Airai State, Palau – September 19, 2025 – Airai State officially launched the Working Group for the review and revision of its Protected Area Network (PAN) Management Plan today at the Airai State Office. This initiative marks a critical step toward strengthening conservation planning and reducing threats to Protected Area Network sites, including the Airai Medal Ngediukl Protected Area.
Supported by the European Union, SPREP, Pacific BioScapes, and The Nature Conservancy, the kickoff meeting brought together key partners, advisors, and community stakeholders. The process is guided by the globally recognized Conservation Measures Partnership Open Standards v5.0, a framework for adaptive management in conservation.
Meeting Objectives:
- Launch the review and revision process for the Airai State Protected Area Network management plan.
- Build rapport and shared understanding among working group members.
- Introduce the Conservation Measures Partnership Open Standards framework and its relevance.
- Establish a draft timeline and schedule for the review process.
- Assign initial tasks and clarify next steps.
Capacity Building Component:
A key feature of the kickoff meeting was a training session for the Working Group on the Conservation Measures Partnership Open Standards planning tool. This session aimed at building local capacity in conservation planning and equip participants with the skills to:
- Better understand the ecological and social context of the Airai Medal Ngediukl Protected Area.
- Develop targeted workplans to reduce threats to Protected Area Network sites.
- Apply adaptive management principles to ensure long-term sustainability and community engagement.
Expected Outcomes:
Participants left the meeting with a shared understanding of the planning framework, a draft vision for the management plan, and a commitment to weekly working sessions. The group also began developing a team charter and assigning roles to support the review process.
This collaborative effort reflects Airai State’s commitment to inclusive, science-based conservation and its leadership in strengthening Palau’s Protected Area Network system.
About Airai State Protected Area Network:
The Airai State Protected Area Network safeguards the region’s unique biodiversity and cultural heritage. Through community-driven planning and strategic partnerships, Airai State aims to ensure the resilience and sustainability of its natural resources for future generations.
This support is funded by The Pacific BioScapes Programme. The Pacific BioScapes Programme is a European Union (EU) funded action, managed and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The Programme contributes to the sustainable development of Pacific Small Island Developing States through the implementation of 30 focused activities taking place across a diversity of ecosystems in 11 countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) that will address critical issues concerning coastal and marine biodiversity, and ecosystem-based responses to climate change adaptation. For more information, please visit: www.sprep.org/bioscapes
For more information, please contact: The Nature Conservancy: Bibbie Kumangai, 488-2017 Email: bkumangai@tnc.org