On June 6, rangers from the Dmakeiukl Alliance took part in a hands-on drone training to enhance the monitoring and protection of coastal and terrestrial ecosystems in Palau. The training is part of a broader effort to strengthen the rangers’ surveillance and enforcement work using drone and GPS technology.
Nine rangers, two conservation officers, and one Protected Areas Network (PAN) Coordinator participated in the session, held in Ngatpang. GIS Specialist Michael Aulerio led the training, with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Micronesia & Polynesia, under the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)’s Pacific BioScapes Project funded by the European Union.
Since its formation in October 2023, the Dmakeiukl Alliance has brought together the four west coast states of Babeldaob – Aimeliik, Ngatpang, Ngeremlengui, and Ngardmau – to co-manage their Protected Areas through community action, ranger coordination, and support from state leaders and legislatures. Over the past year and a half, rangers from these states have conducted joint surveillance and enforcement activities as part of this growing collaboration. A recent grant enabled the purchase of drones and GPS equipment to support their work, and the drone training marks the first of three sessions designed to build technical capacity.
This first session introduced participants to drone features, setup, handling, flight operation, and storage. Future trainings will focus on route planning using waypoints, advanced flight features, regular maintenance, standard operating procedures, and relevant local policies. One upcoming session will focus specifically on ocean-based surveillance.
Rangers expressed excitement about using drones to improve monitoring at PAN Sites, especially in remote or difficult-to-access areas. “This kind of technology can really help with regular monitoring activities, especially in hard-to-reach areas and when fuel is limited,” said a participant ranger.
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