In prioritizing the implementation of a Chuuk Protected Areas Network (PAN) program, Chuuk Legislative leaders determined it would be beneficial to come to Palau and to learn from Palau’s successful Protected Area Network program. Having been in operation for over 15 years, the Palau PAN program has grown and evolved to having all 16 states become members of the PAN, as well as, establishing a sustainable finance mechanism to support the implementation of the PAN goals. Chuuk Legislative leaders desire to have their own PAN program be as successful as what we have here in Palau. The Palau PAN is not without challenges but has continued to creatively design solutions over the years to address those issues and challenges. The Chuuk Legislative leaders requested support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to facilitate a learning exchange to enable the opportunity to learn about the Palau PAN program and how Palau continues to improve its PAN, in hopes to adapt what they find is useful and suitable to Chuuk’s structure and system to further advance the operationalization of the Chuuk PAN.
The Chuuk delegation that visited Palau from May 14 – 21, 2024 included Senate President Arno H. Kony, Senate Vice President Wisney Nakayama, Speaker Lester D. Mersai (Head of Delegation) and House of Representative Chairman of Resource and Development Arthur Irons. The Chuuk delegation also included legislative staff Douglas Marar (Chuuk Legislature Chief of Staff), Winetta Irons (Special Assistant to the Speaker) and the Chief of Marine Resources Enjoy Rain. Others invited but were not able to join the learning exchange include representatives from FSM Department of R&D, Chuuk Environment Protection Authority, Micronesian Conservation Trust, and Micronesia Challenge.
This Legislative Leaders Learning Exchange was the first of its kind that TNC has hosted, focusing at the State or National level of Leadership. The purpose of the learning exchange was to provide insights into Palau’s PAN framework to inform and accelerate the development of Chuuk’s own PAN. This included learning about the policy, regulatory, structural and procedural elements of Palau’s model. The learning exchange included a courtesy visit to the OEK; informal discussions with members of the Senate and House of Delegates; meetings with the PAN office and PAN fund; site visits to PAN sites where TNC is actively engaged in, specifically the Northern Reef and the West Coast; meeting with Koror State Division of Conservation and Law Enforcement and site visits in the Southern Lagoon area; strategic planning session to identify what could be adapted to support Chuuk’s PAN program; and identify priority areas that will drive the progress of operationalizing the Chuuk PAN.
The Chuuk delegation expressed deep appreciation to TNC for facilitating this learning exchange. The relationships established forged a strong bond and desire to continue collaboration at the community and Leadership level towards building our Micronesian countries/states for our peoples. The Chuuk delegation also extends its deepest appreciation to Speaker Sabino Anastacio and the HOD for hosting a welcome dinner and a courtesy visit to the OEK and to Senate President Hokkons Baules for hosting a farewell dinner. Being able to sit with the Palau Legislative leaders was greatly beneficial to the Chuuk delegation in providing the rare opportunity to hear from the lawmakers about the vision and thinking around the policy development in creating and amending PAN policies. TNC equally valued from this learning exchange in learning more about Chuuk’s political and traditional structure and traditional conservation practices. TNC will continue to support Chuuk where it can, providing data through TNC’s ongoing conservation work in Chuuk and ongoing support towards education and awareness.This learning exchange was conducted as part of the Micronesia Coral Reefs Program funded by the Global Funds for Coral Reefs (GFCR). The goal of the Micronesia Coral Reefs Program and GFCR is to increase the resilience of coral reefs, associated marine ecosystems, and the communities and economies that depend on them.