Overview:
Youth in Ngerbeched marked Earth Week with a hands-on tree-planting effort at Taoch ra Ngetkedam, bringing together students, government agencies and community members. The initiative aims to strengthen food security, expand green spaces and foster long-term environmental stewardship in Palau.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau — Ngerbeched youth and community members rolled up their sleeves for Earth Week, planting fruit trees at Taoch ra Ngetkedam on April 18 in a partnership that promises shade, fresh produce and a stronger sense of shared stewardship.
The effort united staff from the Bureau of Agriculture (BOA)-Division of Horticulture and Bureau of Education (BOE)-Division of Fish, Wildlife and Land (DFLW), alongside Palau High School agriculture students who prepped the site on April 17 by marking and digging holes. Participants planted varieties including turang, kingkang, avocado and kisakes, creating greener urban spaces with lasting benefits.
Jodean Remengsau, director of the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the initiative’s deeper purpose.
“I hope the tree planting will provide Ngerbeched youth not only with the greening of shared urban spaces and shared food access, but also a purpose, to protect the environment while adding shade and shared benefits,” Remengsau said. “Partnerships such as these amplify and strengthen shared ownership, accountability, and resources, instilling the very essence of being a Palauan, which is we can’t succeed alone and together we rise to build resilience, like the Palauan chant ‘a lerung a bekelled eng mekngit, ya de tang el bekall, e ng ungil …’ Happy Earth Day.”