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A Model Partnership - Hawaii Asked to Join Global Challenge

  Tommy Remengesau, Jr., president of Palau

Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. in Honolulu and (below) sailing on the Hōkūle'a Polynesian voyaging canoe.

Aboard the Hōkūle'a 

Palau President Tommy Remengesau aboard Hokule'a
President Remengesau, Jr. is an avid fisherman and water sportsman.

Micronesia Challenge

Learn more about the Micronesia Challenge and the Conservancy's staunch commitment to help fund the Micronesia Challenge Endowment.

The President of Palau was in Hawai`i recently, encouraging the State to join a global challenge to help conserve the natural environment.

While in the islands for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting and a Nature Conservancy gathering in his honor, President Tommy Remengesau, Jr., emphasized the importance of conservation partnerships such as the Micronesia Challenge, a landmark project he spearheaded three years ago.

“For Palau, and island states throughout the Pacific, our environment is our economy — and our future” said the President. “At the end of the day, the future of all people, and for that matter, all life on this planet will be determined by our ability to recognize our limitations and to sustainably use our natural assets to ensure a future for our children.”

President Remengesau attracted worldwide attention in 2005 when he announced the Micronesia Challenge, a commitment by five Micronesian island governments to conserve at least 30 percent of near-shore marine resources and 20 percent of land resources by 2020.

Together with Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands signed the challenge, and have raised more than $12 million of $18 million for a trust fund to begin implementing their goals.

Palau’s congress also recently passed a law that is expected to generate $1.65 million annually for management of the island’s Protected Area Network through a $20 visitor's fee. 

The Micronesia Challenge has inspired six countries in the Coral Triangle region led by Indonesia and four countries in the Caribbean to make similar conservation commitments.

Although ending his second and last term as president in December, Remengesau said he will continue to advocate for conservation long after leaving office because of its importance for his country and the world. The challenge, he said, is to educate young people about the importance of protecting the ecosystem and “ensuring the next generation's survival.” 

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Grady Timmons (President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. in Honolulu); Photo © Ka'iulani Murphy/Polynesian Voyaging Society (President Remengesau, Jr. aboard Hōkūle'a).