goods made from any part of the hawkbill turtle were allowed to sell off their inventory up until April of last year. Currently, no part of a hawkbill turtle may be sold commercially and it is a violation to purchase any goods made from any part of a hawksbill turtle. The only exception is for toluk that were already in circulation before April 17, 2018. If you see businesses selling any hawksbill turtle products, please inform them about the law. DFWP (Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection) is responsible for enforcing this law. ~New eBook available: Agriculture in Palau: A Manual for Production through Soil Assessment. Congratulations to Christopher Kitalong, Yin Yin Nwe, and Hide Omae!
2) What's coming up? Reports are past due. ~SPT planning meetings: Ngiwal 4/6@11 am; Ngardmau 4/7@1pm; Ngaraard 4/14@9:30. ~PCS-Koror Fisheries 4/6@9am. ~GEF6 Project Board 4/8@9am. ~Ngarchelong trail scoping field day 4/9@9:30 at the State Office.
3) Who's doing what? ~BOT, in partnership with international partners, is hosting a Palau Km0 Food Initiative Training Workshop to support food producers of Palau learn how the global food system operates; how changes to this food system have affected biodiversity, provision of ecosystem services, and dietary patterns and effects; and the basics of business management. ~BOT continues certifying businesses daily for Pandemic Safety: 116 as of today! ~Ngarchelong will be building a trail to ease travel to and from their mesei (on foot and with wheelbarrows) as their 2021 GEF6 project. To start, technical experts from Melekeok, Ngardmau, Koror, BOA, EQPB, NRCS, and private engineers will examine maps and scope out the site for an accessible trail. PALARIS will map. MNRET is coordinating, and the Ngarchelong SPT and PCS are hosting the field day and facilitating planning. Truly a partnership project! ~Ngeremlengui reviewed its base maps and progressed with Master Planning by drafting 10-year goals. ~Access the Kebeas and Rrusch online data forms here.
March 29, 2021: Pandemic safety; Free GIS course; BioGas; Action plans; BOT and the bubble
Narrative Reports are due Wednesday (31st)
1) What's being mainstreamed? The Pandemic Safety Certification Guidelines are being mainstreamed into practices by businesses. ~Want to learn how to use GIS (spatial data, maps, and landscape/seascape analysis) to make good decisions? Spaces are still available in a free PCC Continuing Education course offered in partnership witih TNC. The aquaculture-themed course will include software. The 40-hour course starts April 19 and can be completed online. PCC supports accessible learning with computers and nternet if needed. Exact time TBD. Email.
2) What's coming up? The Palau Organic Growers Association and Ms. Tova Harel will demonstrate a successful Home BioGas system for turning organic waste into energy. Farmers invited Thurs 4/1 @ 10:30 am at Barracuda. Please confirm. ~With financing expected soon, State Partners should start writing action plans, set up planning commissions, or continue master planning. Get the SPT together and the GEF6 team will help facilitate. ~Ngeremlengui SPT continues master and land use planning on 3/31. ~PCS Invasive Species Workshop is 3/31-4/2. ~GEF6 Board Meeting is 4/8 at 9 am. ~Ngarchelong field day for their Action Plan is 4/9. ~The Babeldaob JCB meeting has been postponed in lieu of individual state meetings.
3) Who's doing what? Good news - the GEF6 financial report is awaiting a final signature and then will head to UNDP. ~The Bureau of Tourism has been insanely busy preparing the nation's businesses for the tourism bubble that begins on Thursday! So far, BOT has begun working with 140 businesses, 60+ of whom have completed all requirements and are Pandemic Safety Certified. BOT continues to educate, visit, and certify diverse businesses daily so that staff, visitors, and the public stay safe. In the initial round of certifications, BOT "trained the trainers" (in partnership with the Red Cross, Public Health, and others) and conducted field outreach and inspections with accommodation providers, restaurants, tour operators, and BOAT members. BOT is a GEF6 partner - look for the GEF logo on certificates! BOT is now working with partners to expand training programs and certification requirements for service providers and stores, which will open up the bubble's opportunities to more businesses and better meet social inclusion targets. The GEF6 Project has had to adapt because of the Covid-closure. Originally, BOT's activities were to focus on Green Certification, use of native plants, and best environmental practices at tourist sites. The pivot to safety became necessary as an enabling condition for any tourism at all. Yet, BOT is still managing to progress innovative sustainable tourism through initiatives such as the Palau Legacy Project and the Carbon Neutral Destination Project. ~The Bureau of Agriculture is hiring a short-term Project Coordinator with experience in agriculture, livestock, or project management to implement a Covid-related Food Security project. Email.
March 22, 2021: IAS B&W lists; Gender policy; Q1 Narrative Reports due; Updated "News" page; Presidential briefing
Thank you State and Agency partners for turning in all financial reports! Looks good enough for the next request!! Also, hope everyone had a Happy Youth Day!!!
1) What's being mainstreamed? Several new IAS resources are online: Draft Black&White Lists - Invasive Plants and Trees, Marine and Aquatic Invasive Species, and Invasive Animals+Diseases;  Plant and Animal Quarantine Regulations (2015); Field guide to Invasive Plants for Protected Areas in Palau (with pictures); Invasive Species that threaten Palau's Wetlands (poster with pictures). ~Lest we forget: Palau's amazing biodiversity is all around! ~Welcome to Tkakl Mekreos, Palau's Gender Officer, now under a new Ministry (MOS)! All GEF6 activities and plans should incorporate Palau's National Gender Mainstreaming Policy.
2) What's coming up? Umm.... it's crazy, but the Q1 Narrative Reports are due (due date extended to March 31). They can be short - please report on your actions and how you spent remaining Q4 funds. ~KSG SPT workshop is 3/24. ~Biosecurity Regulations work continues 3/25. ~The next Koror-PCS Fisheries Project mapping meeting is 3/30. ~The PCS Invasive Species Workshop is 3/31-4/2. ~BabJCB is 4/7.
3) Who's doing what? Check out the updated "News" page. ~GEF6 and KBRUDSAP partners briefed new Minister of Finance Udui (3/5) and President Whipps Jr. (3/11) on existing regional and state planning, and their relationship to the new National master planning initiative. ~Airai State became the 10th State on Babeldaob to sign an MOA with MNRET to undertake State Master Planning! ~Ngiwal convened its leadership, Planning Commission, Task Force, SPLA, and PAN to review mandates and agree on roles and scope for planning, zoning, and implementation. ~Ngarchelong started using the online templates and tools to create its new Planning Commission. ~PCS and Koror State started mapping fisheries sites as part of a PCS Fisheries Project. GEF6 is helping coordinate mapping and technical expertise from partners like PALARIS and CRRF. ~More materials from the Taro Workshop are online, including an information Sheet: Key Agricultural Support Services for Wetland Taro Farming (Mesei), notes from the discussion, and the Traditional Knowledge and Wisdom book. See participant statistics under News.Â
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Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: PCS Fisheries Project Mapping Day 1; Ngiwal Master Planning meeting; Melekeok sites; Taro Workshop pictures; NISC-IAS group work and meeting pictures; Airai-MNRET MOA signing; More from the Peleliu and Ngaraard Site Visits
March 8, 2021: Biodiversity = Livelihoods; Q1 & Q4 funds; 2021 Action Plans
1) What's being mainstreamed? Biodiversity protection is Livelihood Protection. Palauans cultivate over 100 varieties of taro, 17 varieties of sweet potato, many varieties of cassava, and tens of other fruits and vegetables for food. More than 100 species of fish and invertebrates are targeted for food. It is estimated that 80% of Palau's population eat wild food. Over 44 species of trees are used for timber and firewood, and over 82 plants have medicinal healing powers. Palau's 400 species of hard corals, 300 species of soft corals, and 1400 species of reef fishes are a huge draw for the country's tourism industry. In a famous story, taro varieties from Palau with resistance to the taro leaf blight disease were vital in getting taro back into the fields in Samoa after taro leaf blight wiped out all the local Samoan varieties - and that same biodiversity is what gives Palau its resilience. The environment sector is not about saying "no" - it is about saying "yes" wisely.
2) What's coming up? Unfortunately, the Q1 funds continue to be delayed, because some GEF6 partners have not reported 100% expenditures from Q4. Spend your money and be sure to follow-up on encumbrances. To be safe, we may reduce the Q1 request for most partners.Â
3) Who's doing what? Several State partners on Babeldaob have started working on Action Plans for their 2021 Best Practice Projects to showcase sustainable development that protects biodiversity. Examples include: Ngardmau & Ngaraard - Small, community-built tourism huts/summer houses with native plant landscaping; Ngiwal - dam revitalization (with re-use of the high-nutrient soil from the bottom of the dam to support sustainable agro-forestry); Ngarchelong - Taro patch access improvements; Aimeliik - reducing erosion from the Ngerderar trail; Ngeremlengui - Leasing programs for sustainable aquaculture; and Ngchesar - development of a safe and erosion-free kayak launch spot.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngatpang and Ngaraard Site Visits
March 1, 2021: Taro materials; Diseases & weeds in mesei; SPEND & REPORT ON Q4; Ngiwal & Melekeok commissions
1) What's being mainstreamed? Materials from the Taro Workshop are online. The workshop has generated quite a lot of feedback, some with biodiversity/biosecurity implications (#gef6palau). One recommendation is for all taro planting efforts to include disease and weed prevention. Taro diseases are mostly spread on or in planting materials. Many of the first infestations of mikania were in Mesei. Weeds and invasive species can spread on plant materials, dirty shoes and clothes, and tools and equipment. Mikania seeds are tiny and hitch rides on even the smallest bits of dirt. Cleaning and disinfecting planting material and tools is essential to prevent the spread of diseases and weeds and to ensure healthy crops - LEARN HOW.
2) What's coming up? SPEND YOUR Q4 FUNDS & SUBMIT YOUR REPORTS. Because we have not hit 100% for Q4, the entire project is now on hold. We cannot request the Q1 funds (which started in January) until all reports are turned in.
3) Who's doing what? Ngiwal and Melekeok States are moving forward with State Master Planning by working with their legislatures and leaders to enable Planning Commissions.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Peleliu
February 22, 2021: More affordable pelagics; Taro wkshp program; BabJCB; NISC; Q4 reports; Highlights from Aimeliik, Ngaraard, Ngchesar, Ngiwal, & Koror and pause of the OB SEA JCB
Tomorrow, Feb 23: Taro Workshop: Best practices for scaling up taro production Download the Program
1) What's being mainstreamed? Information based on last week's #MainstreamingMonday: Presidential Directive ("Choose Pelagics") #19-36 is about government. Pelagic fish are available to the public at a variety of prices: BOFI sells frozen tuna for $3.00/lb and other pelagics (wahoo, swordfish) at similar prices. The Northern Reef Fisheries Cooperative (NRFC) sells pelagic fish for similar prices. Individual sellers, such as Simeon Eberdong, offer a variety of affordable price points. Focusing exclusively on sashimi-grade tuna does not consider the diverse affordable options available throughout Palau.
2) What's coming up? Tomorrow: SGP-GEF6 Taro Workshop (9-4 @ PCC Assembly Hall). ~Babeldaob JCB meets Wednesday 10-1 @ Ngeremlengui. ~NISC meets Thursday 11-1. ~Climate Change meeting Thursday from 8-3 @ Ngerulmud.
3) Who's doing what? #MappingTogether: Pictures from Peleliu, Ngaraard, and Ngatpang are coming! Last week the GEF6 team started working with Peleliu on Land Use Planning as part of master planning. They have a lot of land-based tourist sites to map! ~The Q4 Narrative Report and Project Board presentation are now on the GEF6 website. The narrative report highlights community-based restoration activities in Aimeliik, Ngaraard, Ngchesar, and Ngiwal, plus the completion of Koror's participatory review of a revised RISL Management Plan. The report also provides information on the pausing of the OB SEA JCB by Koror and Peleliu as an adaptive management approach, so that each state can focus on priority focal areas instead.
February 15, 2021: Taro workshop; Choose pelagics; Ngatpang MOA; Governors Association on Master Planning
Next Tues, Feb 23: Taro Workshop: Best practices for scaling up taro production Spread the word!
1) What's being mainstreamed? Presidential Directive #19-36 (May 2019) directs the government to "Choose Pelagics" to reduce pressure on the reef, promote locally produced healthy and resilient foods, and to support Palauan pelagic fishers. It states that all government food services and events/functions that are serving fish "should always 'Choose Pelagics'." Pelagic fish served by the government should be caught by Palauan artisanal pelagic fishers. "Reef fish should not be served at any government event...unless there are no locally-sourced pelagic fish available." GEF6 has been purposefully requesting pelagic fish from our vendors, and all have been able to provide tuna or wahoo.Â
2) What's coming up? Next Tuesday is a SGP-GEF6 Taro Workshop (2/23 from 9-4 pm at PCC Assembly Hall). It builds directly on recommendations from the 3rd NES and focuses on scaling up and commercializing production. ~State mapping visits: 2/16: Ngaraard; 2/17: Ngatpang. ~Work continues on the Biosecurity Regulations on Thursday (2/18 at 12 noon @ BMR upstairs). ~The Babeldaob JCB meets next Wednesday, 2/24.
3) Who's doing what? We are very happy that Ngatpang State signed a MOA to partner with MNRET on State Master Planning! ~See the presentation on Title 31 and Master Planning and the presentation on Spatial Data for Land Use Planning from the Governor's Association meeting. ~We have been busy #MappingTogether - in Ngchesar & Peleliu, and with CRRF (check out this video).
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Mapping in Ngchesar, Governor's Association Presentation, CRRF map products presentation, Ngatpang MOA signing, and Ngaraard Ngulitel Restoration
February 8, 2021: Landscaping with native plants; Master planning; Eco-tourism RFP, Amazing mapping finds
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau has beautiful native plants that can be used in landscaping. GEF6-funded sustainable tourism projects are required to use native plants. To facilitate this, partners are working on Best Practices for using native and endemic plants for ornamental purposes (e.g. flowering), shade, borders, along beaches, and on hillsides. Bungaruau flowers year-round and the Matakui plant has sweet flowers and is good for shade. Ongael is an important medicinal plant that is good for landscaping on hillsides. Palau has nearly 90 species of native orchids, more than a third of which are endemic, sometimes forming stunning fields of flowers. Healthy habitats in Palau are biodiverse ones, and underlie Palau's food production systems, traditional medicines, and tourism industry.
2) What's coming up? GEF6 is presenting the State Master Planning process, tools, and templates to the Governors' Association tomorrow. ~State mapping visits: 2/11: Ngchesar; 2/12: Peleliu. ~CRRF map products: 2/10. ~Joint SGP Taro Workshop: 2/23. ~Babeldaob JCB: 2/24. ~NISC: 2/25.
3) Who's doing what? A Request for Proposal (RFP) to develop Eco-tourism Plans for 4 PAN Sites (in 3 States) is open. The deadline for proposals is February 26. ~A partnership of States, MNRET, PALARIS, and PCS (with input from PVA & BOT) has been updating tourism maps, visiting action sites, and finding "missing" infrastructure! It has been amazing to see the many eco-tour sites in each State. See pictures and video on Flickr.
Links:
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Mapping in Aimeliik, Ngiwal, Ngardmau, Ngeremlengui
February 1, 2021: Biosecurity register for animals, State maps, Governors Assoc, National GIS+partners, KSG Q4 congrats, Aquaculture presentations
1) What's being mainstreamed? The Biosecurity Act includes provisions for "Biosecurity Registers" of regulated invasive species, pests, diseases, and prohibited imports. BOA/NISC/GEF6 are updating existing "registers" (aka the "Black and White List"). So far, an updated B&W List of plants has been created. Next we'll review the existing Plant and Animal Quarantine Regulations (which covers species such as snakes, mongoose, and tilapia) and then create a more comprehensive B&W List of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine animals. The B&W List and Regulations should be mainstreamed into business plans. ~See a New Zealand scholarship opportunity for Pasifika students to study the social dimensions (including tourism and business) of invasive freshwater fish (like tilapia).
2) What's coming up? State mapping visits: 2/2: Ngeremlengui; 2/3: Ngardmau; 2/4: Ngiwal; 2/5: Aimeliik; 2/12: Peleliu. We're confirming and mapping tourism sites, waters systems, and other missing infrastructure. ~MNRET, PALARIS, &PCS are introducing the Master Planning process and tools to the Governor's Association next week (2/9). ~CRRF map products: 2/10. ~Joint SGP Taro Workshop: 2/23. ~Babeldaob JCB: 2/24. ~NISC: 2/25.
3) Who's doing what? PALARIS has been busy updating the nation's GIS system with spatial data needed for land use planning. Thanks to partnerships with State Governments, State Planning Teams, PPUC, and PVA, through GEF6 PALARIS has been able to update maps of tourism sites, water systems, and infrastructure. See samples of map products here. ~Congratulations to GEF6 partner Koror State DCLE on a successful 4th Quarter Uniform Inspection and 2020 Year in Review. ~Presentations from NDBP and Biota (plus other Best Practices) from last week's Aquaculture Partners Meeting are online.
Links:Photos (Flickr) NEW: KSG DCLE Q4 inspection and 2020 ReviewJanuary 25, 2021: FIRE season, 80% by Feb 10, Ngarchelong mapping
1) What's being mainstreamed? DRY SEASON IS HERE and it is time for fire prevention and rapid response. If you see a fire, call 911 with information about its location. Share the word so we all know who to call! In 2020 there were more than 110 recorded fires on Babeldaob (~1% of the island), so vigilance is key. Fires damage biodiversity and lead to erosion. Reach out to the folks you may know - farmers, hunters, drivers, workers - who might not remember that fires damage drinking water, fishing grounds, and forests. Encourage people and organizations not to burn slash piles, which can be turned to mulch or compost (BOA can help). Best Practices: prevention and recovery and dealing with grasses (post-fire).
2) What's coming up? Feb 10: Spend at least 80% of your Q4 budget. Feb 19. Spend 100% of your Q4 budget. The sooner you spend your Q4 funds, the sooner we can request Q1 of 2021.
3) Who's doing what? GEF6 met with the Ngarchelong SPT to map missing features for their land use plan. We reviewed existing maps, chatted about additional sites and features, and then drove around to confirm or map tourism sites and determine appropriate borders, GPS'd a water tank that was not on any map, and identified a new farm. We also viewed the location of their 2021 project site(s) to identify best practices and start Action Planning. Your local expertise is essential! Set up your State's field day with Dolmii.
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Links:Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngarchelong Field Mapping DayJanuary 18, 2021: Biosecurity Act & regs, Feb taro workshop, EQPB-Ngatpang, BOT pandemic guidelines, CRB maps, Ngchesar before-after
Happy Inauguration Day!
1) What's being mainstreamed? RPPL 9-58, the Biosecurity Act of 2014, protects national borders and provides internal control for pests and diseases affecting animals & plants in order to avoid adverse effects on economy and health. Border controls include inspections, permits, Risk Analyses, and other preventive and reactive measures. Within the country, the Act allows for a Minister of MNRET to identify areas for inspection, declare "infested biosecurity controlled areas" or "biosecurity emergency areas", declare "pest-free biosecurity controlled areas where the incursions of a pest or disease should be prevented", and more. Regulations and Biosecurity Registers (e.g. Black & White List) implement many parts of the law.Â
2) What's coming up? MNRET will be reviewing a draft of the Biosecurity Regulations on Tuesday afternoon! A broader stakeholder meeting will be held in a few weeks. ~A joint SGP-GEF6 Workshop on Best Practices for a taro projects is scheduled for February 23.
3) Who's doing what? Info from Q4 reports: EQPB and Ngatpang signed a MOU to work together towards “improved and enhanced collaboration to protect the environment and natural resources.” ~ BOT produced Pandemic Safety Certification Guidelines to help businesses implement the National Pandemic Safety Regulations for Tourism. ~ Using BOA&PCC-CRE data, PALARIS produced maps of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB) and Fruit Flies in Koror and Babeldaob.
Photos: Ngchesar's Mlonguis restoration site at the start of the project (August) and after planting in December.Â
January 11, 2021: $Value of high-end tourism; Reports; Aquaculture and EA/EIS on website
1) What's being mainstreamed? This interesting analysis provides rationale for why high-end tourism is valuable to Palau: "Per person, high-end tourists are worth on average $3,180 to the private sector compared to $755 per mass tourist visit, in gross expenditure per trip. A higher percentage of this spending also stays in Palau’s economy. As a result, despite being fewer in number under the two scenarios considered (approximately 47,500 vs. 118,000), high-end tourism would generate over 50% more spending in total, approximately US $151 million per annum, compared to US $89 million by the mass market sector...Accounting for leakage, high-end tourists contribute in total six times more to Palau’s private sector economy than low-end package tourists." The authors also explain how higher spending by fewer high-end tourists makes up for lower Green Fees. Here, "production" comes from "protection." We'll need to think about these things as we work collectively on State Master Plans and State Sustainable Tourism.
2) What's coming up? If you have not yet sent in your narrative or financial report, send them immediately!!!
3) Who's doing what? A wealth of aquaculture information is on one of the new sector webpages on the GEF6 site: https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/gef6-key-sectors/aquaculture. The overview presentation on revised EA/EIS Regulations (from December 2020) is on the Land Use Planning and Housing page.
January 4, 2021: Biodiversity; Financials due on 6th, narrative 8th; Fisheries Partners; Website organization
Here's to an excellent 2021! (Your narrative and financial reports are due this week too!!!)
1) What's being mainstreamed? GEF6 Projects in 2021 will implement best practices to manage biodiversity: protecting or sustainably using priority species, mainstreaming threatened and endangered species in Master Plans, and creating "Invasive Free Zones" that use native trees and avoid invasive plants. Collectively we will all need to play catch up to meet targets in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan: in 2019's report to the CBD 4 out of 7 Implementation Measures were "partially effective" and 4 out of 7 Targets were seeing "progress but at an insufficient rate."Â
2) What's coming up? Please turn in Financial Reports (signed expense reports) by Jan 6, showing how any remaining amount from Q2-3 was spent. Narrative Reports are due Jan 8.
3) Who's doing what? Read about activities and priorities of Fisheries partners in coastal & offshore fisheries and aquaculture (16 organizations throughout Palau), as reported during a December 2 Partnership Coordination Meeting organized by BMR & TNC. Also see new organization on the GEF6 website, by Key Sector. The page on Land Use Planning & Housing has the final adopted version of the Subdivision Site Selection Criteria.
Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngchesar Mlonguis photos
December 28, 2020: Title 31 and master plan requirements, Q4 ending, Ideas for GEF6 website, Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!!!
1) What's being mainstreamed? Amendments to Title 31 (aka the Land Planning Act) passed in the OEK House and have been transmitted to the Senate. Once passed, "Each state shall promulgate their state master plan prior to the close of the next fiscal year." State master plans will need to prioritize CIP projects, include Land Use Maps and Zones, and account for social, economic, environmental**, and cultural considerations. Title 31 underlies much of the work of the Babeldaob JCB and the State Planning Teams. Read the House version of Amendments to Title 31, read a shorter summary of elements required by the House version of Title 31, see a draft Master Plan Template that MNRET EPCU is developing to guide master planning, and review a PPT that outlines it all! Comments welcome.
** MNRET EPCU advocated for the inclusion of the word "environmental" here! We are glad to see it was added to the House version that passed!
2) What's coming up? Hard to believe, but Q4 ends on the 31st and quarterly narrative reports are due the first full week of January. We continue to check in with Finance daily about the checks.
3) Who's doing what? EPCU is playing catch up. Your ideas on how we can reorganize and make the GEF6 website (especially Best Practices) more useful would be welcome!
December 21, 2020: Aquaculture guidance manual, Project Board meeting, 2021 projects updated, TAG minutes
1) What's being mainstreamed? The TNC Micronesia Program, in partnership with BMR, EQPB, and PCC, has developed a draft "Guidance Manual for Aquaculture Spatial Planning and Management in Palau" to guide placement of sustainable, lower-risk finfish and clam farms. Comments and recommendations to strengthen the analysis in the document are welcome. Note that the analysis for Koror's Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (RISL) was done twice: once blocking out the World Heritage Site in the overall finfish and clam suitability maps and once blocking out only the no-take Conservation Areas. This is a draft. Once finalized, these ecosystem-based criteria and spatial maps will be mainstreamed into the Babeldaob JCB's Landscape-Seascape Plan and then used to inform individual State Master Plans.
2) What's coming up? The GEF6 Project Board meets tomorrow. ~Ngchesar plans a site visit to its restoration site (Mlonguis) on December 30.
3) Who's doing what? ~See an updated sneak peak of 2021 projects for State Partners. ~Meeting minutes from the Nov 10 Technical Advisory Group on subdivision site criteria are online.
December 14, 2020: Fire prevention; Sister Sanctuaries; Cheled Fishery Forum; SGP Templates online
1) What's being mainstreamed? Dry Season = Burn Season, and that means it's time to lak molesb, report a sesb. Uncontrolled fires on Babeldaob kill biodiversity and forests, degrade drinking water and downstream fishing grounds, waste topsoil, and are safety hazards. If you see a fire between January to April, chances are it is not permitted. Call 911. This will trigger a coordinated set of responses from MOJ, State PAN Officers, and other partners. Start prevention now by encouraging your communities to report fires.
2) What's coming up? "A Tale of Two Sanctuaries" about sister marine sanctuaries in Palau and American Samoa, is on Wed at 11 am. Register to access the webinar. ~Cheled Fishery Forum is on Thurs (12/17) at Ngerulmud from 9am-2:30. RSVP: 775-4036. ~GEF6 Project Board meeting is on Dec. 22.
3) Who's doing what? The Palau Small Grants Programme (SGP) templates are online! Download the Concept Paper and Full Proposal Application, plus find much more guidance on eligibility. Also new from the UH East-West Center and USAID: Small Grants Guide to help Pacific communities fund climate projects.Â
Links:Photos (Flickr) NEW: Ngarchelong Erosion Control Project, Babeldaob JCB in Ngatpang, 4th OB SEA JCB in Peleliu, Ngarchelong SGP meeting, EQPB EA/EIS workshop, Joint JCB Meeting (See also Facebook for more pictures from partners).Previous #MainstreamingMondays#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau)GEF6 website (sites.google.com/view/gef6palau).December 7, 2020: New bird abundance report; Q4 funds; Joint JCB on Wed; Data Dashboard on Fri; Sneak peak at State projects; KSG leadership update
1) What's being mainstreamed? BNM released a new report last week: "Abundance of Birds in Palau based on Surveys in 2005." The report found that "Most of the changes in species abundance that occurred from 1991 to 2005 were related to development and changes in habitat." Feedback on this report is welcome as BNM prepares to conduct a follow-up survey in 2021.
2) What's coming up? ~Q4 funds are in and the disbursement requests have been sent to finance!! ~Babeldaob and Oreor-Beliliou SEA JCBs meet tomorrow for the first time to network and celebrate their collaborations. Title 31 will eventually mandate a single Palau Regional Planning Commission. ~Learn about a Data Dashboard (for data access and visualization) at PICRC on Friday @ 8:30 am.
3) Who's doing what? ~Get a sneak peak at the types of 2021 projects our State Partners are planning. ~Koror State Leadership were updated on the RISL Management Plan update and the progress of the OB SEA JCB. They agreed to review the provisionally approved Vision and Core Values line-by-line. ~See GEF6's corrections sent to Island Times.
November 30, 2020: Tourism regulations; Fish, birds, and EAs; Aimeliik stream restoration
1) What's being mainstreamed? In line with Palau's Responsible Tourism Policy Framework, a package of Sustainable Tourism regulations are now in effect, including new Pandemic Safety Regulations signed in November 2020 plus Sunscreen, Tour Operator, and BOAT Regulations. Tour Operators must obtain a License from BOT; must have at least one Certified Tour Guide on every tour; feeding of marine life is prohibited; environmental briefings are required before tours begin; specific actions that harm reefs or marine habitats are prohibited; ATV tours must inform BOT of their routes; Tour Operators are prohibited from using disposable plastic or polystyrene (e.g. styrofoam) water bottles, cups, utensils, and straws, any utensils wrapped in plastic, any type of Plastic Wrap, or disposable plastic or polystyrene food containers; cigarette butts must be collected and disposed of properly; recycling is mandatory; and every Tour Operator is "required to be involved with the local community."
2) What's coming up? A BMR/TNC Fisheries partnership coordination meeting is on Wednesday. ~Training Workshops on the updated EA/EIS Regulations are on Wednesday (for State Governments) and Thursday (Preparers and Contractors). ~BNM holds its monthly birdwatching event at Long Island Conservation Park on Saturday at 6am. ~The Joint JCB Meeting is on Wednesday, December 9.
3) Who's doing what? ~Aimeliik continues its stream restoration work on Saturday, Dec. 5.
November 23, 2020: SGP webpage, Reduce plastics, EA/EIS workshop, Online updates
Check out the new partner page for the Palau Small Grants Programme (SGP) on the GEF6 website! View a SGP presentation, read about what Palau SGP funds, and learn from successful proposals. Templates are coming soon. https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau --> Partners --> SGP.
1) What's being mainstreamed? You can mainstream environmental protection into your day! This Thanksgiving, throw a metal fork into your tet. Use chopsticks. Assume leftovers and bring a container. Bring a refillable bottle or choose cans. Say "no thanks" to anything in styrofoam. The 2017 Plastic Bag Reduction Act was not just about replacing plastic bags with compostable ones, but rather "total freedom from plastic consumption and a vital measure to protect 'Pristine Paradise. Palau'....full optimism that residents... will adopt sustainable practices and avoid the use of plastics in order to preserve our environment."
2) What's coming up? Enforcement Partners meet on Monday Nov 30 @ 10 am at BMR2. ~Call EQPB at 488-3600 to reserve your spot in a Training Workshop on the updated EA/EIS Regulations. Wed Dec 2 is for State Governments and Thurs Dec 3 is for Preparers and Contractors. ~The Joint JCB Meeting is on Dec 9. ~BMR/TNC Fisheries Partners meeting is on Dec. 2.
3) Who's doing what? ~The GEF6 website has been updated: Babeldaob JCB: 5th meeting minutes, Feedback from Technical Group; Oreor-Beliliou SEA JCB: 3rd meeting minutes; 4th meeting agenda; Best Practices: Network For Fire Prevention workshop (Nov 16-17) materials (scroll down).
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 16, 2020: Tourism policies, Wildfire workshop, OB SEA JCB, AWPs, Subdivision criteria, Funding guidance
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau's Responsible Tourism Policy Framework sets policies for tourism development that contributes to "Pristine Paradise. Palau". Tourism developments must provide economic, social, and environmental benefits to all of Palau’s states, be coordinated with the environment, labor, agriculture, and fisheries sectors, avoid damage to Palau’s biodiversity and ecosystems, work to eliminate unsustainable consumption, minimize pollution and waste, and pursue niche tourism markets which support value growth over volume growth.
2) What's coming up? ~The Wildfire Prevention Workshop continues on Tuesday at the Capital. ~The Oreor-Beliliou SEA JCB meets Wednesday in Peleliu. ~Your 2021 AWPs are due. Schedule your appointment here. ~Enforcement Partners meet November 30. ~The first of several partners coordination meetings to address gaps in fisheries management is on December 2.Â
3) Who's doing what? ~After receiving feedback from technical partners and the National Housing Commission, the Babeldaob JCB - a partnership of all 10 States plus MNRET - adopted revised criteria for housing subdivision site selection. This is the first step to setting housing zones on a land use map, a specific output of the GEF6 project. GEF6 STATES: Read through these guidelines and have a State discussion with your leadership about what you want to fund: "Funding Guidance and Requirements for 2021 State Funds."
November 9, 2020: 2021 funding guidance for AWPs, Housing criteria, SGP
1) What's being mainstreamed? State Planning Teams preparing their Annual Work Plans (AWPs) for 2021 should follow the "Funding Guidance and Requirements for 2021 State Funds" for 7 States on Babeldaob + Peleliu. Meeting these requirements will result in projects that mainstream National laws and policies. Note: guidance and requirements for Agency Partners varies, and guidance for Airai, Ngatpang, and Melekeok is coming.Â
2) What's coming up? ~Tuesday is a technical partners meeting to review proposed housing subdivision criteria and assumptions (on land). The Babeldaob JCB meets on Wednesday to further review and then use the housing criteria to create zones. ~MNRET will be meeting with all states to develop 2021 AWPs. Schedule your appointment here.
3) Who's doing what? ~MNRET GEF6 and the GEF SGP have proposed a series of joint quarterly workshops for next year: 1) Taro Symposium to share and network among SGP's many taro projects, 2) Food Security, 3) Green landscaping, and 4) Local product development. These are priorities in the SGP OP7 Strategy. GEF6 will work with States to help civil society partners apply for SGP.
November 2, 2020: PIRCA Climate Report, Housing, Ngulitel, Development projects on Babeldaob
Best wishes to all the candidates, and thank you to all the volunteers and poll watchers who are keeping democracy alive! May there be peace...
1) What's being mainstreamed? A new report for Palau was released last week: Climate Change in Palau: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors, by the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) consortium. Full of fascinating graphs and amazing pictures, the Report has climate projections and expected impacts by sector. It provides guidance for what to expect if you are involved in farming, fisheries, public health, disaster management, tourism, and others. Per the Palau Climate Change Policy, climate resiliency is a key part of GEF6's governance approach (this page will be updated).
2) What's coming up? ~ A Technical Group meets next Tuesday to review proposed housing criteria and assumptions. ~ Babeldaob JCB meets next Wednesday to set housing zones.
3) Who's doing what? ~Our partners in Ngaraard planted an agro-forest at Ngulitel! ~Minutes from the September Babeldaob JCB meeting are online, and they include a excellent snapshot of upcoming development projects on Babeldaob. ~Last week the Babeldaob JCB began tackling housing. At least 440 lots are already planned, and nearly 1,200 people are on waiting lists.
October 26, 2020: SFM Policy, Subdivisions, PNMS+Fish, BNM+Birds, and Q3 Report
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau's draft 2018 Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Policy (scroll down to Biodiversity or Economy) defines forest as land over 0.5 ha, with 10+% tree canopy cover, and (local to Palau) includes agro-forestry. Principles and policies include: 1) Owners have the right to use, manage and develop these resources but not cause damage to other environments or damage to downstream ecosystems. 2) Forests are important to environmental, social and economic wellbeing and should be protected against the harmful effects of pollution, fires, invasive species and unsustainable development. 3) A “No Net Loss” Policy for development that impacts forests. As the Babeldaob JCB identifies housing subdivision sites, it will incorporate this policy into suitability criteria.
2) What's coming up? Babeldaob JCB meeting is Wednesday in Aimeliik (Online Housing & Ag form). Have feelings about subdivision suitability criteria? Email with comments. ~Celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the PNMS on Wednesday, 4-9 pm @ Gym. ~Celebrate the launch of the 10th State of Palau's Birds Report on Wednesday, 6 pm @ BNM. ~The Q4 request is going out tomorrow, so funds should be here soon.
3) Who's doing what? The Quarter 3 Narrative Report is now online, with lots of good information. For instance, NISC is collecting and cataloguing State biosecurity laws - Kayangel has a strict biosecurity law that can be a model. The Q3 Report includes news from all Partner States.
October 19, 2020: Massive update of website, Housing worksheet, 100s photos on Flickr, Happy UN Day and OBF!
The GEF6 website has been updated:
Restoration Action Plans for 7 Babeldaob States, draft review of State Laws (working document), Enforcement Partners review (working document), Preliminary KAP (working doc) (Digital Library - Content)
Agendas and approved Minutes from Babeldaob JCB, OB SEA JCB, and Peleliu SPT meetings (Digital Library - Process)
More IAS docs: Old documents from the Kayangel Rodent Eradication and Quarantine Importation Permit applications (Best Practices)
All approved documents and planning documents from the Babeldaob JCB and the [renamed] Oreor-Beliliou SEA JCB
Press about GEF6 and the 3rd NES
GEF6 News: New name for Peleliu & Koror's JCB and the MNRET September newsletter
Updates are announced on Twitter - go back to see what you missed.
1) What's being mainstreamed? #TransparencyInGovernment - The 4th outcome of the GEF6 project is about maintaining knowledge and ensuring decisions are sound, fair, and ethical. The website is for public access.
2) What's coming up? Happy UN Day! We're looking forward to seeing our partners in Ngeremlengui for OBF! ~Babeldaob JCB meeting is next week (Oct 28). The "Housing and Agriculture Worksheet" can be downloaded (look under 4th meeting) or completed online using this form.
3) Who's doing what? There are hundreds of new pictures on the Flickr site.
October 12, 2020: EA/EIS Regulations, JCB meeting, AWPs, Gender report
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau EQPB adopted revised Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement (EA/EIS) Regulations in August 2020. Find them on the GEF6 National Policies page under Biodiversity and Land Use laws. The regulations include a definition of biodiversity. Substantial degradation or loss of biodiversity (species, genetic, or ecosystem) or substantial impacts on rare, threatened, or endangered species or their habitats now trigger "Significance Criteria." Categorical exclusions now no longer apply if there is a loss of or reduction in population of any rare, endangered, or protected species. EAs must note presence of rare, endangered, or protected species; and EISs must include population estimates and spatial ranges for rare, endangered, or protected species.
2) What's coming up? The Southern Lagoon JCB meets on Wednesday. ~GEF6 will start its individual Partner meetings next week to set next year's AWPs.
3) Who's doing what?~ In case you missed it: Restoration Action Plans for partner States on Babeldaob ~Interim MCCA BADG Report: "Gender & Natural Resources Assessment 2020: Preliminary Results"
October 5, 2020: 2nd NatCom; Prep for SL JCB; State Plans online; Preliminary Gender and KAP reports
1) What's being mainstreamed? The 2nd National Communication to the UNFCCC (2nd NatCom; SNC) is online. "High priority" issues in 2013 were 1) Establishing a mangrove monitoring system and 2) Protecting MPAs with high coral cover and low disease prevalence. "Priority" recommendations included expanding roof water collection and building "environmentally sound water usage systems (irrigation) for farms." The Climate Change Office is currently preparing the 3rd NatCom. One of the GEF6 Project Safeguards is: "Due to their ability to buffer impacts from Climate Change, GEF6-funded projects will maintain existing mangrove cover."
2) What's coming up? The 3rd NES Planning Team presented to Rubekul Belau on Tuesday, check Facebook for pictures. ~The EPCU is working with the Peleliu State Planning Team and JCB Members in Peleliu this week Wednesday. ~A Southern Lagoon JCB meeting is next week, Oct 14.
3) Who's doing what? (UPDATED PAGE!) ~All of the Restoration Action Plans for partner States on Babeldaob are online. ~MNRET celebrated Independence Day with coastal cleanups with State Partners. ~See the Interim Report: "Gender & Natural Resources Assessment 2020: Preliminary Results" from our GEF6 Partner MCCA BADG (reported prepared in partnership with Ebiil Society). ~Hot off the presses - Preliminary results of the GEF6 Kap Survey (Information sources and IAS results).
September 28, 2020: Babeldaob Vision, Reports due, Peleliu-Koror Visioning, Partnerships growing, NES livestream
Congratulations to the 10 Babeldaob States and their representatives on the Babeldaob Joint Coordination Body (JCB) for adopting an island-wide Vision and Core Values for Development on Babeldaob, Palau!
1) What's being mainstreamed? The "Vision and Core Values for Development on Babeldoab, Palau" adopted by the Babeldaob JCB on September 23rd will be mainstreamed into Landscape/Seascape Plans, land use plans, and other action plans. They incorporate biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, equitable benefits, respect for culture, and traditional values. Get a sneak peek here; official release coming.Â
2) What's coming up? Turn in your Narrative report, Financial report, and final Action Plan or other Q3 deliverables - find templates in the GEF6 Digital Library. ~MNRET Coastal Cleanup on Friday, Oct 2. ~The NES Planning Team presents to Rubekul Belau on Tuesday, Oct 6.
3) Who's doing what? Peleliu and Koror States, through their Joint Coordination Body (JCB), started developing a joint Vision for the Southern Lagoon. ~The GEF6 Project is pleased to announce that MNRET together with PALARIS have secured a full-time dedicated GIS Expert to assist with landscape/seascape planning (Welcome Ophelia!). We're also happy that the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) will be a partner on a GEF6 Technical Advisory Group! ~The NES Planning Team and Palau Conservation Consortium presented the 3rd NES Policy Brief to General Election Candidates last week, and we livestreamed the entire event! (Translated) Quote: "If I win the election, the first bills I will do will involve Economic, Food, and Energy Securities and I will work with this Consortium to get them done." We were also very happy to hear a Candidate discussing the collaboration between the 10 Babeldaob States and MNRET - a reference to the Babeldaob JCB!!! (Find it on the livestream at 1:03).
Happy Independence Day!!
September 21, 2020: Endangered Species, Reports due, Bab JCB, Candidate Briefing
1) What's being mainstreamed? At the end of the day, GEF6 is about biodiversity. Following GEF6 Safeguards ensures that project actions do not contribute to loss of biodiversity. Adopted policy is:Â GEF6 projects are to avoid removing, reducing the populations of, or negatively impacting any species on the Palau Endangered and Threatened Species List (adopted or proposed). Learn about Palau's Endangered and Threatened marine and terrestrial species here.
2) What's coming up? Narrative and Financial Reports due Sept 25. No excuses! (We're here to help) ~Babeldaob JCB meets on Wednesday. ~Encourage your Candidate to come to the Environment Symposium's Policy Briefing on Thursday. #dolemolem
3) Who's doing what? Remove Invasive Species with Peleliu this week. ~It's worth repeating: Read the notes from the Agency Partner and State Partner meetings and learn from each other.
September 14, 2020: Regulation Map, NES Policy Brief, Reports due soon, Partner meetings, PIR
1) What's being mainstreamed? A "Regulation Map" based on adopted laws and regulations will show spatial restrictions such as: 1) 60-footx2 buffer zone around perennial streams, 2) locations of Class AA, A, B, BB waters, 3) a 300-foot buffer from wastewater leaching fields around groundwater wells, 4) locations of public water systems and Protected Areas and Historical/Cultural sites, and 5) setback restrictions (where possible). ~Download a Policy Brief to find recommendations from the 3rd National Environment Symposium. And buy local! #dolemolem
2) What's coming up? Spend that money! Narrative and Financial Reports due Sept 25. ~Enforcement Partners are meeting at 11 am tomorrow. ~Southern Lagoon JCB meets on Friday in Peleliu. ~Support the NES Team at Mechesil Belau on Wednesday at 9 am.
3) Who's doing what? All Agency and State Partners met in the last 2 weeks. There is a lot going on! Read the notes from the meeting and learn from each other. ~Palau GEF6 recently completed its first PIR and got a pretty good "Moderately Satisfactory" rating. THANK YOU PARTNERS!!!
August 31, 2020: IAS resources and BPs, Spend and Report, Partner meetings, Aimeliik, NES Survey and Presentations
1) What's being mainstreamed? Many beautiful plants are invasive. Allamanda, with its big yellow flowers, outcompetes native understory plant communities. The small tree, Telengtungd, forms dense thickets and crowds out native trees. 1st, Avoid and Prevent spreading these species. 2nd, Take care and follow Best Practices when removing invasive plants. Many regrow from cuttings, underground roots, fallen trees, or burned seeds. The GEF6 website has a robust set of resources to identify and guide management of IAS - many with pictures and one in Palauan! ~Just released: New tool helps the Republic of Palau prioritize areas for restoration.
2) What's coming up? Narrative and Financial Reports for all partners are due September 25 - spend at least 80% of funds. ~The Agency Partner meeting is Sept 3 @ 8 am. Think about a $$ target for 2021. ~State Partner meeting is Sept 8 @ 10 am. ~Peleliu SPT meets Friday. ~The GEF6 Project Board meets Sept 10 to begin planning for 2021.
3) Who's doing what? ~Aimeliikers continued cleaning out their stream this past weekend - it's hard, strenuous work and they are running their project as a series of volunteer events. ~Share your Plus/Delta Thoughts on the 3rd National Environment Symposium through this fun little online survey!! ~The Energy Sphere and MNRET Info Mngt NES presentations are up - check them out (The econ one now includes points from the discussion, too)!Â
#dolemolem #ValueTheirVoiceBelau #WalkTheTalkPalau #ImplementNowResilientBelau #gef6palauHappy Labor Day next week!
August 24, 2020: NES materials, GEF6 quarter ending, State Restorations
1) What's being mainstreamed? "Social entrepreneurism is doing business in a way that solves social, environmental, or cultural issues. We should be making money not just for economic growth but with the well-being of people and the environment in mind" (from Miel's NES Keynote). NES materials here (Keynote & Econ Sphere are up). #dolemolem #ValueTheirVoiceBelau #WalkTheTalkPalau #ImplementNowResilientBelau #gef6palau
2) What's coming up? The end of the quarter is coming quickly! For many government agencies, RQs for GEF6 funds are due Sept 4. ~Reports for all partners are due September 25. ~Ngaraard SPT is meeting tomorrow (Aug 25) to finalize its Action Plan. ~Visit with legend Francis Toribiong at BNM on Thursdays at 4pm. ~Agency Partners will meet Sept 3 to coordinate end-of-quarter spending and activities and set a 2021 funding estimate.
3) Who's doing what? ~Ngchesar State followed Best Practices while planting Mlonguis last week. See video and photos. ~Ngiwal did their stream restoration back in June and July. ~Aimeliik hauled out debris and dirt to get their waterway flowing again. ~Read GEF6's comments on the Amended EA and EIS regulations. ~Check out the reorganized GEF6 Digital Library.
August 17, 2020: GEF6 and Inform at the Symposium
See you at the National Environment Symposium TOMORROW!!!
Registration starts at 8 am, Program starts at 8:45 am.
The FULL PROGRAM is online: https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/national-environment-symposium.
Building resiliency through Information Management: Learn how MNRET is using accessible online tools to share information and collaborate during the Lunch & Learn presentation at 1:15 pm. Presented by the Inform Project and the GEF6 Project.
First 175 people to register will receive a gift bag with limited-edition copies of the 2019 State of the Environment Report AND Proceedings of the 2018 2nd National Environment Symposium!
LISTEN on PWFM Radio, WATCH on Channel 24, or LIVESTREAM on Facebook @pwfmstaff
August 10, 2020: Symposium, Enforcement, Watch Party, SL JCB, 80% on track?
The 3rd National Environment Symposium is on Tuesday, Aug 18
"New Opportunities for a Resilient Palau"
All are welcome! Economic, Food & Energy Security in a Covid-19 world.
More on the NES here.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Sustainable and culturally-appropriate use of Palau's environment remains essential to local livelihoods in a Covid-19 world. The 3rd National Environment Symposium will highlight ways to mainstream sustainable use of natural, cultural, and social heritage into Palau's economy, food production, and energy. Stay updated on the NES here.
2) What's coming up? Did we mention that the 3rd NES is next week? ~ Enforcement Partners are starting their review of legal, assessment, permitting, surveillance, and enforcement processes this week. ~Join PICRC for a Watch Party for the Pacific Unite Virtual Concert on Saturday (Aug 15) starting at 4 pm!
3) Who's doing what? The Southern Lagoon JCB convened for the first time last week! Representatives from Peleliu and Koror agreed to collaborate to create a Zoning Map, Priority Action Sites, and Coordination plans for activities. ~Ngchesar started its restoration project. ~GEF6 and PALARIS have cemented a partnership to start land/marine use mapping through the JCBs. ~We are mid-way through the "quarter". How are you doing with your GEF6 activities and expenses? Are you on track to spend 80-100% by September 25?
August 3, 2020: No more lost Policies, Open comment period, Symposium, Babeldaob Visioning
1) What's being mainstreamed? MNRET GEF6 is compiling a list of all National Policies and Plans to be mainstreamed; also for Knowledge Management (KM). Access them here. Please email with info on missing or new laws, policies, and plans.
2) What's coming up? Ngchesar is planting trees at Mlonguis tomorrow morning at 9 am. ~The Southern Lagoon JCB will have its first meeting on August 5. ~ The public comment period for EQPB's updated EA & EIS regulations is open until August 8. ~The National Environment Symposium is on August 18. More on the NES here.
3) Who's doing what? All 10 States in the Babeldaob JCB successfully negotiated an actionable Development Vision and Core Values last week! The Vision sets a clear guide for planning and the Core Values uphold biodiversity, environmental, social, cultural, and financial safeguards. As they become public, documents will be posted on the Babeldaob JCB page of the GEF6 Project website. ~We are tracking our Lessons Learned.
July 27, 2020: Responsible Tourism, Super busy states, Tuna, Narrative report
1) What's being mainstreamed? The primary focus of Palau's Responsible Tourism Policy Framework is to shift Palau's tourism profile from a low-end, mass-market model to a niche, high-value model that delivers a Pristine Paradise Palau experience. This needs a visitor-to-resident ratio that reflects sustainable carrying capacities for environmental, cultural, and community impacts. Sustainable Tourism considers both the market demands and expectations of visitors and the active engagement of communities and their needs, constraints, and desired benefits. Â
2) What's coming up? Ngchesar's tree planting begins this week! ~Koror begins reviewing Objectives and Outcomes for the RISL Management Plan on Tuesday. ~The Babeldaob JCB meets on Wednesday to agree on a joint Vision and sector goals for the island. The Southern Lagoon JCB (Koror and Peleliu) will have its first meeting on August 5. ~Learn about Tuna, FADs, Pelagic fish, and the PNMS at a Research Talk at PICRC on Tuesday at 3:30. ~Ngardmau and Ngaraard are finalizing their Restoration Action Plans this week.
3) Who's doing what? The Partners and Subprojects page of the GEF6 Website has been updated with more detail about what each State is doing. The 2nd Quarter 2020 GEF6 Narrative Report is on the GEF6 Digital Library. Follow #gef6palau on Facebook or Instagram to see pictures from Ngeremlengui's restoration activity on Saturday.
July 21, 2020: Invasive ornamentals, State activities, Island goals, EA&EIS Regs
1) What's being mainstreamed? Many ornamentals are invasive and outcompete native plants. Avoid and remove: Allamanda (with big yellow flowers), Dilngau vines, large Bamboo orchids, Wedelia/Singapore daisies, Bung el Etiu vines with flowers, Water hyacinths, Kleuang flower clusters, and Ngesngesil (Siam weed). See pictures of these invasive species on our Best Practices page under Biosecurity/Invasives (field guide).
2) What's coming up? Several states are done with Action Planning and are moving on to action on the ground - Ngeremlengui will be planting this weekend. Community participation is essential so reach out to your State Planning Team. ~The Babeldaob JCB will be meeting next week to agree on a Vision and High-level goals (last opportunity to provide input here). ~The Southern Lagoon JCB has its first meeting set for August 5! ~The National Environment Symposium is on August 17.
3) Who's doing what? The public comment period for EQPB's updated EA & EIS regulations is open until August 8. ~The Bureau of Aging, Disability, and Gender (BADG) will soon begin work on social research and gender mapping in relation to landscape planning. ~The NISCO is working with the MOE on integrating IAS educational content into the science curriculum via daily integration.
July 13, 2020: Food Security, Symposium, Chemicals & Waste, KPT, Vision and Goals, Action Plans
1) What's being mainstreamed? Farming on Fridays? Find lots of Best Practices on our website, including a "How to Grow..." series and Species to Avoid. Principles in Palau's "Food Security" Policy include 1) Traditional wisdom and approaches are often more effective and less costly than introduced contemporary approaches, and 2) When faced with conflicting information, the precautionary principle should be applied, using an adaptive management approach.
2) What's coming up? Share your expertise and ideas at the National Environment Symposium via a sphere: Food Security (meets 7/17 at 9 am), Energy (7/14 at 10 am), or Economy (7/15 at 1:30); or overall planning (7/14 at 1:30). ~ An Inception Workshop for a project to strengthen Chemicals & Waste Management (organized by EQPB) is on Wednesday (all day). ~ Koror's Planning Team meets on Wednesday (11 am).Â
3) Who's doing what? The Babeldaob JCB began crafting a Vision and Goals for the island. Although States have diverse needs and priorities (updated State Visions), there are common areas: healthy communities, maintaining high quality, and being prepared. Meeting slides combined with worksheets outline the process, and include training content on "Online Collaboration" and "Creating a Master Plan." ~ 6 out of 7 Partner States on Babeldaob have submitted draft Restoration Action Plans!!! And, checks were delivered!
July 6, 2020: Mahogany & Hibiscus, Babeldaob JCB on Wed, Symposium, Budget news, Law review, Scores are up!
1) What's being mainstreamed? GEF6 Biodiversity Safeguards continue to evolve and are increasingly site-and situation-specific. E.g., the Hibiscus in Palau is an aggressive native species (or possible early Micronesian introduction). For reforestation, GEF6 advises against using it, especially if it's going to be planted and left alone. IF Hibiscus is going to be used for traditional uses or harvested regularly (afforestation), then it can be planted. NISC is an excellent resource. Another safeguard update: Mahogany can be planted on public lands, but the action plan needs to say that when the trees are eventually harvested, they will provide community benefits (not individual benefits).
2) What's coming up? The Babeldaob JCB meets on Wednesday, July 8, to identify a common Vision. Share your ideas for a Vision here. Also States are finalizing their Restoration Action Plans (Aimeliik and Ngarchelong meet this week). Also The 3rd National Environment Symposium is on August 18, with four "spheres": Food & Water security, Energy security, Economic security, and Community & Cultural Resilience. Messages are being crafted in advance - email to contribute. Also The amount of direct State GEF6 funding for 2021 has been set.
3) Who's doing what? A review of some State's environmental laws - especially as it pertains to the GEF6 priority areas (ag, aqua, fish etc.) - has started. The AG Office, MNRET, and PCS are involved. Also MNRET is collecting capacity and gender data for the Project Implementation Report (PIR). Since the baseline in 2017, capacity scores and gender mainstreaming indicators have increased! Thank you for participating in those pesky surveys!
Happy Constitution Day!
June 29, 2020: OK, it's hard to mainstream, PAs, Indicators, NES, Koror, Permits, Narrative Reports
Happy Anniversary to our GEF6 partner, Koror State! On this day 8 years ago the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Want photos? View (and use!) photos from the GEF6 project. Please credit: "Copyright Palau MNRET, GEF6".
1) What's being mainstreamed? As we receive draft Restoration Action Plans back from our State partners, it's clear how hard it is to mainstream anything! What seems simple (use that template, follow this policy, ensure these safeguards) doesn't always make sense in the field or is harder to use than we think. But, it also helps identify what is really important (for instance, plants with "aggressive" tendencies). Also GEF6 was thrilled to learn about two "new-ish" protected areas in Palau: Merir Protected Area in Sonsorol (MPA, 802 hectares) and MVP Forest of Hope in Peleliu (private land conservation easement, terrestrial, 2.8 hectares). Mainstreaming and reporting on the same set of indicators across projects and organizations would also increase efficiency and accuracy!
2) What's coming up? Planning for the 3rd National Environment Symposium (NES) in August is underway (meet 6/30 at 1:30 at PICRC). The NES will examine responses and opportunities arising from the Covid-19 situation. Also Koror State continues with RISL planning this week. Also The EPU will be working with States to complete Narrative Reports and Restoration Action Plans, including mainstreaming policies and safeguards to protect biodiversity and equitable benefits. Not GEF6 but Join BNM and KSG for its monthly bird watching event (July 4th at 6 am at Long Island).
3) Who's doing what? National Enforcement Partners (EQPB, BD, BOA, MNRET, DFWP) started looking at ways to better coordinate enforcement. One of the first agreed steps is to examine and update processes and applications to obtain permits; and to align and fill gaps in standards for EAs/EIS and Pest & Risk Analyses. Also MNRET EPU is compiling narrative reports - we have to turn this in to UNDP no matter what! Send your Narrative Report ASAP!
Links:
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau)
June 22, 2020: Climate projections, stream debris, light in the funding tunnel, first meeting of the Babeldaob JCB
1) What's being mainstreamed? GEF6 continues to expand on and develop planning safeguards, based on existing policies and data. For instance, following the Palau Climate Change Policy of "No Regrets," development plans on the ground need to account for up to 7 inches of potential sea level rise, as much as an 8% increase in rainfall during the wet season, and a possible 23% reduction in reef fish abundance due to climate change. Safeguarding the future means mainstreaming the Climate Change policy and available projections into State Master Plans and land use plans. Also Field visits with NRCS and partners in Ngeremlengui and Aimeliik show promise for placing trees and woody debris into streams to reduce sedimentation and recreate a natural floodplain regime. Stream Restoration plans should mainstream findings that show that clearing a stream (removing wood and dirt from streams) can be detrimental.
2) What's coming up? There is light at the end of the funding tunnel! UNDP has released funds and the work to distribute funds in-country is underway. Not GEF6 but There is a Conservation Consortium meeting tomorrow, Tuesday June 23 from 1-5 pm at PICRC to plan for the next National Environment Symposium. Also Koror's next Planning Team meeting is July 1. Also The first GEF6 Project Implementation Report (PIR) is due on July 17. The PIR assesses progress against cumulative results (aka Outcome indicators), which means MNRET will be collecting data on environmental and social indicators.
3) Who's doing what? The Babeldaob JCB held its first meeting! In this first meeting the Babeldaob JCB reviewed the Bylaws and SOPs and the proposed plan of action, selected Officers, and agreed to future meeting days and times. In the next meeting, the Babeldaob JCB will work on a Joint Vision for Babeldoab. All meeting documents are online.
Links:
#gef6palau on: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau)
June 15, 2020: Social media, Water regs, Reporting workshop, State actions and vision
Like and Follow: Facebook (@GEF-6-PALAU), Instagram (@gef6palau), Twitter (@GEF6_Palau), and LinkedIn (gef6-mnret-palau). Follow and use #gef6palau across all social media to stay updated. Find pictures and updates - including when new items are put on the GEF6 website (sites.google.com/view/gef6palau).
1) What's being mainstreamed? Palau's revised Marine and Freshwater Quality Regulations will be mainstreamed into all plans. For instance, land use plans will include at least a 60-foot vegetated buffer zone for all freshwater lakes, streams, swamp forests and marine Outstanding National Resource Waters. Find the Regulations and the Guidance Manual under National Policies and the June 9 presentation under Best Practices.
2) What's coming up? A Narrative and Financial Reporting Workshop for GEF6 partners is on Thursday, June 18 from 9-12 at Ngerulmud. Scroll down for Templates in the Digital Library. Also The first Babeldaob JCB meeting is on Wednesday, June 17. Per the Bylaws, the meeting agenda is a public document. Find JCB documents in the Digital Library. Also The agenda for the National Enforcement Partners meeting on June 15 is online. Also The Quarter 2 GEF6 Project Board Meeting is on June 23.
3) Who's doing what? KSG's Planning Team will begin its process of reviewing the updated RISL Management Plan on Tuesday. Also Peleliu refined its restoration activities: tree planting to support groundwater recharge at their pump site and removal of kebeas at the dock. These activities will meet social safeguards for public benefits. Also Ngaraard's Action Plan includes planting fruit trees at their restoration/burned site. Also See Vision Statements for States (so far).
Did you take the Project's Knowledge-Attitudes-Practices (KAP) survey? It's anonymous - but we owe you a gift bag! Let us know somehow if you would like one.Â
June 8, 2020: Safeguards, Plant Policy, KAP, Date set for 1st JCB, Southern Lagoon, Enforcement, Ngarchelong
1) What's being mainstreamed? MNRET is proposing biodiversity, biosecurity, social, and financial safeguards for all GEF6-funded activities and subprojects. In addition, MNRET, BOA, NISC, and Biosecurity (BD) are proposing this related and aligned GEF6 Native and Non-native Plant Policy. Examples of proposed safeguards: limits on use of introduced species, protections for endangered species, requirements for access or benefit-sharing if private lands are funded, and requirements for equitable gender representation in groups. Email comments.
2) What's coming up? Please take the Project's Knowledge-Attitudes-Practices (KAP) survey. Also Join Ngeremlengui, NRCS, and MNRET for a field day on Friday, June 12 to learn about Best Practices for stream restoration. Also This week GEF6 will conclude its state-by-state meetings to set up the JCB! Babeldaob JCB Bylaws and SOPs have been revised. The first Babeldaob JCB meeting will be June 17!!! Related There is a lot of activity coming up in the Southern Lagoon: meetings with Koror and Peleliu about the Southern Lagoon JCB, Visioning in Koror (with KSG and PCS), and Action Planning in Peleliu. Also National enforcement partners (EQPB, DFWP, Biosecurity, MNRET) will meet on June 15 to begin the coordination piece of GEF6.
3) Who's doing what? ALL Project Partners are currently revising their budgets to go through the end of August. Narrative Reports are still due June 25. Ngarchelong's State Planning Team Chair introduced their draft Vision at a Town Hall meeting (Shortcut version: Ngarchelong a selbechakl e mesisiich).
May 25, 2020: Same page, Bylaws, KAP, Ngchesar, a Drone
1) What's being mainstreamed? Sometimes, it's being "on the same page." This can be at the National, Ministry, Office, or Project levels. For instance, MNRET is working to mainstream its recommendations on non-native species and "nuisance" native species. Can non-natives be used in GEF6 Forestry projects? Or GEF6 Agriculture projects? What level of control of "pest" native species is acceptable? What terminology should we use for native species that compete with agricultural or economic objectives? Many agro-forest and agriculture species are non-native but important for food security - what's the official GEF6 line? Have opinions on this?
2) What's coming up? Narrative and Financial reports are STILL due on June 25. MNRET is STILL working on the disbursement (we know!). Also, meetings with Governors to review draft Bylaws and SOPs for the JCB are half-way through, with more coming. The first JCB meeting will be in mid-June. Also, we willl be figuring out the native/non-native approach mentioned in #1 above. Want to contribute? Come to Ngerulmud on Friday at 10 am or email. Also, MNRET will soon test a KAP survey on IAS, Biosecurity, and Landscape/Seascape Planning.
3) Who's doing what? Ngchesar State completed a draft of their Restoration Action Plan and sought review. They followed the Action Plan Template - taking pictures of the site during a rainfall, breaking their site into planting plots, listing species and tasks, and setting a budget. Also, Ngaraard set its restoration site as Ngulitel, a burned area at the intersection of the Compact Road spur. PCS helped map the site using a drone. Best Practices being considered include planting with native species already found on the site, mulching existing plants, and outreach on fire prevention. Also, GEF6 is partnering on the KBUDSAP, so that the actions in the Urban Plan can be easily incorporated into the GEF6 Island-wide Landscape plan.
There will be no #MainstreamingMondays message next week (June 1). Happy President's Day!
May 18, 2020: Templates, BMPs for reforestation, Safeguards, Ngaraard
Confused by all the "Plans"? This presentation - although specific to Peleliu - might help break down the different plans and planning teams in GEF6.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Using templates is one way to mainstream. State Planning Teams should be using the Restoration/Rehab Action Plan Template, which includes guiding questions to mainstream biodiversity, gender, social, and climate safeguards. Find the GEF6 Templates here. Also Look under Tree Plantings for some Best Practices for reforesting bare land/red soils on Babeldaob (more coming). Also, When writing Action Plans or carrying out Agency activities, remember to mainstream gender and social safeguards. Can all men and women benefit? Can multiple groups participate? Will the project unfairly hurt one social group over another? Is it inclusive, including of persons with disabilities and individuals here on a work permit?
2) What's coming up? Narrative and Financial reports on due on June 25. MNRET is working on the disbursement. Also, Come observe how a site identification visit is one of the first steps in Action Planning - meet at the Ngaraard State Office on Thursday at 10 am. PCS will be flying a drone! Also, Ngchesar is reviewing its draft Restoration Action Plan tomorrow. Also, Starting this week the MNRET EPU will be meeting with Governors to set up the JCB. The first JCB meetings are targeted for mid-June.
3) Who's doing what? Peleliu State, PCS, and MNRET began action planning! In 2020 the State will do two small projects - one IAS and one reforestation - as well as participate in the JCB. The GEF6 website now has past narrative reports and other "process" documents online. This project is mainstreaming transparency and accountability, and making sure that documents are available publicly is one way to do that.
May 11, 2020: BMPs, Peleliu, Tree Planting, Biosecurity
1) What's being mainstreamed? Best Management Practices (BMPs)! Lots of Best Practices from many sources are on the EPU-GEF6 website, with more posted daily. State Planning Teams should be mainstreaming a few Best Practices into their Action Plans. Every GEF6 partner should keep track of the Best Practices you are using - this is Indicator 17 in the Results Framework. Did you know: leaving wood high up in a stream watershed is a BMP for reducing sedimentation? Also, Fire Prevention is a BMP for restored land.
2) What's coming up? Ngaraard is working on its Restoration Action Plan with PCS and MNRET. PCS and MNRET are meeting in Peleliu with the Governor and Planning Team to get started with Annual Work Planning and the JCB!!! Not GEF6 but you can learn about Restoration BMPs: Ebiil Society Tree Planting in Ngardmau, OSCA Office, Tuesday @9am.
3) Who's doing what? BOA/MNRET is making progress on the Biosecurity Regulations. Also, An invasive species/landscape planning Knowledge-Attitudes-Practice survey is being drafted. Also, Like surveys? Also, Be sure to thank a frontline worker doing hazardous work during this Covid-crisis, including the 3 Biosecurity Officers funded by GEF6. They are clearing 3-4 vessels per week.
Find previous #MainstreamingMondays. This email is only going to Project partners. Please feel free to forward to interested folks.Â
May 4, 2020: Policies, Plans, BMPs online; State Technical planning; Elaboration
1) What's being mainstreamed? Did you know - the draft National Invasive Species plan prioritizes control of 7 species: macaques, fruit fly, imperata grass, mikania, kebeas, Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, and rodents (Koror and Kayangel). As States develop their IAS Action Plans, these should be in them. The GEF6 website has many more National Laws, Policies, and Plans.
2) What's coming up? We are 1 month into the quarter - Are you 33% of the way through your Q2 budget? Please look ahead 2 months. Will you spend at least 80%? Also, all of the Babeldaob State partners are now preparing their technical Rehab/Restoration Action Plans, due June 25.
3) Who's doing what? Replanting/Rehab of bare land: Ngarchelong, Ngaraard, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Aimeliik. Stream restoration: Ngiwal, Ngardmau, Aimeliik. Best Practices will be added here. Also, elaboration of processes, templates, and minimum requirements for Master Plans and Land/Seascape mapping is underway at MNRET (comments welcome).
Happy Senior Citizen's Day!
April 27, 2020: Contact, Templates, JCB, Website
Please replace your GEF6 Point of Contact info sheet.
1) What's being mainstreamed? State Action Plan Templates were developed by PCS and MNRET to facilitate and mainstream: 1) States will choose Best Practices and 2) questions ask about gender and social equity and biodiversity safeguards. Also did you know, Policy directives in the 2015-2024 NBSAP favor traditional agricultural practices using multiple species in one plot over the imported practice of monocultures.
2) What's coming up? Letters went out last week to Governors on Babeldaob, Koror, and Peleliu about the JCB. MNRET will meet with Governors individually to set up the JCB and agree on its terms. Also, the temporary website is UP! https://sites.google.com/view/gef6palau/
3) Who's doing what? Find a copy of the 3rd/4th Quarter Narrative Report to UNDP on the Digital Library page on the GEF6 website. Also, Most States finalized their Annual Work Plans (AWP). Ngchesar and Ngeremlengui went over templates to begin Restoration/Rehabilitation Action Planning. Teams must complete their Action Plans by the end of June, including selection of Best Practices. Technical partners may be asked to provide expertise in the two focal areas so far: 1) Replanting/rehabilitating bare areas, and 2) Restoring streams.
Please use #MainstreamingMondays and #GEF6Palau on your Social Media feeds (GEF6's are coming) so we can all easily search for mainstreaming information - like Best Practices, tools, regulations, etc.
April 20, 2020: MNRET's Environmental Planning Initiative through GEF6
Welcome to the first #MainstreamingMondays email for GEF6 project partners! Through planning, communications, and coordination, the Ministry will protect biodiversity and natural resources while equipping States to sustainably develop. Look for weekly emails, monthly short newsletters, a website, and social media.
1) What's being mainstreamed? Into these proactively designed future Landscape/Seascape templates and plans: 1) National Laws (e.g. RPPL 10-52, which mandates review of environmental, health, and social impacts of development--to encourage developers to place their projects in appropriate locations), 2) National Policies (e.g. Climate Change Policy - will zones be "No Regrets" under high and low emission scenarios?), 3) Best Practices (native species! wastewater percolation!), and 4) Socially equitable benefits.
2) What's coming up? The Joint Coordination Body (JCB), with State representatives and technical partners, will be reformed and running soon! The JCB will consider cross-boundary island- and lagoon-wide visions and spatial designation maps as a step in Master Planning. Also, MNRET will facilitate a meeting of GEF6 project partners in May to coordinate activities and forestall any problems with the Quarterly 80% financial delivery requirement.
3) Who's doing what? The upcoming EPU/GEF6 website will describe activities of the 17 project partners. For now, see the GEF6 Point of Contact info sheet (includes a one-line summary of the State projects so far).
Happy National Earth Week!
Ng Mekerang a Urered a Rebeluu a Dosebelii a Lukel a Klengar