Conservation on the Ground in Palau

This morning we learned about what it takes to get conservation in action in Palau.  It's an intricate web of governing bodies that must come to consensus about actions for the good of the communities, in hamlets, states and across the country.  To me it sounds as much about anthropology as politics, but at any rate it's not simple.  We spoke at length this morning with eight separate agencies and NGOs who partner with the Conservancy to enable the good work that gets done here.  Thoughtful, impressive, forward looking and smart.  This is an impressive collaboration!  

In the afternoon we drove back to Melekeok  to see the Ngardok Preserve.  We were met by the staff who, over a snak of fresh cocoanut milk, briefed us on their activities, which include warer resource restoration on a fresh water lake, vegetative regrowth and forest plot measurement, invasive species management, fire mapping and awareness, erosion control, and tree specimen sampling.  A research fellow from the USFS (who hails from upper New York State) has been working with the Preserve for several months and discovered a new tree species that's endemic to Palau.  After hiking around in the tropical forest and savannah for about an hour, we piled back into cars to caravan over the Melekeok's Bai, the traditional men's house where Chiefs of the 12 states of Palau have gathered in council for centuries.  Although not practiced today as it was when wars were fought and territory negotiated, the Chiefs are still a valued part of the traditional culture and the governing structure of Palau.  

That we had to walk through a field of mud to get there only added to the authenticity of the experience.  Kudos to Bill, Dietmar and Carl for pushing Jack's rental car out of the mud.