— A Nature-Based Climate Solution for Island Communities

Koror, Palau – August 19, 2025 — In a landmark collaboration, the Palau Conservation Society (PCS) and the Governors Association have officially launched Resilient Babeldaob — a bold new initiative aimed at strengthening community resilience to climate change through the power of Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

With support from the Kiwa Initiative, funded by the European Union, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the project empowers communities across Babeldaob to take proactive steps in addressing the impacts of climate change on both land and sea. The focus: protect the ecosystems that we depend on for food, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and sustainable development.

The initiative is backed by a $400,000 grant from the Kiwa Initiative. Of this, $25,000 is allocated to the Governors Association to coordinate climate resilience activities across the

states, while each of the 10 Babeldaob states will receive $17,000 to design and implement Nature-based Solutions tailored to their communities.

Resilient Babeldaob builds on the outcomes of earlier national initiatives such as the GEF 6 project, which supported the development of master plans for 14 of Palau’s 16 states. These plans are designed to guide land-use and infrastructure development in ways that anticipate and reduce environmental pressures , not just react to them. The initiative complements the work of the Palau Protected Areas Network (PAN), which ensures the long-term health and sustainable management of Palau’s biodiversity and natural resources for the well-being of current and future generations.

“This can be the first step in a more strategic engagement of the states in climate change adaptation programming,” said Governor Henaro Polloi, Chairman of the Governors Association. “When our communities lead with the support of science, funding, and tradition, we create real, lasting change.”

At its core, Resilient Babeldaob is a community-first movement. By integrating traditional knowledge, community planning, and ecosystem-based approaches, the initiative aims to foster stronger, climate-resilient communities, starting with the very landscapes and marine environments we live in and rely upon every day.