KOROR, Palau (AP) – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) pushed back Wednesday against recent allegations it advocated for weakening protections in Palau’s vast marine sanctuary, emphasizing its unwavering support for the existing 80% protected area.
The clarification comes after a Bloomberg article raised concerns about TNC’s involvement in Palau, particularly a proposal to reduce the protected area to at least 30% and its collaboration on a separate sustainable tuna venture in the Marshall Islands.
TNC firmly denied both claims. It stated it “fully supports the Sanctuary in its 80%-protected state and always has.” The organization clarified that a $7.8 million grant offered alongside partners aimed solely to bridge the economic gap caused by the pandemic’s impact on tourism, not influence sanctuary protections. They emphasized that the Marshall Islands tuna project, distinct from Palau’s fisheries, serves island communities, not TNC’s finances.
Addressing concerns about undue influence, TNC highlighted its role as an invited partner, working within communities and respecting local values and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They emphasized supporting Palau’s self-determined conservation solutions and clarified that personnel transitions between TNC and the Palauan government happen at the government’s discretion, not indicating undue influence.
However, the response didn’t directly address the specific claim of a “shrinking” sanctuary mentioned in the original article. While TNC maintains its support for the current 80% protection, the Blue Prosperity Plan presented to the Palau government reportedly did explore expanding the fishing industry within the sanctuary to recover “lost revenue” from fisheries.
Further complicating the issue, Palau’s Minister of Marine and Environment, Steven Victor, expressed concerns about the current 20% domestic fishing zone being insufficient to sustain the industry. The legislation implementing the Blue Prosperity Plan allows limited fishing within the sanctuary for three years while a comprehensive marine spatial planning exercise is conducted.
This situation highlights the complex interplay between conservation, economic development, and community needs in Palau. While TNC maintains its commitment to the existing sanctuary protections, questions remain about the potential future use of its resources and the balance between ecological and economic priorities.