The UN Environment program has just announced a new project – “Advancing sustainable resource management to improve livelihoods and protect biodiversity in Palau.” The goal of the program is to help the citizens and government of Palau to better protect their nation’s substantial natural biodiversity.
Located in the Pacific Ocean, 946 miles east of the Philippines, Palau is an archipelago of over 576 tropical islands. It’s also home to many endangered species of animals and plants that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.
Maintaining a pristine natural environment not only helps the animals and plants that make Palau their home, it also helps the local people whose livelihoods depend on tourism, which is the country’s largest source of income.
The nation-wide program is the first of its kind for Palau. It’s being funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and will be managed by Palau’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Tourism.
The program will focus on sustainability, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and reducing invasive species. The approach is to bring together people from different backgrounds to create a united effort to protect Palau’s native biodiversity and the local community’s way of life.
For more information on the program, you can contact: stamatios.christopoulos@un.org
