Palau small community voices outrage over 50-year sand mining proposal
Sand-mining proposal in Palau is being opposed.
Views from Palau: Filming Palau's rarest wildlife
Koror — When it comes to filming wildlife in Palau, one specie has been on my bucket list for many years. Estimates suggest that there are only about 200 animals left in its population and they are spread over a huge range. It is large and extremely enigmatic. It has been hunted close to extinction and is now extremely wary of anyone approaching. I am referring to the dugong. The ancestors of the Palauan population somehow made the journey across the Philippine Sea from South
Views from Palau: Keeping score on Palau’s environment
Koror—Half a lifetime ago I graduated from the University of Plymouth with a degree in Environmental Science, more specifically, Aquatic Pollution Ecology. It taught me the methods of assessing an ecosystem and determine how healthy it is by what is living there and the chemicals present. We studied everything from pristine rivers (high score) to those affected by agriculture or acidification (7-8), those that passed through industrial areas (3-5) and those that had been affe
Palau’s Carrying Capacity, An Elusive Goal
Koror- Palau’s tourism industry is at a crossroad. The goal of attracting more visitors to fuel Palau’s economic development that can be sustained without degrading the island’s natural beauty has been made a priority as Palau sets out to determine its carrying capacity - acceptable levels of environmental, cultural, and community impacts. The release of “The Palau Responsible Tourism Policy Framework and Action Plan 2017-2021” late last year, which has yet to receive endorse
Senate Repeals and Replaces EIF With Palau Visitor's Fee
The Palau Senate has agreed on a compromise version of House Bill No. 10-22-1, HD1, SD1 in a unanimous 12-0 vote. The $100 Environmental Impact Fee is repealed and replaced with $100 Palau Visitor's Fee, which will encompass $30 Green Fee, $20 Departure Tax, and additional $50 to be collected upon implementation on 1 April 2018. Palau National Congress Building Where EIF detailed its allocation - $25 for pension, $10 for PNMS Fund, $12.50 for State Governments, and $2.50 for
Palau Senate Panel Throws Support behind Tourists Fee Repeal
Barely two months into the new government, the President and the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) or the Palau Congress seem headed on a collision course with opposing views on the Environmental Impact Fee (EIF). Palau's Capitol Building in Melekeok State Earlier, the House of Delegates has made clear their position through their full support in the passage of the bill, HB No. 10-22-1, HD1, to repeal the EIF provision of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS)- President Tommy Rem
Rekung, Road Dots & Conservation
Koror, Palau— Rocking to some Palauan Oldies music on a local station, I drove my car on the Compact Road in Babeldaob, winding through the beautiful scenery and taking in the views as I crested hills. As I accelerated out of a curve in Ochelochel, Airai, a land crab, rekung, skittered across the road, headed for the coastline where it will shake its eggs out in the high tide brought on by the full moon. As it crossed my lane I felt an adrenaline rush as I slammed on my break
Remengesau Agrees To Delay EIF Implementation
President Tommy E. Remengesau has heeded calls to delay the added fees for tourists after a coalition of airlines and tourism development groups called for the postponement of the April 1 implementation of the new $100 environmental impact fee. The president also agreed with Palau Visitor's Authority's analysis that until a more positive sign from the larger source markets in Asia, implementing the EIF on April 1st of this year is not the most opportune time to be increasing
Palau’s Environment Minister To Take Action On Illegal Trade of Napoleon Wrasse
Community cooperation is a must to stop illegal poaching of the Napoleon Wrasse, Minister of Natural Resources, Tourism and Environment Umiich Sengebau told Pacific Note. Sengebau was reacting to the social media firestorm created by photos posted on Facebook of alleged tourists holding a dead Napoleon Wrasse. Although the photos do not verify whether it was taken in Palau, it has been known that the tame Napoleon Wrasses found at Blue Corner have been disappearing. There is
Palau Tourism Arrivals Continue To Decline In Early 2016
After growing strongly in 2015, tourism arrivals on Palau during the first five months of 2016 have fallen to at least 21 percent and are expected to continue to decline for the rest of the year, according to the latest Palau Visitors Authority Visitors Arrival report. Tourists walking the main shopping area in downtown Koror. Photo by Ongerung Kambes Kesolei The latest May 2016 arrivals posted the lowest for this year with 9,602 compared to 15,705 of May 2015. The report sta
