By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The House of Delegates has recently passed a Resolution recognizing, supporting and endorsing the Micronesian Challenge.
Newly installed Vice Speaker Noah Idechong introduced House Joint Resolution No. 7-60-10, which explained that the Micronesian Challenge requires participating States to effectively conserve 30 percent of near shore marine and 20 percent of forest resources throughout Micronesia by the year 2020.
In December 2006, no less than President Remengesau took the lead during the formal launching of the Micronesian Challenge.
Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands entered into a regional Executive Consultation and Agreement, which they coined as the Micronesian Challenge.
The Resolution noted that a majority of States of Palau have established under traditional and legal arrangement the creation of protected areas and these areas are recognized by the national government as serving the dual purpose of preserving the biodiversity of the country and providing tools for the resource management of each State.
Thus, the government enacted the Protected Areas Network (PAN) to create a uniform system for the preservation and protection of these States.
The Association of Pacific Islands Legislature (APIL) endorsed the regional Marine Protected Areas Network across the Pacific Islands thus paving the way for the creation of the Micronesian Challenge.