Every five years, Palau International Coral Reef Center develops a strategic plan to guide its efforts for the next five years.
The Palau International Coral Reef Center’s (PICRC) Board of Directors and senior management staff of PICRC, on May 20,2018, evaluated the progress of the last five years and the way forward for the next five years.
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At the end of the two-day discussion, the Board of Directors approved the Center’s Five Year Strategic Plan that will run from 2018-2022.
The Strategic Plan outlines five goals that the Center will pursue in the next five years: 1) PICRC research initiatives have a positive impact on marine conservation policy; 2) PICRC research is conducted consistently to expand the understanding of marine and coastal management priorities in Palau and Micronesia to support conservation action; 3) PICRC is institutionally effective and efficient with proactive governance and leadership and all staff continue to build capacity and achieve excellence in their work; 4) PICRC will achieve greater financial stability with sufficient and consistent funding to operate as a Center of Excellence for coral reef research in Palau and Micronesia; and 5) The Palau Aquarium is an engaging and interactive activity for all visitors, by showcasing the value of Palau’s marine ecosystems and highlighting key management needs and conservation issues of Palau and the Region through its displays and attractions.
The development of the Strategic Plan was a long process, involving all the department staff at the Center. It began with initial discussions among the staff, followed by a meeting with the Board of Directors to further discuss the plan and get comments and inputs from them.
Throughout the process, the staff continued to improve upon the plan, making sure to incorporate comments and suggestions from the Board, as well as other staff members. Though it was a long and grueling process, it was necessary for all the staff to be involved to ensure that every voice was heard, so as to create a comprehensive Plan for the next five years.
The plan will help the Center meet the challenges of informing a rapidly developing marine based tourism economy, guiding the implementation of new science programs, and ensuring the continuation of monitoring needs. It also focuses efforts to build institutional and financial sustainability. The foundation of the 2018 to 2022 Strategic Plan is PICRC’s commitment to conducting research that is locally and regionally significant and that is directed towards the sustainable management and conservation in Palau and the world. (PR) [/restrict]