Case Study: Protecting Palau’s Biodiversity

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The Republic of Palau is a Pacific Island nation located 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 500 miles (800 km) north of Papua New Guinea. Palau is famous for its terrestrial and marine biodiversity; it contains one of the largest collections of species found on Earth. Like Costa Rica, Palau has decided its welfare lies in preserving its unique biodiversity and earning its living as an ecotourism destination. A short summary of Palau’s staggering biodiversity is as follows:

• 343 islands
• 5,000 species of insects
• 141 species of birds
• 46 species of reptiles and amphibians
• 1,300 species and varieties of plants
• 11 species of dolphins
• 15 species of whales
• 425 species of hard coral
• more than 1,300 species of reef fish
• 111 species listed as threatened on the Red List
• home to seven of the world’s nine giant clam species.

In 2003 Palau’s governing body passed the Protected Areas Network Act, which establishes most of Palau’s undeveloped land as nature reserves. The 20 or so reserves contain restrictions on removal of plant and animal species, and a few areas allow limited access for low-impact activities (observing wildlife, note taking, and photography). Biologists close any
areas that begin to show habitat damage, decline in plant growth, or stress on animal life. Palau’s residents conduct sustainable farming to eliminate chemicals and erosion, and they raise crops and harvest fish in amounts no more than what they need.

 

Palau is a Pacific Island nation home to more than 100 threatened species
on the IUCN Red List. Palau owns one of the few remaining healthy reef and
fish communities and has one of the largest undisturbed mountain forests in
Micronesia. The nation’s greatest challenge is protecting these resources further in
the face of ecotourism. (Paul Black)

More than 60,000 visitors come to the islands each year, mainly for diving and ecotourism, which feeds Palau’s economy. The Palau Conservation Society believes the island’s ecotourism is also the greatest threat to its biodiversity. Increased numbers of visitors may translate into more hotels, development, dredging, and more people in the reserves. Many
tourists scramble over reefs to watch the colorful life under the surface and observe Palau’s giant clams. Unfortunately, tourists have also harassed the clams and other species. The Palau Conservation Society’s mission focuses on maintaining a conservation ethic on Palau for generations to come. “For Palau, the environment is our economy,” President Tommy
Remengesau, Jr., said to the Nature Conservancy. “Our people rely on the food and income the reefs provide—and coming generations will, too.” Illegal taking of endangered species from one of the last healthy biodiversity hotspots is a tragedy of the same magnitude as organized poaching.