Palau Conservation Society Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021.

This Strategic Plan is a national plan with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Plan is 6 years between 2016 and 2021. The overall goal of this Strategic Plan is to work with communities to conserve natural resources in partnership with national and cross-boundary partners, and emphasize the scientific basis of protected areas, sustainable use of natural resources, and land and marine spatial planning. This Strategic Plan sets forth objectives to achieve conservation such as (i) increasing compliance and enforcement, (ii) reducing negative tourism impacts, (iii) invasive species management, (iv) green solutions for resilience to climate change, and (v) reducing reef fishing.
Food security will be ensured by taking conservation measures for sustainability and productivity in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The need for drinking water will be met through effective freshwater resources management.
Conservation strategies will be carried out with a scientific basis to protect natural resources for the present and future generations. Forest conservation and management will be developed by expanding forest cover to improve forest health. Best management practices will be integrated into protected areas, agriculture, and water protection. Protected area management plans will be implemented with special emphasis on biodiversity conservation underlining important bird areas. Furthermore measures will be taken against invasive species. In order to make fisheries more productive and sustainable, protection of marine habitats will be strengthened. Capacity building will be enhanced within sustainable fishing initiatives. The participation to the sustainable fishing certification program will be promoted. Populations of highly valued reef fish will be maintained by reducing export of reef fish and regulating the size of fish caught. Moreover seagrass habitats and mangroves will be protected.
Ecologically sound tourism management measures will be implemented in line with environmental protection. Environmental information will be integrated into educational institutions to increase environmental awareness. Sustainable land management will be ensured through effective land use planning. Communication technology will be incorporated into land use and management. Freshwater systems will be improved by monitoring marshes, rivers, streams and lakes. Financial sustainability will be developed through effective management of all funds.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation will be integrated into conservation strategies with a multi-hazard approach to reduce vulnerabilities and reduce carbon emissions. The resilience of agriculture, fisheries and environment to climate change and disasters will be increased to ensure food security, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem preservation and protection of natural resources. Forest conservation measures will be taken against forest fires.
Palau Conservation Society shall be responsible of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes and achieve improvement to better adapt its actions, become a better learning organization, and better effect change in the environment and conservation sector.