By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Five environmental scientists belonging to the Pacific Asia Biodiversity Transect Network are currently conducting a nine-day training seminar in coordination with the Ministry of Resources and Development on how to deal with the country’s development efforts without necessarily destroying the natural resources.
The seminar is scheduled from March 25-April 2 with four days to be conducted in the field particularly in Babeldaob.
Dr. Harley I. Manner, full professor of Geography from the University of Guam, explained that the training is to share their individual expertise and help increase the local capacity amongst Palauans so that they could come-up with the right kind of programs for a sustainable economic development.
The other scientists are Dr. Jim Juvic of the University of Hawaii –Hilo, Dr. Art Whistler of the University of the Pacific in Fiji, Dr. Dieter Mueller-Dombois, Emeritus, of the UH, Dr. Kim Bridges and Dr. Curt Dachler, the last two also from UH (manor).
Manner said that the upcoming development of Babeldaob is one of the main issues that are being considered.
The seminar is primarily dealing with the ecology and its sustainability and how to maintain the traditional system, according to Manner.
"We will trained them and do analysis in terms of land use options," said Manner, who was able to obtain a $42,000 grant from the Asia Pacific Network for Blobal Change Research based in Kobe, Japan for this seminar.
The seminar is a follow-up to the first meeting with Palau Group in August 2006.
Juvik explained that they are here on voluntary services.