May 2007 TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No 1/07 Biodiversity Planning for Palau’s Protected Areas Network An Ecoregional Assessment Prepared by: David Hinchley, Geoff Lipsett-Moore, Stuart Sheppard, Umiich Sengebau, Eric Verheij and Sean Austin Supported by: Ngatpang State, Sonsorol State and Hatohobei State May 2007 TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No 1/07 Biodiversity Planning for Palau’s Protected Areas Network An Ecoregional Assessment Prepared by: David Hinchley, Geoff Lipsett-Moore, Stuart Sheppard Umiich Sengebau, Eric Verheij and Sean Austin Published by: The Nature Conservancy, Indo-Pacific Resource Centre Author Contact Details: Geoff Lipsett-Moore: The Nature Conservancy, 51 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Australia, email: [email protected] Umiich Sengebau: The Nature Conservancy, Palau Field Office, Salii Building, Malakal, P.O. Box 1738, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, email: [email protected] Sean C. Austin: The Nature Conservancy, Palau Field Office, Salii Building, Malakal, P.O. Box 1738, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, email: [email protected] Eric Verheij: The Nature Conservancy, Palau Field Office, Salii Building, Malakal, P.O. Box 1738, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, email: [email protected] Suggested Citation: Hinchley, D., Lipsett-Moore, G., Sheppard, S., Sengebau, F.U., Verheij, E., and Austin S. (2007). Biodiversity Planning for Palau’s Protected Areas Network: An Ecoregional Assessment. TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No. 1/07. Disclaimer: All areas identified in the assessment as important for conservation and management represent a synthesis of the best available scientific information. However, all decisions relating to the conservation and management of these areas is entirely at the discretion of the Palau people and their State and National Governments. © 2007, The Nature Conservancy All Rights Reserved. Reproduction for any purpose is prohibited without prior permission. Maps: Stuart Sheppard Design: Jeanine Almany Cover Photo: © Jose Courrau Available from: Indo-Pacific Resource Centre Palau Field Office The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy 51 Edmondstone Street PO Box 1738 South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Koror Australia Republic of Palau Or via the worldwide web at: conserveonline.org/workspaces/pacific.island.countries.publications ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was made possible through generous funding and support by The Wallis Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. The report represents the culmination of more than 5 years work and a synthesis of the expertise, knowledge and views of Palau’s people, government, scientific experts, NGO’s and authorities. The TNC Team wishes to thank all those present at the workshops (listed below), without whose contributions this assessment would not have been possible. Thanks also to Noah Idechong, Bill Raynor, Jose Courrau, Lorraine Rdiall, Shanrang Wenty, Sarah Klain, Andy Bauman, Vernice Stefano, Peter Thomas, Andrew Smith and Alan Olsen for their support and involvement. First Title Last Name Title Organization Workshop 1 Workshop 2 Name Mr. Ngirache Aderkeroi State Representative Ngardmau State 9 wes Ms. Aholiba Albert State Representative Melekeok State 9 Mr. Wayne Andrew State Representative Hatohobei State 9 Mr. Mike Aulerio GIS Technician PALARIS 99 Mr. Badisang Siliang State Representative Ngarchelong State 99 Mr. Andrew Bauman OERC Representative Office of Environmental Response and 99 Coordination Mr. Asap Bukurrou Marine Coordinator Palau Conservation Society 9 Mr. Donald Dengokl EQPB Representative Environmental Quality Protection Board 99 Ms. Robin DeMeo NRCS Representative Natural Resources Conservation Service 99 Mr. Joshua Eberdong Turtle Project Ministry of Resources and Development 9 Mr. Adalbert Eledui State Representative Koror State 99 Ms Carol Emaurois PICRC Representative PICRC 99 Ms. Portia Franz EQPB Representative Environmental Quality Protection Board 9 Mr. Yimnang Golbuu Researcher PICRC 9 Ms. Tiare Holm Executive Director Palau Conservation Society 99 Ms. Tarita Holm Interim PAN PAN Office 99 Coordinator Mr. David Idip PICRC Representative PICRC 99 Mr. Antonio Iyar State Representative Angaur State 9 Mr. Fabian Iyar Chief Executive Officer PICRC 9 Mr. Keizy Kuroda State Representative Ngarchelong State 99 Mr. Lerince Kelemal State Representative Kayangel State 99 Ms. Ann Kitalong Consultant The Environment Inc. 99 Ms. Sarah Klain Turtle Project Ministry of Resources and Development 99 Mr. Sebastian Marino PICRC Representative PICRC 99 Ms. Liz Matthews Researcher Palau Conservation Society 99 Ms. Charlene Mersai PICRC Representative Palau International Coral Reef Center 99 Dr. Joel Miles OERC Representative Office of Environmental Response and 9 Coordination Dr Peter Mumby Scientist University of Exeter 9 Mr. Verano Ngirkelau State Representative Ngchesar State 99 Dr. Alan Olsen Entomologist Belau National Museum 99 Mr. Thomas Remengesau High Chief Ngaraard State 99 Hon. Elbuchel Sadang Minister Ministry of Finance 9 Mr. Umiich Sengebau TNC Representative The Nature Conservancy 99 Hon. John Skebong Governor Ngeremlengui State 9 Mr. Foober Skebong Palau Conservation Society 9 Ms. Vernice Stefano Program Manager PALARIS 99 Dr. Mark Tupper Researcher Palau International Coral Reef Center 99 Mr. Steven Victor Chief Researcher Palau International Coral Reef Center 99 iii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND APPENDICES .................................................................................................. v LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................................vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................................vii Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives.............................................................................................................................................1 Overview of Palau’s Biodiversity ........................................................................................................1 TNC’s Ecoregional Assessment methodology.....................................................................................2 Methods...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Overview of the Process.......................................................................................................................3 First Iteration: SPOT Analysis........................................................................................................3 Second Iteration: MARXAN Analysis..............................................................................................5 Design Principles..................................................................................................................................5 Study Areas, Stratification and Planning Units....................................................................................6 Conservation Targets............................................................................................................................7 Viability Assessment............................................................................................................................8 Size (BLM).......................................................................................................................................8 Landscape context (BLM and cost surface) ....................................................................................9 Condition (Conservation goals (weightings) and cost surface) ......................................................9 Threats................................................................................................................................................10 Cost Layer ..........................................................................................................................................12 Conservation Goals ............................................................................................................................14 MARXAN Analysis ...........................................................................................................................15 Key MARXAN Inputs:....................................................................................................................16 Data Management.........................................................................................................................16 Results.......................................................................................................................................................................17 Description of Scenarios.....................................................................................................................17 Scenario 1. Unconstrained............................................................................................................18 Scenario 2.Existing Protected Areas.............................................................................................19