Socio-economic Baseline Study of Kayangel State. PICRC Technical Report 16-11

In 2015, Palau International Coral Reef Center, in collaboration with the University of Queensland, conducted a baseline socio-economic study within six PAN States of Palau. The results presented in this report are based on one of six PAN states: Kayangel State. The study utilized household questionnaires and key informant interviews incorporating key socio-economic indicators at the regional level (Micronesia Challenge), National level (Palau Indicators) and site level (local management plan). Based on the results of this study, most respondents in Kayangel were knowledgeable about their state conservation areas, state bul1 , as well as the PAN. In terms of the Micronesia Challenge, only less than 40% of respondents indicated having knowledge of the MC. Majority of households in Kayangel participated in fishing activities mainly for food consumption, customary practices and less for income generating purposes. Most households did not attribute any changes to locally-sourced marine food availability to the protected areas. In addition, key informants and more than half of survey respondents indicated that they often hear about or see illegal entry or taking of resources from the conservation areas. According to key informants, stronger enforcement was needed to decrease the number of poaching in Kayangel's conservation areas. Additionally, key informants also reported the need for more surveillance officers including relevant training for capacity building of Kayangel's conservation officers

Socio-economic Baseline Study of Ngaraard State. PICRC Technical Report 16-07

In 2015, the Palau International Coral Reef Center, in collaboration with the University of Queensland, conducted a baseline socio-economic study within six PAN States of Palau. The results presented in this report are based on one of six PAN states: Ngaraard State. The study utilized household questionnaires and key informant interviews incorporating key socio-economic indicators at the regional level (Micronesia Challenge), National level (Palau Indicators) and site level (local management plan). Results from this study show that most respondents are aware and supportive of the Palau PAN as well as state conservation areas and state bul1 or traditional form of protective management. While most respondents knew about state and national conservation initiatives, only 53% of respondents were aware of the MC. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents indicated that they participate in fishing related activities, while 82% stated that they or members of their household grow household crops. Most households mainly participate in fishing related activities and farming for food consumption and less for the purposes of income generation. The majority of respondents did not attribute any changes to locally-sourced marine and terrestrial food availability to the protected areas. However, roughly 40% of respondents indicated that the terrestrial protected areas have increased the quality and quantity of freshwater. The majority of respondents were aware of all conservation areas within the Kerradel Conservation Network, while only half of respondents knew of the boundaries of the conservation areas. Less than half of the respondents (41%) have never participated in natural resource planning and decision making which indicates the need to increase the level of interest and participation of community members in such activities. Most key informants spoke of the need to raise awareness to the local community members regarding the purpose of the Kerradel Conservation Network, and regularly communicate monitoring results to the community. This would aid in gaining more respect from the community towards the Kerradel Conservation Network. In addition, most key informants spoke of the need to strengthen the level of enforcement of the Kerradel Conservation Network, as well as the need for more equipment, funding, and training for Ngaraard PAN staff in order to improve the adaptive management of Ngaraard's natural resources. Finally some key informants spoke of the need to have alternative sources of livelihoods as a way to lessen the pressure on Ngaraard's marine resources including decreasing the level of illegal entry and fishing within conservation areas. It is recommended that for the next update of the Kerradel Conservation Network management plan, these results can serve as a guideline for revisions and evaluation of the goals and activities of the Kerradel Conservation Network management plan. These results serve as baseline socio-economic data for the Kerradel Conservation Network, however continuous monitoring is needed in order to track trends and changes of protected areas and their associated communities

Socio-economic Baseline Study of Ngiwal State. PICRC Technical Report 16-09

In 2010, the Palau International Coral Reef Center conducted a socio-economic assessment training exercise in Ngiwal State to (1) train conservation officers on how to conduct a socio-economic assessment as a tool to improve management of coastal and marine resources and (2) develop data collecting tools for an assessment of Ngiwal State (Oldiais, 2010). The 2010 study covered a total of 60 households with a focus on the "Ngiwal State Protected Areas and Natural Resource Management Plan" and utilized secondary data, household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. In 2015, Palau International Coral Reef Center in collaboration with the University of Queensland conducted another socio-economic study within six PAN States of Palau. The results illustrated in this report are based on Ngiwal State, one of the six PAN States. The study was conducted using household questionnaires and key informant interviews incorporating key socio-economic indicators at the regional level (Micronesia Challenge), National level (Palau Indicators) and site level (local management plan). Results from this study show that most respondents were aware and supportive of the PAN, State bul1 and State conservation areas, while only 39% of respondents were aware of the MC. 58% of households reported that they or members of their households go fishing or harvesting invertebrates mainly for income and food consumption purposes, and 94% of households indicated growing household crops. Majority of respondents did not attribute any changes to locally sourced marine and terrestrial food availability to the protected areas. However, respondents indicated that the terrestrial protected areas have somewhat increased the size and abundance of building materials in Ngiwal State. Most respondents were fully aware of the Ngemai Marine Protected Area (MPA) and 89% of respondents were knowledgeable of its boundaries. Similarly, in 2010 over 85% of Ngiwal respondents had knowledge of the rules and regulations of Ngemai MPA (Oldiais, 2010). Although most respondents indicated having been involved in activities related to the protected areas, 60.9% of respondents have never participated in resource management planning or decision making. Most respondents highly recommended that the monitoring results of Ngiwal's protected areas are presented to the community on a regular basis as a way to improve the community's understanding of the protected areas. These results serve as baseline socio-economic data for Ngiwal State as a PAN site, however further socio-economic monitoring is needed in order to assess changes and trends as they relate to protected areas

Socio-economic Baseline Study of Ngchesar State. PICRC Technical Report 16-10

In 2015, the Palau International Coral Reef Center, in collaboration with the University of Queensland, conducted a baseline socio-economic study within six PAN States of Palau. The results presented in this report are based on one of six PAN states: Ngchesar State. The study utilized household questionnaires and key informant interviews incorporating key socio-economic indicators at the regional level (Micronesia Challenge), National level (Palau Indicators) and site level (local management plan). Based on the results of this study, majority of households in Ngchesar State were knowledgeable of the state conservation areas, as well as the PAN. However, a larger proportion of respondents were not aware of the MC. The majority of households participate in fishing and farming related activities, equally for both food consumption and income. Most respondents did not attribute changes to locallysourced marine and terrestrial food availability to the protected areas, however two key informants stated that the terrestrial protected areas had somewhat increased the abundance of birds and size of building materials. The majority of respondents and key informants supported the protected areas in Ngchesar State, however most key informants stated the need for stronger enforcement of the rules and regulations of Ngchesar's protected areas. In addition, almost all key informants recommended regular communication of monitoring results to community members and consistent education and awareness programs. As a baseline study, these results can be used to make a preliminary assessment on the current socio-economic changes and trends taking place within Ngchesar, however continuous monitoring is needed to adaptively manage the protected areas in Ngchesar State

Impact of two sequential super typhoons on coral reef communities in Palau

Typhoons generally develop in the warm tropics, but rarely damage coral reefs between the latitudes 10°N and 10°S because they intensify at higher latitudes. However, climate change is forcing anomalous weather patterns, and is causing typhoons to take less predictable trajectories. For the first time in 70 yr, in December 2012, a super typhoon passed near the island of Palau, located at 7°N in the western tropical Pacific Ocean. A year later, another super typhoon passed over the northern reefs of Palau. This study characterized the impacts of both typhoons on coral and fish assemblages in 3 habitats (i.e. outer reefs, patch reefs, and inner reefs) and at 2 depths (i.e. 3 and 10 m). Loss of coral cover was highest on the shallow, eastern slopes (~60% coral cover). Juvenile coral densities decreased along the western reef slope and on the inner reefs, where overall coral cover scarcely decreased. These results suggested a potential stock-recruitment relationship with corals on the damaged eastern reefs. Early successional corals, particularly pocilloporids, recruited 6 mo after the second typhoon. Fish communities were generally unaltered by the first typhoon, except small parrotfishes, which doubled in density along the eastern reef-slope and increased on the inner reefs following the second typhoon. In combination, these findings demonstrate high spatial variability in coral loss, overall decreases in juvenile corals, and increases in herbivorous fishes on a tropical reef system that has rarely experienced large typhoon waves

Socio-economic Baseline Study of Peleliu State. PICRC Technical Report 16-08

In 2015, the Palau International Coral Reef Center in collaboration with the University of Queensland, conducted a baseline socio-economic study within six PAN States of Palau. The results presented in this report are based on one of six PAN states: Peleliu State. The study utilized household questionnaires and key informant interviews incorporating key socio-economic indicators at the regional level (Micronesia Challenge), National level (Palau Indicators) and site level (local management plan). Results from this study indicate that most respondents were aware and knowledgeable of the PAN, and Peleliu State conservation area, however only 35% of respondents had heard of or were knowledgeable of the MC. Most respondents indicated extensive and high level of support for the PAN and state conservation area, however 47% of respondents could not indicate their level of support for the MC due to having limited or no knowledge of the initiative. This signifies the need to increase awareness and educational campaigns regarding the MC in Peleliu. 71% of surveyed households participate in fishing related activities, but mainly for food consumption and less for income generating activities. Similarly, more than half of surveyed households reported that at least one member of their household participates in farming activities mainly for food consumption. Although most respondents attributed no changes to locally sourced marine food availability to the marine protected area, most respondents were supportive of the MPA and indicated that the boundaries of the MPA were clearly visible and properly marked. Most key informants spoke of the need to increase the level of awareness of the purpose of Teluleu MPA as well as the rules and regulations of the MPA. In addition, most key informants indicated the need to regularly communicate monitoring results to the community for the community to have a better understanding of the status, trends, and changes of the marine resources within Teluleu MPA. Finally, most survey respondents as well as key informants indicated the need to strengthen the level of enforcement for Teluleu MPA including having additional conservation officers, funding, equipment (boats, proper citation equipment/materials), and training (surveillance and biological). These results serve as baseline socioeconomic data for Peleliu's Conservation area, however continuous monitoring is needed in order to track socio-economic trends and changes of the protected area in Peleliu

Marine Protected Area Effectiveness Report: Teluleu Conservation Area

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Teluleu Conservation Area was closed to all fishing and recreational activities in 2001 by Peleliu State Government. The enclosed seagrass bed has been observed to be a nursery ground for highly valued marine resource such as humphead wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, hawksbill turtle, and sea cucumbers (ngimes and eremrum)

Impacts of marine heatwaves on tropical western and central Pacific Island nations and their communities

Marine heatwaves can have devastating impacts on marine species and habitats, often with flow-on effects to human communities and livelihoods. This is of particular importance to Pacific Island countries that rely heavily on coastal and ocean resources, and for which projected increases in future marine heatwave (MHW) frequency, intensity, and duration could be detrimental across the Pacific Island region. In this study, we investigate MHWs in the tropical western and central Pacific Ocean region, focusing on observed MHWs, their associated impacts, and future projections using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) simulations under a low (SSP1–2.6) and a high (SSP5–8.5) greenhouse gas emissions scenario. Documented impacts from “Moderate” mean intensity MHW events in Fiji, Samoa, and Palau, that were categorised as “Strong” at their peak, included fish and invertebrate mortality and coral bleaching. Based on CMIP6 multi-model mean estimates, and relative to current baselines, “Moderate” intensity MHWs are projected to increase from recent historical (1995–2014) values of 10–50 days per year (dpy) across the region to the equivalent of >100 dpy by the year 2050 under the low emissions scenario, and > 200 dpy nearer the equator. Under the high emissions scenario, 200 dpy of Moderate MHW intensities are projected across most of the region by 2050, with >300 dpy nearer the equator. For the most intense “Extreme” category of MHW, estimates range from 50 dpy projected under the high emissions scenario by 2050. In contrast, “Extreme” MHWs are projected to increase to <5 dpy by 2050 under the low emissions scenario, highlighting the importance for Pacific Island nations that global emissions more closely follow the low emissions scenario trajectory