case studies undp: conservation society of pohnpei, federated states of micronesia

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF POHNPEI, Federated States of Micronesia

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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Federated States of Micronesia

CONSERVATIONSOCIETY OF POHNPEI

Empowered live

Resilient nation


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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power of Local Action: Lessons from 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chief: Joseph Corcoran

Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Brandon Payne, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Conservation Society o Pohnpei, and in particular the guidance and inputs

Patterson Shed and Eugene Joseph. All photo credits courtesy o Conservation Society o Pohnpei. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbo

and Wikipedia.

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Equator Initiative C

Study Series. New York, NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858


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PROJECT SUMMARYSince 1998, the Conservation Society o Pohnpei has workedto improve the ecological and social sustainability o anetwork o seven marine protected areas around the islando Pohnpei in the Federated States o Micronesia. Throughenvironmental education and biological monitoringprogrammes, the initiative has coordinated marineconservation eorts across Pohnpei, while encouraginga diverse suite o alternative livelihood activities or localcommunities to reduce human pressures on scarce marineresources. In recent years, the organization has supported

MPA sites to introduce innovative monitoring andenorcement systems that combine modern and traditionalapproaches.

The organization also operates an environmental educationprogram which reaches more than 8,000 students in 27schools across the island, has engaged in conservationo important terrestrial orests and watersheds, and haspartnered in initiatives to eradicate invasive species.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2008

FOUNDED: 1998

LOCATION: Pohnpei island

BENEFICIARIES: Pohnpei Island communities

BIODIVERSITY: 11 Marine Protected Areas

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CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF POHNPEIFederated States of Micronesia

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 6

Biodiversity Impacts 8

Socioeconomic Impacts 11

Policy Impacts 12

Sustainability 13

Replication 14

Partners 14


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4

he Federated States o Micronesia (FSM) is made up o 607 islands

pread over one million square miles o the western Pacic Ocean,

omprising our states Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Pohnpei. The

slands o the FSM contain over 1,000 plant species, at least 200

which are endemic. Its coral rees, estimated at 14,517 km2, are

ome to nearly 1,000 species o sh and over 350 species o hard

oral. Its proximity to the Indo-Malay region, and the vast distances

etween the islands avored high endemism and species diversity.

he majority o people living on these small islands depend on

atural resources or their ood, livelihoods, and traditional cultures.

hese resources are threatened by pressures associated with rapid

opulation growth, overharvesting, habitat destruction, changing

ultural practices, invasive species, and climate change.

alikir, capital o the Federated States o Micronesia, is located on

ohnpei Island. At over 780 metres, Pohnpeis tallest peaks are lush

nd verdant, towering above a gentle talus slope at lower elevations

round its 80-mile (130 km) circumerence, surrounded by coral rees.

he state o Pohnpei covers approximately 133 square miles (345

m2), with a population o around 34,000; its outer islands include

ingelap, Mokil, Ant, Pakin, Ngatik, Nukuoro, and Kapingamarangi.

Balancing livelihood needs with resource sustainability

n recent decades, this island state has been the setting or a conict

etween local resource use and environmental sustainability. Arowing Ponapean population and the transition rom subsistence

estyles to a cash-based economy resulted in unsustainable levels

harvesting o sh and wildlie by the islands communities. This has

een particularly acute in the case o marine and coastal resources,

eading to the overharvesting o sh populations, depletion o

mangrove orests, and declining coral ree health.

One approach to conserving these threatened marine resources is

he institution o Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), rst established in

ohnpei in the late 1990s as part o a national strategy to conserve

the Federated States o Micronesias biological diversity. The F

Environment Sector Strategy (1999) called or the establishm

o a network o eective community-managed, ecolog

representative, and socially benecial marine and orest prote

areas in the nation to saeguard the countrys precious na

heritage. In 2003, the FSM completed a National Biodive

Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) with the goal o prote

and sustainably managing a ull representation o the coun

marine, reshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. In the same

the government o the FSM, the U.S. Forest Service, The Na

Conservancy (TNC), university scientists, and local experts

drated A blueprint or conserving the biodiversity o the Fede

States o Micronesia to begin to address this goal.

Background and Context


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A total o 130 areas o biodiversity signicance, including 86 coastal

nd marine sites comprising 260,948 hectares, were identied

ationwide. Marine Protected Areas were a key strategy adopted to

egulate over-shing, and are now well-established as a conservation

measure across FSM, including in Pohnpei. Each MPA site incorporates

no-take zone; many also include key sh spawning sites known to

ocal shing communities. By banning shing rom these areas, the

MPAs hope to allow or regeneration o species numbers. To date,

owever, the eectiveness o these MPAs has been limited by a lack government investment in tactics to enorce shing regulations,

eading to encroachment within protected marine and costal zones

y local shers.

Conservation Society of Pohnpei

he Conservation Society o Pohnpei (CSP) emerged largely to

ridge the gap between state-led conservation eorts and the local

takeholders aected by them. The group was ounded in 1998 by

group o orty volunteers with the aim o preserving the natural

eritage o Pohnpei State and promoting sustainable development

ased on community-led resource management. Their approachwas to act as an intermediary between the traditional leaders o

ommunities and state authorities to ensure local compliance with

egislation on MPAs, watershed reserves, and shing regulations.

CSP works to create linkages between the state and

communities in the management o natural resources. Thro

environmental education campaigns, supporting altern

livelihood projects that reduce shing pressures, and enga

communities in participatory processes to establish MPA bound

CSP has sought to root marine management in local capacitie

ensure compliance with regulations, the initiative has comb

innovative monitoring strategies with traditional justice syst

with some notable successes. CSP currently works with a netwo seven MPAs around Pohnpeis main island. Other work a

have included invasive species eradication, improving water qu

through watershed management, and collaborating with part

in research and monitoring activities.

CSPs work has taken place against the background o ong

attempts to rehabilitate sh stocks and coral health aro

Pohnpei. Government eorts were renewed in 2006, when

Federated States o Micronesia was one o ve nations to sig

to the Micronesia Challenge (along with the Republic o Palau

Republic o the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Territory o Guam, and

Commonwealth o the Northern Mariana Islands) in partne

with The Nature Conservancy. Together, they promised to cons

30 percent o near-shore waters and 20 percent o key lands in

region by 2020. Rapid Ecological Assessments were condu

around Pohnpeis main island to inorm this strategy, and have

used to direct the setting-up o Marine Protected Areas.


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6

Key Activities and Innovations

he group categorizes its activities into three main areas o work:

marine, terrestrial, and educational. These ocuses are integrated into

holistic approach to environmental conservation, emphasizing or

onapean residents that their land-use practices directly aect the

tate o the marine environment. CSPs terrestrial programme works

with communities neighbouring Marine Protected Areas to mitigate

poor land use practices, while its marine programme includes

norcing bans on destructive shing practices. The educational

omponent is targeted at Pohnpeis large youth community, and is

elivered through extensive outreach programmes.

Marine programme

he main ocus o CSPs marine programme is coordinating the

ctivities o their network o Marine Protected Areas. There are

leven legally-designated MPAs surrounding Pohnpei; CSP currently

works in close collaboration with seven o these areas, namely

Nahtik and Kehpara in the municipality o Kitti, Dehpek/Takaieu

nd Mwand (Dekehos) in U, Sapwitik in Nett, and Namwen Na and

Namwen Nanhngih in Madolenihmw.

Many o these MPAs were established as early as 1999, but

aced difculties in ensuring compliance and gaining local sup

With the help o community youth groups and the Pohnpei S

Ofce o Marine Conservation, CSP has demarcated the MPAs

boundary markers, no-take signs and mooring buoys, all o w

are maintained regularly. They work in close conjunction with

conservation ofcers, municipal police, and community leade

developing plans or the co-management o MPAs. These are kn

locally as Community Action Plans. This process o develo

co-management plans can typically involve between ve

ten participatory planning meetings. CSPs role also consis

providing technical and scientic advice, developing the cap

o conservation enorcement ofcers to impose established and regulations, acilitating the creation o a network through w

MPAs can learn rom one another, and the collection o sh and

ree data at the MPA sites.

CSP has conducted extensive research and environme

assessments within the MPAs in conjunction with partners, as w

training community volunteers to conduct biodiversity monito

This has included monitoring o seagrass, coral, sediment

spawning sh populations. By acilitating network developm

between the dierent MPAs, CSP hopes to provide a orum

which conservation managers can learn rom one another, as

as rom other MPA networks in the Asia-Pacic region, and w

collaboratively to gain support rom traditional and governmleaders. This includes unding to support MPA management

and o-island trainings and learning exchanges, and allocatio

equipment and supplies to managers and enorcement ofcer

supplement their conservation o marine areas, CSP has encour

the development o alternative livelihoods such as sponge and

arming.


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As well as maintaining this MPA network, CSP has advocated or the

reation o new protected areas, with notable success in the case

Ant Atoll, a neighbouring privately-owned island. New legislation

stablished the Ant Atoll Biosphere Reserve in 2010. The momentum

or community-based marine management has also led to three

MPAs being created on Pakin Atoll, another local island.

Terrestrial programme

CSPs terrestrial programme has been based on parallel conservation

nd monitoring eorts conducted on Pohnpei island. This has

ncluded the creation o a Watershed Forest Reserve in which

gricultural activities are restricted, and other initiatives to improve

water quality. A second area o work has been raising awareness on

he eradication o invasive species, such as the False Sakau plant,

ntailing a campaign to change agricultural practices in upland areas

the Forest Reserve. Finally, CSP has also worked with international

artners on an Ethnobotany project, compiling documentation o

he islands plants, their medicinal properties, and their usage by

ocal people.

Education and awareness-raising programme

The third component o CSPs work is raising awarenes

conservation through educational outreach. Their Environme

Awareness Programme works to educate Pohnpei residents abou

importance o the environment and encourages their participa

in conservation activities. The Societys agship programmes ar

Youth-to-Youth Programme, which works with grade six cla

rom seven local schools; the Green Road Show, which traveelementary schools on the island and works with grade ve cla

an Environmental Club or high school students; and commu

outreach, involving various communities in Pohnpei. CSP has

supplemented its public education eorts with the productio

several publications, including a quarterly newsletter, and we

radio programmes, video, posters, a childrens activity booklet

numerous other resource materials.


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8

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

Pohnpei is home to some o the richest biodiversity in the Federated

tates o Micronesia. Sixteen percent o its species are endemic,

ncluding 110 trees, 56 birds, 25 species o terrestrial tree snails, 3 sh

pecies and the skink lizard. Pohnpei also has the lowest dwar cloud

orest and the largest intact lowland tropical orest in the Pacic,

nd the largest grouper sh spawning and aggregation site in the

ndo-Pacic region. These eatures have made the area the ocus

o many international conservation groups and researchers; the

Conservation Society o Pohnpei has acilitated these relationships,

nd integrated the results into its conservation strategies. Much o

CSPs work within its seven Marine Protected Areas has been basedon analysis o the main threats to its ecological integrity.

ntegrating international expertise and local action

rom 2005 to 2006, a Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) was

onducted in Pohnpei, including Ant and Pakin Atolls, to identiy

reas o signicant biodiversity. This ramework was developed by

TNC and was carried out in conjunction with CSP sta. The results

were used to assess the eectiveness o the existing MPA network,

both rom a sheries and biodiversity perspective. For instance, a

unanimous nding recorded by the team o scientists during the

REA was that sedimentation caused by human activity is a threat to

biodiversity conservation within the Pohnpei lagoon. CSPs currenteorts incorporate a ridges to ree strategy to address the threats o

ediment build-up and pollution, which aect the health o the coral

ees and thereore sh stocks. CSP also conducts its own ongoing

monitoring o Pohnpeis sh populations, coral rees, sediment

build-up, and seagrass to keep track o positive or negative changes

over time, as well as implementing socioeconomic and governance

monitoring programmes; these results inorm the management o

ndividual MPAs and the MPA network as a whole.

Monitoring key biodiversity indicators

Commercially-important sh species: Key shery species

benthic habitats are monitored inside and outside o each

using permanent belt transects and line-intercept transects. U

volunteers rom local communities, CSP conducts sh monitori

ve MPAs. Monitoring sh populations measures the eective

o MPA management and occurs bi-monthly in and around

MPAs, to indicate population trends over time. This has ocuse

three o the preerred local market sh amilies: Scaridae (Par

Lethrinidae (Emperors), and Siganidae (Rabbit).

Fish spawning sites: The Serranid spawning aggregatioKephara MPA, meanwhile, is monitored on an annual basis, u

permanent 325-t transects. The three aggregating species

(or Camouage grouper), Sawi (Coral trout), and Ripw-ripw (B

Marbled grouper) occupy the ree in distinct sections w

they perorm rituals that include changing colour, territoriality

courtship. These events repeat around ull moon every Janua

May and last 1-2 weeks per month. During the past decade, W

species numbers have declined as a result o unregulated overs

representing an ongoing challenge or Pohnpeis Marine Prote

Areas. Kephara MPAs Widir aggregation and spawning site is the

remaining o substantial magnitude in the Asia Pacic region

has assisted in instituting a state-sanctioned annual ban on the

o grouper sh in the months o March and April. This is monitthrough markets, however, rather than on-site: the ban has

prevented shers rom reezing their catches to sell ater the cl

period, and is an ongoing concern or CSPs conservation eort

Coral health: CSP currently monitors coral health in Dehp

Dekehos, and Sapwitik MPAs to determine yearly changes in the

community, using monitoring o neighbouring coral rees as a

or comparison. Coral sedimentation monitoring is also undert

in Sapwitik MPA, as well as in adjacent rees to sand mining a


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n order to measure water quality. All samples are collected, dried,

and weights are recorded. The resulting data is plotted to determine

ediment load throughout the year.

Seagrass: Seagrass monitoring has been carried out on Pohnpei

ince 2001 by researchers rom the College o Micronesia. In 2007,

CSP partnered with this team at two existing sampling sites,

pwal-Sokehs and Rohi-Kitti, and included a new site at Sapwitik

sland MPA. Results rom this research contribute to SeagrassNet,an international monitoring programme that documents coastal

habitats worldwide.

Ecological monitoring informing conservation practice

These ongoing monitoring processes help to inorm the regulation

o activities within the Marine Protected Areas. Methods or ensuring

compliance with the protected areas regulations have included

raditional ceremonies held in conjunction with community

members, village leaders, NGO representatives, CSP sta, and

municipal government representatives, in which trespassers

ask village chies or orgiveness. Cultural norms around shame

and punishment, dictated by a persons rank within their villagecommunity hierarchy, are a potentially powerul tool to ensure

compliance. This process o traditional justice has been promoted by

CSP in Enipein community, part o the Nahtik Marine Protected Area.

CSP has also assisted Nahtik MPA in nding innovative ways to

monitor compliance within their no-take zone. In 2007, with a

grant o USD 20,650 rom the UNDP-implemented GEF Small Grants

Programme, local community conservation ofcers built a bamboo

at, complete with roo, cooking area and outhouse, rom which to

monitor illegal shing within the MPA. This also allows monitoring

during the night, when incursions would otherwise go undetected.

The combination o re-introducing traditional justice systems and

encouraging modern-day innovations has proved to be highly

uccessul in the case o Nahtik MPA.

Combating environmental challenges on Pohnpei Island

Terrestrial resource management has supplemented CSPs marine

programme. The creation o a Watershed Forest Reserve to protect

Pohnpeis upland orest has been a major initiative undertaken by

CSP, while recent work has ocused on the Nanpil and Sehnpehn

Watershed. The project studies the correlations between stream

ow, sediment load and rainall, using gauge measurement and

monitoring studies. These activities provide solid inormation on the

eects o land-clearing activities on the quality o the watershed andhe sedimentation runo levels to the coral rees. CSP is also working

with communities to establish community-based Mangrove Forest

Reserves. This process has consisted o participatory workshops,

oning demarcation, and monitoring mechanisms. Another concern

s the control o invasive species. CSP works with the Pohnpei

nvasive Species Task Force to eradicate and raise awareness on alien

pecies.

False Sakau: A primary threat to biodiversity in Pohnpei is the illegal

growing o False Sakau (Piper Arithrium) in the Watershed Forest

Reserve. Sakau is used to produce a traditional beverage w

calming eect that has been widely consumed in Pohnpei

other South Pacic islands or centuries. Once restricted only to

aristocracy, this root drink has become widely popular in Poh

Traditionally the crop was grown mainly in the lowlands

demand has become so high that people are increasingly mo

illegally into the uplands orest reserve and clearing trees to p

sakau, where it grows aster.

To discourage sakau armers rom encroaching on water

reserve land, CSP has developed the Grow Low campaign. Far

are taught new and more eective techniques or growing sak

the lowlands, given sakau seedlings to start their new arms, an

also given vegetable seedlings and training in growing veget

to supplement their income. To date, CSP has worked with

3,000 sakau armers. The incentives oered by the programm

conjunction with a strong compliance system, proved to be ee

in decreasing the number o new orest clearings rom

onwards. In 2007, with a USD 50,000 grant rom the GEF Small G

Programme, CSP implemented a two-year programme incorpor

the distribution o vegetable seedlings to sakau armers as a m

o generating alternative income sources in a shorter period o It was envisaged that this project would bring sufcient inc

and better nutrition to sakau armers, urther reducing the num

and size o orest clearings in the Watershed Forest Reserve. W

the work has continued using unding rom the European U

the alternative livelihoods component has not taken hold. S

continues to be grown, largely as a result o its cultural import

or Ponapeans. It is used in traditional ceremonies throug

peoples lie cycles, and has continued to expand rom a pres

o the richer elite to a widely-shared practice. CSPs work did

success in moving sakau growing out o the islands important

watersheds, however.

Monitoring orest watershed integrity: Since 2001, the Water

Forest Reserve monitoring programme has ocused on thirteen

areas. These areas have been monitored or human incursions

especially clearing orest areas or land plots to plant crops. Ru

rom clearings in the orest reserve adds to sedimentation, dama

Pohnpeis coral rees. A ew community members rom each are

taught measuring and evaluating techniques, including the u

GPS technology, and are responsible or quarterly monitorin

orest activities in these areas along with CSP sta and muni

police. Recent monitoring results have shown that CSPs terre

strategies are having a positive eect. Within the rst year, there

a 50% decrease in orest clearing. The clearest results were in a

where the watershed boundary lines were already demarcsuch as U and Madolenihmw. This demonstrated that having cl

demarcated watershed boundary lines is an eective strateg

discourage intrusions. From a high o six hundred orest clearin

2002, plots ell to twenty-eight in January 2004, while in April

there was a single clearing recorded. In 2006, there were eight

orest clearings, ollowed by only ve new clearings in 2007.

Terrestrial invasive species: Invasive species targeted by CS

eradication include the Ivy Gourd (Coccinia grandis), Chain o

(Antigonon leptopus), Mile-a-minute (mikania micrantha), and

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rown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis), an invasive species that has

amously devastated native bird populations in Guam. Through

articipation in a high-level advisory group, the Regional Invasive

pecies Council (RISC), the Federated States o Micronesia and other

Micronesian nations are drating a bio-security plan to address the

pread o invasive species in the region. Through awareness-raising

bout these threats, CSP can play a role in a locally-adapted plan asart o this regional strategy, which hopes to eradicate 100% o these

pecies by the end o 2012. CSP has implemented its invasive species

rogrammes with the support o the Critical Ecosystem Partnership

und (CEPF). It has also helped to coordinate a three-year strategic

ction plan or the Invasive Species Taskorce o Pohnpei (iSTOP), a

multi-agency group aimed at protecting the island rom the threat

invasive species.

Environmental awareness-raising

n addition to measures that enorce compliance with CSPs various

onservation initiatives, the group has carried out environmental

ducation initiatives with Pohnpeis communities. Much o thisas ocused on young people. Since 2002, the Green Road Show

as delivered mobile, entertaining environmental education or

ohnpeis th grade students. This was the rst environmental

ducation programme ocused specically on Pohnpeis conservation

ssues. Two Environmental Educators visit primary schools six

mes throughout the school year in a painted vehicle, teaching

ducational sessions centered on our environmental topics: Upland

orests, Mangroves, Coral Rees, and Waste and Pollution. Students

eceive activity booklets, while posters are given or classrooms.

Test results rom beore and ater the visits show an increase in

participants knowledge o their environment. This programme

visited all 27 island schools, reaching approximately 8,000 yo

students to date. This work is undertaken in partnership with

states Environmental Protection Agency and the Departmen

Education.

Borrowing rom the successul Youth-to-Youth public education

awareness programme in the Marshall Islands, the Conserva

Society o Pohnpei has tailored this approach to imp

environmental awareness and education in Pohnpei. Together

partners, CSP coordinates the Pwulopwul ohng me Pwulop

(Youth-to-Youth) environmental programme in seven sch

The programme partners each school with a state agenc

non-governmental organization to work on an environm

project throughout the school year. Projects that have b

implemented include lowland sakau production, water qu

testing, medicinal plant gardening, marine surveying, demarc

Marine Protected Areas, education on Persistent Organic Pollut

marine conservation practices, mangrove orests, agrooreupland orest/deorestation, and recyclable art. The respe

agency, teachers and students carry out their chosen activity in

surrounding community. The programmes culminate in a air w

students showcase what they learned rom their mentor agenc

the orm o drama, poster shows, presentations, songs and da

The air is also taped and aired on the local radio station and reco

and edited or the local TV station.

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An Environment Club, ormed by CSP in 2004, targets high school

tudents. Activities in 2005 included participation in CSPs RARE

Conservation agship species campaign, raising awareness o the

ohnpei Mangrove Crab (Elimoang), as well as radio programme

roduction, video making, mural painting, community outreach and

nvironmental songs. Summer marine environmental camps have

iven students the opportunity to participate in coral identication,

sh monitoring, GPS techniques and Marine Protected Areas

xploration. In 2007, CSP held its rst terrestrial summer camp,t which students learned about the Watershed Forest Reserve,

thnobotany, orestry, and bird surveys, and were able to hike

Nahnalaud, the highest mountain in Pohnpei.

n 2010, a Youth Environmental Ambassadors Summer Camp was

eld on Black Coral Island. The Societys Marine programme and the

Marine Conservation Unit led the students through three days o

nteractive sessions on marine conservation and environmental laws

nd regulations in Pohnpei. The students were also given a tour o the

Nahtik Marine Protected Area, including the permanent monitoring

at. These extensive environmental education and outreach eorts

re integral to the organizations long-term strategy o equipping

ohnpeis youth with the knowledge and technical skills to valuend conserve their islands natural and cultural heritage.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

he socioeconomic benets o CSPs work have been elt through

heir sustainable aquaculture programme, an ethnobotany project

ocumenting knowledge on medicinal plants and their usage by

ocal people, and water quality monitoring.

Diversifying marine-based livelihoods

CSP works in partnership with another local NGO, the Marine

nvironment Research Institute o Pohnpei (MERIP), to support

ustainable aquaculture in the orm o sponge and coral arming.

The technical role o coral and sponge arm development is han

by MERIP, while CSP assists with raising awareness o and promo

the idea in the targeted communities. The number o sponge a

grew rom two in 2001/2002 to twenty active arms by 2007. Six c

armers were given training in 2006; this number increased to ni

2007. The number o arms is expected to expand by more than

in the next three years as local markets are established and beg

grow. Most o the sponge armers are connected to Pohnpeis

Network, which includes the MPA communities o Nahtik, SapwMwahnd, Dehpehk, Namwen Nahningi and Namwen Na. Mar

developed to date include local hotels and restaurants, a U.S.-b

private company, the Community Conservation Network in Ha

The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, and Swatch, in Japan.

Coral arming has helped to diversiy the income o armers and,

to a shorter maturation period, armers receive more rapid return

their time and investment. One cause o overshing is the artic

low market prices paid to shers that drive them to take increasi

larger volumes o sh to cover growing expenses, such as rising

and supply costs, and still earn a living wage. By supplementing

income through sponge or coral arms these shermen are ab

reduce their shing to more sustainable levels.

Demonstrating the value of biodiversity to wellbeing

A project that has successully combined conservation, cul

and the health o local communities is the Micronesia Ethnobo

Project, begun in January 2006. This project was initially establi

in 1997 by a researcher rom the New York Botanical Garden, U

Two CSP sta members currently participate as eld sta in

project.

The initiative aims to preserve and document the traditional us

plants. Plant use inormation is careully obtained through interv

and collection o specimens. These are dried and submitteresearch institutes or identication and herbaria purposes. P


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pecimens are also returned and stored at the College o Micronesia

erbarium in Palikir. The projects ndings have been documented

n two books: A Primary Health Care Manual and Ethnobotany of

ohnpei: Plants, People and Island Culture. The Primary Health Care

Manual has included local plant uses or common ailments and was

made available to health care proessionals on Pohnpei in the many

ispensaries around the island. Ethnobotany of Pohnpei, Plants, People

nd Island Culture serves as a record o Pohnpeis traditional plant

nowledge. The latter was published in January 2009, copyrightedn the name o Pohnpeis traditional leaders and the Pohnpei State

overnment, ensuring that this knowledge remains the property o

ohnpeis people.

A second health benet o CSPs work has been in improved water

uality or Pohnpeis citizens. The Nanpil River is a vital source

drinking water or nearly 60 percent o Pohnpeis residents.

CSP targeted the rivers water quality in the community o Nett

n an eighteen-month project unded by the European Union,

rom 2008-10. This project was varied in its scope and activities:

ne o the main components was the continuation o the Grow

ow Sakau campaign, which encouraged armers to plant in the

owlands rather than in the watershed orest reserve, while a team

lso identied over 34 sources o contamination, mostly piggeries

r pit toilets, along the river banks. CSP, in conjunction with the

nvironmental Protection Agency, tested water at ve dierent

ocations and ound levels oE. coliand Enterococci to be extremely

igh in some sites. With the support o the Federated States o

Micronesias Integrated Water Resource Management und, CSP has

dentied good practices in animal and human waste management

o help counteract this threat. The und has also helped support

ublic awareness and education activities comprising community

meetings, radio announcements, and posters. CSP has identied

esources to remove hal o these sources o contamination rom

Nanpil, as well as expanding to assess tributary rivers and streams,sing geographic inormation system (GIS) mapping o these sites to

evelop action plans or urther contaminant removal.

ocioeconomic and governance monitoring within MPA

ommunities provides eedback on how the MPA is aecting peoples

ves and monitors the communities understanding o the value o

MPAs and their involvement in their management. Inormation rom

ll o these monitoring activities is used to strategically manage the

MPA network and to urther ormulate sound management policy.

POLICY IMPACTS

CSPs success in coordinating conservation activities withinohnpei has led to it playing a lead role in conservation within the

ederated States o Micronesia. One success in this area has been the

esignation o Ant Atoll as a biosphere reserve, while CSP has also

ontributed experts to national research bodies.

Collaborative creation of a new MPA

Ant Atoll is one o the most signicant islands in Micronesia, and

was identied as one o twenty-our Priority Action Areas in the

ederated States o Micronesias National Biodiversity Strategic

Action Plan (NBSAP). During the Rapid Ecological Assessm

conducted in 2006, the Ant channel was recorded as having

o the highest levels o biodiversity in Pohnpei, with an estima

over 165 species o sh, 25 bird species, and 13 species o rep

including the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill t

(Eretmochelys imbricata). One o the islets on the atoll, Wolo

is home to one o the last intact seabird rookeries in the reg

The atolls main channel into its 742 km lagoon is a spawning

aggregation site or three grouper species (Plectropomus areolEpinephelus fuscoguttatus, and Epinephelus polyphekadion), w

the surrounding coral rees hold healthy populations o giant c

(Hippopus hippopus, Tridagna Maxima, and Derasa).

In October 2007, Ant Atoll was nominated to become the nat

second Biosphere Reserve, ollowing the Utwe/Walung Biosp

Reserve in Kosrae; the reserve gained ofcial status in 2010.

was the result o a ten-year partnership between CSP, the Na

Family, which owns the island, UNESCOs Man And Biosp

(MAB) Programme, and both Pohnpei State and Federated S

o Micronesian governments. The reserve will contribute to

conservation o substantial ecosystem, species, and ge

biological diversity.

Unlike Pohnpeis other MPAs, Ant Atoll Biosphere consists o t

zones: Core Zones, where strict protection measures will be ap

to protect the key areas or sh spawning, turtles, and bird nes

Buer Zones, adjacent to the core zones, in which shing activ

are regulated and tourist activities can be developed; and Trans

Zones, allowing or better management o sh stocks thro

monitoring. The ongoing management o its sh stocks will s

as an important test case or the Federated States o Microne

shing policies.

Contributing expertise to policy processes

With climate change and its eects already being experience

many areas o the Federated States o Micronesia, the nat

government commissioned a team o experts to compile a

o baseline data or the country. Three members o CSPs Ma

Programme and one member o their Terrestrial Programme

included in the team, which gathered inormation on a varie

issues related to the outer atolls, including soil composition

health, ree surveys, disaster preparedness, and invasive species

Finally, CSPs monitoring activities have also contributed to a b

o research managed by SeagrassNet. This international monito

programme documents the status o seagrass resources worldw

as well as threats to this important marine ecosystem.

programme started in 2001 in the Western Pacic and now incl

60 sites in 20 countries; a global monitoring protocol and

based data reporting system have been established. Seagrass

ultimate aim is to preserve the seagrass ecosystems by increa

scientic knowledge and public awareness o this threatened co

resource.


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13

Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITYn terms o the social basis or CSPs work, there is strong support rom

ocal communities or the continued management o their Marine

rotected Areas. The group helps to build the capacities o local sta

n these eorts as well as coordinating conservation eorts across

ts network. It has also been successul in gaining assistance rom

xternal sources in the orms o unding and technical assistance.

hese relationships with international actors have also been used

o build the capacity o CSPs own sta, ensuring its organizational

ustainability. In environmental terms, however, the initiative still

aces several challenges. Fish stocks and other marine resources

ontinue to be depleted unsustainably, posing an ongoing challengeo the ecological viability o the region.

Capacity building: CSP ocuses much o its eorts on the education o

ommunities and training o MPA community leaders, in partnership

with the international network o Locally Managed Marine Areas

LMMA). CSP has helped to train Community Conservation Ofcers,

ommunity volunteers who patrol the MPAs and conduct monitoring

n these areas. Training has also been acilitated through organizing

ross-site visits within the LMMA network.

n 2010 alone, CSPs Marine Programme Manager took part in a

raduate certicate course or conservation practitioners in Fiji,

upported by the Packard Foundation; the organizations ExecutiveDirector participated in a three-week tour o America as part o a U.S.

tate Department project on climate change adaptation strategies;

he Environmental Educator participated in a Japan International

Cooperation Agency-unded course in Fiji on Waste Management

nd Education; and two sta members rom CSPs Terrestrial

rogramme spent two weeks in the Philippines or a course on

nvasive species and protected areas management. In addition,

CSP was able to bring in a human resources expert rom The Nature

Conservancy to supervise a sel-evaluation process. This was aimed

o keep CSP competitive in the job market in order to retain their

highly-qualied young sta members. Organizational capacity

within CSP and the MPAs it works with is thereore very high.

Strategic partnerships and accountability: National and internat

partnerships have been critical to CSPs success. CSP has sec

two three-year grants and one our-year grant or its MPA netw

through the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which hasprovided on-site technical and capacity development sup

WildAid, an international organization spearheading g

conservation enorcement, approached CSP to oer unding

community enorcement training and conservation practices

has also garnered unding rom various United States govern

agencies that continue to support their local conservation

community capacity building ocuses. Finally, CSP has wo

closely with a national interagency working group, the Poh

Resource Management Committee, to access nancial and tech

assistance or its programmes.


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1414

inancial accounting has been prioritized as a key component or

SPs organizational sustainability. Sta members have received

raining in account management. Monthly nancial reports are

resented to the Board o Directors, while progress and budget

pending reports are submitted to all unders. CSP has also employed

ull-time MPA coordinator since the inception o the project, who

manages any monies dedicated to this initiative, ensuring proper

istribution o unds and resources. The organization has been able

o maintain a ocus on its strategic goals through the setting ohree-year plans, evaluations and strategic planning exercises.

i. Identifying current environmental threats

n ecological assessment o Pohnpeis shing stocks has shown

hat population sizes continue to diminish. Data rom a 2006 market

urvey show that 1.6 million pounds o ree sh are harvested

nnually, while Pohnpeis rees can produce only 1.1 million pounds

ree sh each year. Declines in coral ree health and increased

shing are adding to the problem. Marine Protected Areas may not

e enough to maintain sh stocks in Pohnpei. Regulations such as a

ee sh export ban and sh size limits might be necessary to prevent

his over-exploitation; restrictions on gill nets and night-time spear

shing, and targeted protection or sh during spawning periods

ave also been proposed as strategies or restoration o sh stocks.

SP continues to work with its partners, Pohnpei state legislators,

nd local governors to produce a legislative programme that will

omprehensively tackle the challenges o unregulated over-shing;

his will be crucial to the long-term ecological sustainability o

ohnpeis marine biodiversity.

REPLICATION

arious aspects o CSPs programmes, including both their MPA

models and educational campaigns, have been replicated in other

reas. This has been acilitated by CSPs ongoing involvement inegional and international LMMA and MPA networks.

s well as the creation o the Ant Atoll biosphere reserve, the

ommunity o Pakin Atoll has established three MPAs around their

land. The three protected sites were designated to help manage the

ngoing problem o over-shing in Pohnpei, as well as to preserve

nd protect the islands coral rees and its marine resources. CSP is

ommitted to providing assistance to the Pakin community through

he creation o a collaborative management structure.

n 2010, the sixth annual national LMMA network cross-site visit

was held on Peniou Island. This brings together community chies,

municipality mayors, community conservation ofcers, conservationractitioners rom NGOs and the state, church leaders, and

overnment ofcers. One o the issues discussed was the ormation

a new protected area in the Kitti area. Some community leaders elt

hat establishing another protected area would limit shing options

nd take away a valuable sand mining resource or local people. The

roposed area could soon join the eleven other MPA sites around

ohnpei, however, i these issues can be collectively resolved.

The success o CSPs Green Road Show has led to its replica

in Palau and Kosrae. Today, both islands have similar educa

initiatives: the Ridges to Ree Show, coordinated by P

Conservation Society, and the Nature Road Show, implemente

the Kosrae Conservation and Saety Organization. CSP worked

these two organizations to adapt and develop these program

or their islands.

PARTNERS Pohnpei State, including the Department o Educa

Department o Lands and Natural Resources, Departmen

Public Saety, Marine Conservation Unit, Pohnpei Reso

Management Committee, Environmental Protection Agenc

Municipal Governments

Paramount Chies and other Traditional Leaders

Community Conservation Ofcers and Forest Rangers

Secretariat o the Pacic Community

Youth and Womens Organizations

FSM Sustainable Development Council

Micronesia Conservation Trust

Micronesians in Island Conservation

College o Micronesia, FSM

USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Services

Island Food Community o Pohnpei

Marine Environmental Research Institute o Pohnpei (MERIP

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) network

David and Lucille Packard Foundation

UNDP-implemented Global Environment Facility (GEF) S

Grants Programme (SGP)

UNESCO

U.S. Department o the Interior

U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service National Fish and Wildlie Foundation

Micronesia Conservation Trust

U.S. Geological Survey and the Water and Environme

Research Institute (WERI) o the University o Guam

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

Global Greengrants Fund

AusAid

Australian Governments Regional Natural Heritage Program

Secretariat o the Pacic Community - Applied Geoscience

Technology Division

U.S. Forest Service

University o Hawaii U.S. Department o Agriculture

Canada Fund


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FURTHER REFERENCE

Fuder, J. 2010. Pohnpeis diminishing ree sh need protection. http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2010/October/10-14-cm.htm

Conservation Society o Pohnpei website http://www.serehd.org/Home.html
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348258269.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348162756.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348159896.pdf

case studies undp: conservation society of pohnpei, federated states of micronesia

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