By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The Bureau of Marine Resources will be absorbing programs on the endangered ‘Dugong’ in Palau, according to a project proposal that is being worked out by the Palau Turtle and Crocodile Conservation and Monitoring Office led by National Coordinator Joshua Eberdong.
If approved, the programs regarding sea turtles, crocodiles and dugongs will be grouped into one office under the BMR.
The project will be known as "Protecting Palau’s Vulnerable Marine Species: Conservation and Management of Crocodiles, Dugongs, and Sea Turtles."
The project will run for 12 months.
It will be a countrywide project with the primary goal to enhance the protection and management of crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), dugongs (dugong dugon) and sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Eretmochelys imbricata) and their critical habitats in Palau.
The main objective of the program is to better inform the public and the political leaders about the ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value of these three vulnerable species.
It is also to continue and further develop ongoing monitoring and management efforts that are essential to the protection of the remaining populations of crocodiles, dugongs, and sea turtles.
For the last two years, the programs on sea turtles had been quite successful in Palau, using sophisticated equipment in tracking the whereabouts of turtles during nesting seasons and in between foraging.
Based on the project proposal, the activities to be undertaken include interviews on highly respected elders, who will share their perspective on how changes have impacted the populations of crocodiles, dugongs and sea turtles.
The project said that pictures and videos from these interviews will be combined with the most up-to-date scientific studies of these species to make presentations.
There will also be presentations to State and other local leaders on scientific studies and excerpts from interviews and to be communicated in a culturally appropriate manner to better inform communities and politicians about these vulnerable species and actions needed to better ensure their long-term survival.
Emphasis will be placed on the significance that these species play in Palau’s ecosystem, history, and legends.
The tourism value, both current and potential, of these three species, will also be presented and discussed in light of the predicted threats to habitat that will likely accompany the completion of the compact road and further development of Palau.
The project is also to increase awareness and to gather information on incidental sightings on these three species.
A steering committee will be formed and will meet once a month to discuss the conservation and management of turtles, crocodiles, and dugongs. This committee will include representatives from communities, state government, national government, and NGOs.
Channeling Information to the Protected Area Network
All of the surveys and research conducted by the Bureau of Marine Resources Vulnerable Species Program will be provided to PAN to incorporate the habitat of these at-risk species into Palau’s national conservation plans.
The proposal stated that the dugong incidental sightings program will be moved to BMR.
Accordingly, the previous research and local knowledge will guide ongoing fieldwork to better characterize Dugong habitat. It said that representatives from the Palau International Coral Reef Center will work with the Vulnerable Species Protection Coordinator to establish field monitoring based on PICRC’s past surveys of Seagrass habitat.
The BMR Vulnerable Species Program office will advocate for the inclusion of dugong habitat in Environmental Impact Assessments and Palau’s PAN.
The coordinator, Joshua Eberdong, will also work with wildlife and enforcement officials to better enact existing legislation designed to protect dugongs.
The final report of the scientific and educational work of the Vulnerable Species Protection Office will include a summary of state visits, community meetings, surveys, maps and databases..