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REPUBLIC of PALAU National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

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REPUBLIC of PALAU National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan REPUBLIC OF PALAU National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan REPUBLIC OF PALAU National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (DATE) Palau’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was prepared by the members of the Ad- Hoc Committee of the Palau National Environmental Protection Council, composed of twenty representatives of government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector: Belau National Museum Bureau of Agriculture Bureau of Marine Resources Coral Reef Research Center Ministry of Resources and Development Office of Environmental Response and Coordination Office of the Vice President One-Eco Habitat Palau Automated Land and Resource Information System Palau Community Action Agency Palau Conservation Society Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board Palau International Coral Reef Center The Environment, Inc. The Nature Conservancy US Army Corps of Engineers USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service This National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was written to reflect the conclusions of the community consultations, consultant reports, and two national workshops. The main authors were Andrew Bauman, Ethan Daniels, Julian Dendy, David Hinchley, Tarita Holm, Ann Kitalong, Elizabeth Matthews, Joel Miles, and Alan Olsen. Format and layout by Youlsau Bells Funded by GEF/UNDP – Enabling activities: The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Volume 1: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Volume 2: Consultants’ reports: Legislative Review, Steven Daugherty Institutional Framework, One-Eco Habitat Community Consultations (Phases 1 and 2), Palau Conservation Society Resource Use Study, The Environment, Inc. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This NBSAP could not have been completed without the contributions of the people in the communities of all 16 states of Palau, who took time out from their busy lives to participate in the Community Consultations where they shared their knowledge and experience, described their concerns, and prioritized local needs and actions related to the biodiversity upon which their lives and livelihoods depend. Additionally, the full and active participation of the participants in two national workshops was essential to the identification and prioritization of the 8 themes, and drafting of the actions under those themes. The funding contribution of the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme is gratefully acknowledged. Kom kmal mesaul. Table of Contents FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................................................... I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................II 1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 IMPORTANCE OF PALAU’S BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY..................................................................................1 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STRATEGY ...............................................................................................................1 1.3 CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ..................................................................................................2 1.4 PROCESS OF STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND FORMULATION ......................................................................2 2. VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES..........................................................................................................3 2.1 VISION ......................................................................................................................................................3 2.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN PALAU .....................................3 3. NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES....................................................................................................................4 3.1 GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY .......................................................................................................................4 3.2 CLIMATE .....................................................................................................................................................5 3.3 CURRENT AND TIDES...................................................................................................................................5 3.4 ENSO EVENTS............................................................................................................................................5 3.5 HISTORY......................................................................................................................................................6 3.6 POPULATION................................................................................................................................................6 3.6.1 Socio-Cultural Characteristics ..............................................................................................................7 3.7 TRADITION ..................................................................................................................................................7 3.8 SOCIAL SYSTEM ..........................................................................................................................................8 3.9 TRANSPORTATION .......................................................................................................................................8 3.10 ENERGY SECTOR .........................................................................................................................................8 3.11 FRESHWATER RESOURCES...........................................................................................................................9 3.12 HEALTH.......................................................................................................................................................9 3.13 ECONOMY ...................................................................................................................................................9 3.13.1 Compact of Free Association............................................................................................................9 3.13.2 Import Dependency.........................................................................................................................10 3.14 TOURISM ...................................................................................................................................................10 3.15 GOOD GOVERNANCE .................................................................................................................................10 4. DESCRIPTION OF BIODIVERSITY IN PALAU.......................................................................................11 4.1 TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY.....................................................................................................................11 4.1.1 Overview..............................................................................................................................................11 4.1.2 Major Terrestrial Ecosystems..............................................................................................................12 4.1.3 Terrestrial Species ...............................................................................................................................14 4.2 MARINE BIODIVERSITY .............................................................................................................................18 4.2.1 Overview..............................................................................................................................................18 4.2.2 Major Marine Ecosystems ...................................................................................................................18 4.2.3 Marine Species.....................................................................................................................................21 4.2.4 Marine Endemics .................................................................................................................................25 5. THE IMPORTANCE OF PALAU’S BIODIVERSITY ...............................................................................25 5.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF PALAU'S TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................25 5.1.1 Forests, savannas, and wetlands .........................................................................................................26 5.1.2 Terrestrial Species ...............................................................................................................................28 5.2 THE IMPORTANCE OF PALAU’S MARINE BIODIVERSITY ............................................................................29 5.2.1 Reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and marine lakes.............................................................................29 5.2.2 Marine Species.....................................................................................................................................32 6. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY IN PALAU ...............................................................................................32 6.1 MAJOR THREATS TO TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY....................................................................................32
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