Taiwan invasive plants expert, Ph.D. Chau-Chin Lin, visited Palau from September 1st to 5th to do a survey of the spreading and damage caused by Merremia peltata (L.) Merr., commonly known as Kebeas to Palauans.
After the Taiwan Embassy received the assistance request letter from Ministry of Health (MOH) of Palau in June this year, Dr. Lin was invited by TaiwanICDF, headquarter of Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in the Republic of Palau. Dr. Lin obtained the Ph.D. of ecology in Clemson University of United States, specialized in invasion ecology, and worked for over twenty years in the Forest Protection Division of Taiwan Forestry Research Institute.
During his visit, Dr. Lin surveyed the damage of kebeas in the whole of Babeldaob and some communities in Koror. He attended the community activity of cleaning kebeas in Aimeliik in the morning on September 2nd. And he also visited the Ministry of Health, Bureau of Agriculture, Bureau of Land and Survey, to share the experience of controlling invasive plants in Taiwan, to exchange the opinions of controlling kebeas, and to share some latest information of kebeas with related staff of the Palauan government.
Dr. Lin will soon provide a formal report of controlling kebeas to help Palau eradicate this rampant plant more efficiently. (PR)