The Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) is conducting a Call for Proposals for Building Resilient Protected Area Networks to Achieve the Micronesia Challenge (MC) Goals. The fund will provide grants for the development of resilient protected areas networks and ensure sustainability of resource management in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. This project will build upon the initial implementation of the MC in expanding areas for biodiversity conservation as well as employing strategies that provide tangible resilience and adaptive capacity for climate change
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Proudly Celebrating 10 Years! Kammagar, Kulo, Sulang, Kommol Tata, Kinisou, Kalahngan, Si Yu'os Maase, Thank You!
02.28.13 PALAU Ocean Acidification Work at PICRC
PICRC researchers Lukes Isechal and Victor Nestor are excited to be involved with this highly technical experiment. Ocean acidification is a known result of the global use of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. These fossil fuels release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air, which, after a time, settles into the world’s oceans. More CO2 in the water raises water acidity, and this can damage coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
In order to set up the experiment, Hannah came to Palau last November through mid-December. She and Victor took coral core samples from Nikko Bay and Uchelbeluu reef. These samples were stored on specimen trays in the ocean for several months and Victor monitored the specimens’ health. This week, Hannah, Victor, and Daniel retrieved the coral samples, and they inserted each sample into its own container. The containers are filled with water of varying acidity, and the researchers should be able to clearly see how rising carbon dioxide levels will affect reefs.
PICRC, as part of its ongoing commitment to encourage locally relevant and globally significant research, often collaborates with visiting researchers from all over the world. CEO, Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, explains that “this collaborative research is an excellent opportunity for PICRC, because it provides our researchers the opportunity to work with the top researchers in the world working on ocean acidification, and it helps Palau and world understand ocean acidification and the factors that make corals able to grow in areas with higher acidity.” The knowledge gained from this work is important locally, because it will help inform Protected Area Network (PAN) design, and globally, because it will shed light on how corals around the world might survive the predicted increase in ocean acidity due to climate change. For experiment updates and images, please visit the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) Facebook page.
02.15.13 PALAU PICRC Signs Record of Discussion for SATREPS Project
To read full Press Release, click here.
02.13.13 PALAU: PICRC Publishes Paper
PICRC publishes paper describing relationships among key variables influencing coral reef resiliency.
Read full press release here.
Read full press release here.
01.23.2013 GUAM: MC Communications Workshop
:: GUAM
Micronesia Challenge Communications Workshop held January 23, 2013
The Guam Micronesia Challenge Communications Planning Workshop was held at the Sheraton Laguna resort on Wednesday, January 13, 2013. It was hosted by the Guam Coastal Management Program (GCMP)and facilitated by Dan Ho, of the Micronesian Image Institute.
"It was an enlightening day of surprises," said Tom Quinata, of GCMP, who works on many of the agency's outreach programs, including the International Coastal Clean-up. "In our work, we rarely take time out to strategize communications plans, and messaging - there's just too much work! So it was really great to actually sit down and craft a plan that can guide us through the years and the inevitable changes."
Guam's MC Team crafts its communications plan on Wednesday, January 23, 2012.
Attendees also included the Guam Preservation Trust, the Guam Department of Agriculture, TheUniversity of Guam's Center for Island Sustainability, US Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, RARE, and the Guam Community Reef Monitoring Program (TASI).
Christine Camacho, who is the MC contact in Guam, added: "The workshop and our plan puts a whole new light on our communications in Guam and the region. I'm really looking forward to implementing it, and seeing how the similar plans throughout the region work on the whole."
Upcoming for Guam: An MC-Guam website, branded-outreach activities and calendar of events.
Micronesia Challenge Communications Workshop held January 23, 2013
The Guam Micronesia Challenge Communications Planning Workshop was held at the Sheraton Laguna resort on Wednesday, January 13, 2013. It was hosted by the Guam Coastal Management Program (GCMP)and facilitated by Dan Ho, of the Micronesian Image Institute.
"It was an enlightening day of surprises," said Tom Quinata, of GCMP, who works on many of the agency's outreach programs, including the International Coastal Clean-up. "In our work, we rarely take time out to strategize communications plans, and messaging - there's just too much work! So it was really great to actually sit down and craft a plan that can guide us through the years and the inevitable changes."
Guam's MC Team crafts its communications plan on Wednesday, January 23, 2012.
Attendees also included the Guam Preservation Trust, the Guam Department of Agriculture, TheUniversity of Guam's Center for Island Sustainability, US Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, RARE, and the Guam Community Reef Monitoring Program (TASI).
Christine Camacho, who is the MC contact in Guam, added: "The workshop and our plan puts a whole new light on our communications in Guam and the region. I'm really looking forward to implementing it, and seeing how the similar plans throughout the region work on the whole."
Upcoming for Guam: An MC-Guam website, branded-outreach activities and calendar of events.
01.21.13 KOSRAE: KCSO Signs Grant Agreement with PATA
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| Andy George, KCSO Director |
The grant was awarded to Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization (KCSO) in the amount of $10,000.00 to support the “Awareness Campaign for Sustainable Management of the Tafunsak Marine Protected Area (TMPA)” project. The mission of the PATA Foundation is “to contribute to the responsible growth and sustainable development of travel and tourism in Asia Pacific through the protection of the environment, the conservation of heritage and support for education and sustainable tourism."
The grant will assist KCSO to: (1) enhance community awareness and understanding of the need to protect Kosrae’s environmental and natural heritage, (2) empower local community to support and participate in the effective management of the Tafunsak Marine Protected Area, (3) increase community understanding of their roles in co- managing Kosrae protected areas.
Under this project, KCSO education program will organize a team with its local partners to carry out school awareness programs and conduct meeting workshops, a student speech contest, and a fieldtrip in Tafunsak and the neighboring communities. The grant will also be used to purchase some kayaks to support the eco-tourism efforts of the TMPA community.
KCSO is honored to have developed a partnership with PATA and it certainly looks forward to a successful implementation of the project. For more information on the awarded grant updates, please visit www.kosraeconservation.org.
01.02.13 Calling All Writers.
Writers
are invited to submit
chapters for consideration in the third of a series of books on Guam
history perspectives. See the first two for detailed guidance:
Carter, Lee D, et al, eds, Guam History: Perspectives, v. one, l997 (second printing, l998), U of Guam; Mangilao, GU 96923. The second book has the same editors, same title but includes v. two designation,
and same publisher but in 2005.
Editors and reviewers are working with authors of eight chapters so far (October 2012). Because 16
to 18 chapters will be used, there is still time and space for more
participation from this midpoint. Flexibility is possible including
deadlines and length.
Comprehensive history is not attempted. Instead, many topics and perspectives are welcome. Such new chapters are accessible to lay readers as well as academics to enrich comprehensive coverage provided elsewhere.
Comprehensive history is not attempted. Instead, many topics and perspectives are welcome. Such new chapters are accessible to lay readers as well as academics to enrich comprehensive coverage provided elsewhere.
"Perspectives" seeks
to serve both academic and interested lay writers/readers. All are
invited. This does not mean "writing down." Instead, quality and
clarity are encouraged rather than stump-the-reader exercises. If some
jargon is needed, writers
must first explain it clearly and minimize it thereafter.
Send correspondence and chapters to Lee D. Carter, Ph.D.; PO Box 322; Hagatna, GU 96932.