By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

A Field Biology and Biodiversity Assessment Training was conducted in Palau by the Pacific –Asia Biodiversity Transect Network from March 25 to April 2.
The Pabitra joint synthesis meeting was organized by the organization’s coordinator for Micronesia, Harley Manner and Tarita Holm, Forest Management Coordinator of the Bureau of Agriculture.
On the first day of the meeting, the participants toured Babeldaob which contains the largest intact stands of native forest in Micronesia.
On the second day of the meeting presentations on the soils of Palau, a forest inventory assessment and a topographic profile diagram presentations were held.
Last March 27, the participants spent the day at the Ngerikiil watershed which is said to have been affected by burning and other non-forest land activities.
The participants also spent in transect, reconnaissance, assessment of vegetation and land use pattern and site selection for climatic and hydrological instrumentation.
Professor Mueller-Dombois meanwhile made a field presentation on releve method and ecological tree inventory methods.
On March 28, the participants established an automated data logging meteorological and hydrological station in the Ngerekiil forest watershed.
The participants also spent a day at Ngardmau State were it is less impacted that the Ngerikiil although the landscape is dotted with ked and evidence of bauxite mining.
The meeting concluded yesterday with the awarding of certificates of completion to the participants.