By: Marissa Dilmeang Spires
KOROR, Palau – Palau’s pristine environment is under threat from rising sea levels and invasive species, according to a report by the Palau Conservation Society.
The report, titled “Strategic Plan for 2022 to 2027,” details how climate change is causing sea levels to rise, which is exposing coral reefs and killing vital marine life. Additionally, saltwater flooding is damaging taro patches, a staple crop for Palauans.
“These changes can bring upon threats to Palau’s natural environmental health,” the report states.
The report also highlights the dangers posed by invasive crab-eating macaque monkeys in Angaur state. Introduced by German miners, the monkeys have become a nuisance, damaging crops and posing a health risk to residents.
“Macaques are potential carriers and transmitters of several serious human diseases, including B-virus, which is lethal to humans in approximately 80 percent of cases,” the report warns.
The Palau Conservation Society is calling for stricter enforcement of a 1972 law that prohibits the transport of monkeys to other islands in Palau. The group also advocates for sterilizing captive monkeys and trapping escaped animals.
Palau’s President, Surangel Whipps Jr., has previously stated his commitment to environmental protection. The island nation is a leading voice in the fight against climate change and has pledged to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2050.