Five Year Environment Sector Plan 2010 – 2015.

The Five Year Environment Sector Plan is a policy at national and state level with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Plan is 5 years between 2010 and 2015. The strategic goals of this Plan are to: (I) mainstreaming environmental considerations into national policies and economic development activities, (II) strengthen waste management and pollution control, (III) promote the use of renewable energy resources, (IV) ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, (V) ensure sustainable management and protection of marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, (VI) improve environmental awareness and education system and increase public participation in the protection of natural resources, (VII) enhance biosecurity for biodiversity conservation, (VIII) establish sustainable financing mechanisms, and (IX) enhance technical capacity building to support environmental protection programs.
Environmental management will be strengthened to ensure sustainable use of natural resources and to protect marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Marine and fresh water quality will be monitored and improved through effective pollution control.
The public participation will be promoted in the activities regarding protection of environment, natural resources, ecosystems and species. Legal and financial incentives will be provided to encourage NGO fund-raising and development.
This Five Year Environment Sector Plan sets forth environmental priorities in accordance with Sustainable Development Plan at the national level as well as in Yap, Kosrae, Chuuk and Pohnpei state level. Protected area management will be strengthened in the forestry sector to maintain its contribution in the fields of ecotourism and non-timber forest products to the economic growth. Shoreline protection will be strengthened through reforestation. Biodiversity conservation will be ensured to protect endemic plant species. Biosecurity programs including border control and quarantine will be developed to prevent the introduction of alien invasive species. The benefits arising from the sustainable use of genetic resources will be shared in a fair and equitable manner amongst all stakeholders. Traditional knowledge and practices regarding genetic resources will be documented for protection. Human environment will be improved by reducing solid waste and by establishing, designating and effectively managing solid waste disposal sites. Energy conservation will be ensured by promoting the use of renewable energy resources. In order to minimize the adverse impacts of development activities on the environment, environmental impact assessments will be carried out for all governmental and non-governmental activities. Environmental awareness will be raised through improved education system and communication means such as conferences, media and radio programmes. Sustainable financing mechanisms will be established to promote environmental and sustainable natural resource initiatives.
All legislative acts and policies at the national and state level will be updated to mainstream environmental considerations with a special emphasis on climate change. In addition to that, a National Climate Change Response Strategy will be developed and implemented. The resilience of the communities to disasters will be increased by strengthening emergency response coordination and capacity. Measures will be taken to minimize the GHG emissions. Institutional capacity building will be enhanced to cope with environmental challenges.