Sustainability and Environmental issues in Palau

 

Climate Change contributes to Palau Environmental issues, rising sea level, coral bleaching, drought, destructive fishing practices like deep sea bottom trawling, unsustainable harvesting of shark for their fins and overexploitation of tuna stocks. Climate changes being a threat, new infrastructure development project incur a number of impacts during their construction. The effect of run-off from sedimentation poses one of the threats to water quality in the marine environment.


* Palau has implemented several sustainable programs and initiative to enable Palau to move forward with long term plans to create a sustainable Island.

o Former President, Tommy E. Remengesau called on his regional peers to join him in the Micronesia Challenge, which will conserve 30 percent of near shore coastal waters and 20 percent of forest land by 2020. Joining the initiative we Palau, the Federated State of Micronesia and Marshall Islands and the US territories of Guam and Northern Marianas Islands.

o Ban Shark Finning in Palau

o President Johnson Toribiong on September 2009, during the 64th regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly declared Palau’s 237,000 square miles of ocean as the World First Shark Sanctuary.

o Green Energy Micronesia (GEM) initiative is to generate 20 percent of power from renewable energy and achieving 30 percent energy efficiency by the year 2020. President Toribiong believes one of the solutions to climate change is to transition from the use of fossil fuel, which is a finite energy source, to renewable energy from the sun, wind and other sources.


* Palau has installed several Solar Panels at the National Airport, National Capitol Building, Department of Education, Solid Waste Recycling Center, National Development Bank of Palau, and Palau Energy Office. Government also installed several hundreds of solar light along the street of Koror (business area of Palau) and implemented a program to allow residents to exchange their light bulbs to fluorescent lights. So far, around 20,000 compact fluorescent lights have been distributed by the program.


o Green Revolution is another program initiated by President Toribiong. This initiative will increase local food production and at the same time open new employment for residents.

Palau, Micronesia’s Rock Islands Listed Amongst UNESCO's World Heritage List

Palau’s Rock Islands Southern Lagoon has been inscribed onto the World Heritage list of (UNESCO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. If you go on the website this is what you will find below:
Listed as a mixed site (for both cultural and natural properties), Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200-hectare and numbers 445 uninhabited limestone islands of volcanic origin. Many of them display unique mushroom-like shapes in turquoise lagoons surrounded by coral reefs. The aesthetic beauty of the site is heightened by a complex reef system featuring over 385 coral species and different types of habitat. They sustain a large diversity of plants, birds and marine life including dugong and at least 13 shark species. The site harbors the highest concentration of marine lakes anywhere, isolated bodies of seawater separated from the ocean by land barriers. They are among the islands’ distinctive features and sustain high endemism of populations which continue to yield new species discoveries.


The well-known biodiversity of the Republic of Palau lies in the marine and terrestrial environment of the Rock Islands where important habitats threatened and endangered species are situated. The significant aesthetic and culture values of the landscape of the Southern Lagoon are integral to the identity of the State and our island nation. Becoming a world heritage site will help us better adapt management to address complex challenges and issues that are constantly changing.



According to Ilebrang U. Olkeriil, Coastal Management Officer/Campaign Manager of the Koror State Government’s Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement, “On behalf of Koror State Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement, we thank all those who worked hard and for the in-kind contribution to make our dream of international recognition a reality.”

Tom Wilmer Interviews Darin De Leon, Director of the Palau Visitors Authority

Join Darin De Leon, Director of the Palau Visitors Authority as he visits with Tom Wilmer, producer & host of Audiolog airing over NPR affiliates KCBX, KSBX, KNBX. Darin talks about cool things to do and see in the magical realm of Palau situated in Micronesia. Listen in...

Palau Spearheads Global Conservation

Thanks to a marine ecosystem hailed as one of “The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World,” the Republic of Palau was chosen to play a starring role in the new 3D IMAX film “The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea.” The movie premiered at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in March 2012 and will be shown at museums and IMAX theaters around the world.

Much of “The Last Reef,” which explores the underwater worlds of the earth’s coral reef systems and the challenges they face, was shot in Palau. The waters surrounding Palau, a tiny nation with only 20,000 people and eight major and 250 smaller islands, are home to 1,300 species of fish and 483 species of corals.

Although a mere speck in the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles east of the Philippines, Palau has become a world leader in marine conservation. Its leaders realized years ago that concerted action must be taken to protect the seas of a nation whose economy relies on healthy fisheries and a burgeoning dive tourism industry attracted by its exquisite coral reefs.

“For small island developing countries like Palau, the reef is the essence of our survival. It is our culture, our way of life,” said Tommy Remengesau, Jr., president of Palau from 2001 to 2009 and current member of the Senate of Palau, at the film’s premier. “Our traditions and our lifestyle are all sustained by what the oceans and the reefs provide.”

Remengesau is no conservation newcomer. In fact, he has been a regional and international environmental leader for many years. It was during his presidency in 2005 that he spearheaded the Micronesia Challenge, a regional initiative in which several Pacific nations – the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – joined Palau in pledging to conserve 30% of their coastal waters and 20% of their forests by 2020.

In 2003, Remengesau signed into law the Palau Protected Area Network, which set up the structure for a system of established private, state and local conservation sites. The protectors of these sites can apply for funding, which now comes from a $15 Green Fee paid by visitors to Palau. The work of PAN continues thanks to the more than $2 million that has been raised so far, and new sites are being added every year.

Through further legal action on another front, Remengesau sought to protect sharks, whose ranks were being decimated by foreign fishing fleets licensed to fish in Palauan waters. The fisherman were catching the sharks, cutting off their fins – later to be made into shark-fin soup and medicines – and throwing the finless sharks back into the water to die. He signed a law banning the practice in 2003.

Six years later, the nation’s current president, Johson Toribiong, declared Palau’s exclusive economic zone waters as the world’s first shark sanctuary at a meeting of the United Nations. In 2010, the government expanded the sanctuary’s scope to include whales, dolphins and dugongs, Palau’s most endangered animal.

Although Remengesau’s and Toribiong’s efforts have been instrumental in shaping the region’s environmental policies, there have been other major Palauan players as well. These include Noah Idechong, who has served as chief of Palau’s Division of Marine Resources and director of the Palau Conservation Society and is now the speaker of the 16-member House of Delegates of Palau. Idechong won the Goldman Environmental Prize, which honors grassroots environmental “heroes,” in 1995, partly for his efforts to encourage local Palauan chiefs to revive the ancient practice of using a “bul,” or moratorium, to restrict fishing when stocks are low or endangered. This bul system is one of the principles that the local leaders and scientists look to in the actions they take as part of the Protected Area Network and has been an inspiration to other leaders throughout the Pacific region.

As former Palau President and current Senator Remengesau said in his remarks at the Smithsonian, “Out of fear of total extinction of our reefs and terrestrial resources resulting from carbon dioxide greenhouse effect, climate change, global warming, sea level rise, and increase in water temperature, we initiated the Micronesia Challenge. There is a need for mankind to find solutions to this destructive problem. Everyone and every region must do their part.”

And few countries are doing their part better than Palau. Visit the Palau Visitors Authority for more information!

“Sand Masters” showcasing a massive sand sculpture in honor of Palau’s Shark Sanctuary

From: Palau Tours Blog

On Sunday evening, February 12, 2012, a massive sand sculpture in honor of Palau’s Shark Sanctuary was displayed during the 10th anniversary celebration of the world’s first Shark Sanctuary.

The bartender from Palau Pacific Resort even made up a special drink called a "Sanctuary Sling"...a mock-tail version of PPR's signature drink the "Shark Bite" Over 300 guests attended the event and President Torbiong addressed the crowd.

The event and days leading up to it were filmed for a television show named “Sand Masters”, which will air across the globe on The Travel Channel. This episode, which focuses entirely on Palau, will be shown in over 100 countries with multiple replays for 3 to 5 years for hundreds of millions of viewers to enjoy.

Be sure to stop by PPR to see the sculpture while it lasts, depending on weather it could survive from a few weeks to a few months. And for those of you who are wondering, yes, it is only made of sand and water.

“Sand Masters”, creation of reef and sharks
including a complete Bar made all out of sand.

Dermot Keane and the President of Palau
H.E. Johnson Toribiong, President,

Dermot Keane from Sam's Tour and
Founder of the Palau Shark Sanctuary



Dermot Keane Founder of the Palau Shark Sanctuary
with the President of Palau H.E. Johnson Toribiong and other guests.


"Sanctuary Sling" ready to be filled…

For more on Palau and Photo Gallery please go to:

http://www.palautours.com/

PALAU FEATURES NATURES MOST UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KIND ATTRACTIONS…SWIMMING WITH JELLYFISH

“Swimming in warm, golden Jellyfish Lake, I’m surrounded by friendly intelligent jellyfish,” writes travel journalist and photographer Sharon Spence Lieb. “At first I’m afraid I’ll be stung. But these creatures are different: They caress my body and embrace my face. These gelatinous orbs seem downright curious. If I could laugh underwater I would. Who would ever think jellyfish could be so harmless? I’ll remember this sensational wildlife encounter as one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. You’ve got to experience this for yourself.”

Lieb lives near the Atlantic Ocean and the beaches of Charleston, South Carolina. She knows that encounters with jellyfish can often end in pain. “I once got tangled in a jellyfish’s tentacles,” she recalls. “I was covered in painful welts. But Palau’s jellyfish don’t sting. They’ve evolved without predators, and they’re living peacefully in Palau. Maybe they’re official greeters. Jellyfish Lake is one of the reasons Palau is called the 8^th Natural Wonder of the World as well as one of The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World.”

WHERE IS PALAU?

Most have heard of Palau as one of Planet Earth’s legendary dive and snorkel destinations. But for those who wonder where it is, you’re not alone. Located in the westernmost corner of Micronesia, Palau is an archipelago of over 586 islands. Only 20,000 people call this area home. But those willing to travel a to this remote paradise will swim in the translucent Pacific Ocean with over 1400 species of fish, 500 species of coral living underneath the stunning Rock Islands….and incredible jellyfish in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake.

“Jellyfish Lake is a well-known tourist destination,” says Yositaka Adachi, Governor of Koror State. “To swim among millions of harmless jellyfish is an unforgettable experience. Our Government is vigilant about conserving and managing our ecological integrity. We are devoted to preserving our natural environment as part of our heritage and culture.”

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE NON-STINGING JELLYFISH

The golden jellyfish found only in Jellyfish Lake are called “Mastigias Papua Etpisoni.” Living in their tissues are zooxanthellae, which are symbiotic dinoflagellates. Theirs is a special relationship: the jellyfish rotates in a circle and swims around Jellyfish Lake, making sure the zooxanthellae get enough sunlight for photosynthesis. In exchange, the zooxanthellae provide their jellyfish with energy and nutrients.

The jellyfish capture tiny organisms for food, with stinging cells inherited from their ancestor, Mastigias Papua. But they did not evolve to eat large vertebrates like humans. They bob peacefully in the sun and are completely harmless to snorkelers exploring beautiful Jellyfish Lake.

JELLYFISH FOLLOW THE SUN

These unusual jellyfish swim in a migratory pattern seen only in Jellyfish Lake. At sunrise, they swim towards the east shoreline, stopping at the shadow line formed by overhanging trees and rocks. They hover there in the sunlit seawater. As the sun arcs overhead throughout the day, the jellies turn and swim towards the west shoreline, again stopping to bob at the shadow line. Like sunflowers, and tourists snoozing on the beach, Palau’s jellyfish are ardent sun worshippers.

A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE

“For twenty years, I’ve traveled the world, publishing articles about my intense encounters with wildlife,” says travel journalist Sharon Lieb. “I’ve kayaked with orca killer whales, snorkeled with beluga whales, swum with forty foot long whale sharks and photographed wild Canadian polar bears. But, never in my life have I been lovingly touched by a creature that is supposedly dangerous. Their curiosity and intelligence is humbling. Holding a jellyfish in your hand is a real The Twilight Zone moment. I suspended my fear, and floated into the Fourth Dimension, where all creatures share the joy of being alive. Open your heart for this life changing experience.”

(Note: for those interested in a little sneak preview, check out this video:

Dive into 2012 with Palau’s Ocean-Based Events

In Palau, the ocean sets the stage for 2012. Known as one of the “Seven Underwater Wonders of the World,” Palau hosts some of the most unique and truly exceptional ocean-based events, including Shark Week; Wrexpedition (featuring World War II dive wrecks); Kids Sea Camp; and Diversity Fiesta.

Shark enthusiasts will enjoy a shark themed week full of adrenalin-packed activities as Fish ‘n Fins together with the Micronesian Shark Foundation (MSF) holds its 10^th annual Shark Week at Palau’s Fish ‘n Fins dive shop, from March 14-21, 2012. Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate, which generates a great opportunity for shark lovers to dive amongst them and to participate in data collection. Participants will get the opportunity to dive world famous sites like Blue Corner, Peleliu Corner and Shark City without other divers being around. Shark Week features nightly lectures, presentations and documentaries presented by some of the world’s most admired leaders in underwater exploration, conservation and discovery. Hotel/dive packages for Shark Week start at $1,250 per person and include accommodations, multiple days of diving, seminars, participation in studies and research, lunches, transportation, an exclusive T-Shirt and a Gala Dinner.

More than sixty-five years ago, during WWII, Palau was a major Japanese military base. On March 30th and 31st, 1944, US Navy bombers and fighter planes raided the Japanese fleet and sank more than 60 ships and seaplanes in and around the lagoon. Today, Palau is renowned for its beautiful lagoons and thrilling marine action but is also the resting place for the “Japanese Lost Fleet of the Rock Islands.”

The 10^th annual Wrexpedition is one of Fish ‘n Fins annual special events, which lasts one week and includes five days of diving; three tanks a day, seminars and tech-diving. Between the dives and during the seminars, participants have the unique opportunity to watch extraordinary documentaries about WWII. Wrexpedition 2012 will be held from June 04-11, 2012. Dive packages are available and include accommodations, multiple days of diving, lunches, transportation, seminars, movie nights, a T-Shirt and much more.

Sam’s Tours’ Kids Sea Camp makes a third appearance in Palau this year in collaboration with Sport Diver Magazine and PADI Diving Society. Scheduled for the week of June 23-30, 2012, this trip “sets the table” for an unforgettable family vacation. With great value in mind, Sam’s Tours offer a variety of packages to accommodate a full family of divers or combination of divers and non-divers.

The basic “Vacation Package” features seven days and seven nights of luxury accommodations; daily meals that consist of seven breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners, including Welcome Dinner, Taj, Beach BBQ, Kramer’s and Graduation “Survivor Day”; round trip airport transfers; transportation for all excursions; Rock Island Tour/Jellyfish Lake; full-day guided Kayak Tour; Babeldaob Island Tour; Ngardmau Waterfall Hike; City Tour; and visit to Palau International Coral Reef Center. Diver packages include all of the above as well as five days of diving at the famed Palau dive sites.

Palau’s “Diversity Fiesta” celebrates the destination’s unique combination of great diving during the day and gourmet cuisine and wine at night. Located in the western pacific and under Japanese rule for decades, combined with culinary influence from Philippines, USA, Malaysia and Indonesia, Palau’s cuisine is a truly Pacific fusion of sea food, fresh fruits and vegetables and spices.

Tova Harel, Fish ‘n Fins and Ocean Hunter owner is an accomplished and innovative chef, cookbook publisher and food and wine lover, and will be the ever gracious host at night with exotic meals. During the day, guests will dive Palau’s best sites and at night there will be a celebration of food and wines from the Pacific Rim. Diners will be served at Barracuda restaurant and on deserted islands under the stars.

The special weeklong fiesta is scheduled from September 3-10, 2012 and the diving program includes a rotation of the following: Day 1- Dancing Sharks: Dive Palau’s blue corners and sheer walls; Day 2- Forlorn WWII Wrecks: explore our 30+ historic wrecks; Day 3- Mysterious Caves: Temple of Doom and Chandelier cave; Day 4- Colorful Coral gardens: Macro heaven and Jelly Fish Lake; Day 5- Majestic Blue Holes: our famous blue holes.

From Palau Island Home!

"Modeled on an African safari lodge, this 1,200 square foot house uses local hardwoods, canvas, and an open plan in order to be as close to nature as possible - at times, a little too close. Salt spray blows through the bedroom. Five-foot long, monitor lizards ander through the living room. Monkeys, including our pet, Gomez, rummage through the kitchen cupboards.

But the little property does have some nice features, including it's own beach, fantastic snorkeling, a water catchment system, and an outdoor shower with views up and down the coast. The closest neighbor is over two miles away.

Building it involved, among other awkward things, mailing ourselves 12,500 screws and digging 44 holes two feet into compacted limestone - without power tools. The holes alone took us a month. Even with the seven friends we imported to help us build.

"Welcome to paradise," was a sweaty refrain as we whacked crowbars into rock, "Welcome to paradise." "

Adventure Girl Visits Palau's Jellyfish Lake!

Check out Adventure Girl Stefanie Michaels as she dives in Jellyfish lake to swim with and hold jellyfish! How awesome is that??

Paradise in Palau – Special Edition!

"It was one of most surreal experiences of my life—swimming among millions of golden jellyfish, so many that you couldn’t avoid bumping into them with your bare skin. But what should normally be an excruciatingly painful experience (and if you’ve ever been stung by a jelly you know what I mean) wasn’t. On a tiny island in Palau is one of most famous snorkeling sites in the world: Jellyfish Lake. And if there is one place you need to see before you kick the bucket, this is it..." Read full article...

Continental Airlines Introduces Discounted Airfares For North American Travelers Interested in Vacationing in Palau

Continental Airlines has just introduced reduced airfares for North Americans interested in visiting Palau, Micronesia, anytime from September 1-December 15, 2011. Roundtrip airfares are as low as $1,305 from Los Angeles or $1,405 from Houston. Other select U.S. airports feature airfares of only $1,505. Additionally, the airline is offering a special add-on rate for stopovers in Yap, for a fee of only $75.

Restrictions apply and airfare is subject to applicable taxes, passenger facility charges and security fees. These special rates require a minimum stay of six days and maximum stay of 30 days. Tickets must be purchased at least seven days prior to departure and no later than August 31, 2011.

For more information and to book these special rates, visit www.continental.com.

Palau…A Destination Of History For World War II Buffs

Known to many as the location for the bloodiest battles of World War II, war buffs will appreciate Peleliu’s plethora of historical and commemorative elements. Read on...

Putting a Price on Sharks - NY Times Article

In Palau, the Maldives, the Bahamas and some other scuba-diving destinations, tourism operators have gotten across the message to governments that there are economically rational reasons to protect the fish. Read full NY Times article...

Palau, Micronesia Welcomes New Ngellil Nature Island Resort

The Ngellil Nature Island Resort is a one-of-a-kind, eight room property that is only accessible by boat transfer and is ideal for couples or those that want to truly get away from it all. The full-service property features accommodations made of natural products from the islands; barbecued meals made on site; private beach for hotel guests only; private hiking trails, which wend through a lush jungle; sea kayaking; snorkeling; and fishing. Read on...

Continental Airlines to Launch Guam-Okinawa Service in September 2011‏

GUAM, April 27, 2011 – United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) announced today the introduction of Continental Airlines non-stop flights between Guam and Okinawa, Japan, with the goal of attracting more tourists to Guam and provide customers in Okinawa with enhanced access to Hawaii, the U.S. Mainland and other destinations throughout the Continental Pacific network. (This service is subject to government approval). This year-round, four-times-weekly service will be launched on September 28, 2011, with Okinawa becoming the 10th Japanese city with non-stop service to Guam on Continental. The new flight is available for sale beginning today. For more info, visit: http://unitedcontinentalholdings.com

About Palau

Located in the westernmost corner of Micronesia, Palau is an archipelago of more than 586 islands with about 20,000 inhabitants. Consistently ranked as one of the world's best dive destinations, Palau is the ultimate paradise for the adventurous traveler, boasting some of the most spectacular water features and beaches as well as the world famous Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake. With more than 1,400 species of fish and 500 species of coral, some have called Palau the "8th Natural Wonder of the World", while others have identified Palau as "One of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World." For more information about Palau, please visit http://www.visit-palau.com/.

The Dolphins of Palau

Dolphins Pacific is the world’s largest marine mammal interaction, educational and research facility. “Dolphin Bay,” located on the northern side of Ngeruktabel Island in Palau, is situated in a 200-million-gallon saltwater lagoon. The modern impoundment provides an expansive, healthful marine environment for the resident population of dolphins, as well as a relaxing eco-friendly venue for visitors. The objective of this local outfit is to preserve the integrity of these popular mammals, educate visitors about their unique place in the environment and to study their behaviors and abilities. The facility offers several public encounters, including everything from a basic one-hour interactive program to fantastical wedding ceremonies. For more information, visit http://www.dolphinspacific.com.

River Boat Jungle Cruise

One of Palau’s newest attractions is the River Boat Jungle Cruise. Located in Ngchesar State, the Jungle River Boat Cruise is one of Palau’s eco-friendly tours, providing visitors with the ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy the island’s natural attributes firsthand. The cruise takes one hour on an all-aluminum boat that can carry up to 40 passengers. The five-mile tour starts at the main dock and goes upstream coming out to a beautiful ocean vista. During the tour, visitors get a chance to see crocodiles; Palauan Fruit Dove Bird, or Biib; Palauan Fruit Bats; Kingfishers; Archer Fish; and varieties of flora and fauna. Additionally, passengers might get a glimpse of locals collecting their catch of the day, big mangrove crabs, along the river banks. Contact rivercruise@palaunet.com.

The Jelly Fish of Palau

Natural preserves most can only dream of also include the daring and the unusual – like Jellyfish Lake, where two types of jellyfish can be found, namely the golden jellyfish known as Mastigias and the moon jellyfish known as Aurelia. This intriguing lake departs radically from convention for it is an enclosed body of water wherein, over the course of millennia, resident jellyfish have a mild almost unnoticeable sting because they do not have to fight off predators, allowing adventures a rare opportunity to swim amongst these truly unique water creatures. In order to access this unique adventure, visitors will need to enlist the transport of a local tour guide at one of the tour shops operating in Palau. The Rock Island and Jellyfish Lake entry permit is $35 per person in addition to the tour package. It is recommended that visitors’ sign up for the full day excursion, which includes snorkeling, lunch in the Rock Islands and a trip to nature’s spa…the Milky Way. For more information on activities, visit: http://www.visit-palau.com/.

Palau International Coral Reef Center

The Palau Aquarium is the interpretive division of Palau International Coral Reef Center, a non-profit organization which opened ten years ago and has become one of the best land based attractions for tourists and locals alike. It offers enlightening, first hand experiences to inspire understanding and respect of Palau’s natural marine ecosystems. Comprised of ten (10) sub-themed aquariums that convey details of 17 specific habitats, the exhibits recreate the breathtakingly beautiful marine environments and animal species found in those environments.

Visitors can experience the wonders of the sea without even getting their feet wet. The adventure begins with a look at the many geological wonders found in Palau, including the famous Rock Islands. Next, observe the tentacle-like roots of the mangroves where life in the sea begins. The, one can look closer to see a school of archerfish stunning their prey by spitting beads of water, or the pulsating rhythms of an upside-down jellyfish. Further along the winding path, past the Sea grass Bed to the Inner Reef, reside a green sea turtle, white-tip shark, groupers, giant trivially and the Aquarium’s resident napoleon wrasse. Lastly, a diversity of corals and polyp-feeding butterfly fish in the Reef Crest await at the end of this journey. For more information, visit http://www.picrc.org/.