Alliance (BWA); and supported by the Palau Conservation Society (PCS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The workshop began on June 21 and will conclude on June 27. According to Joyce Beouch, BWA coordinator, the workshop aims to meet the following objectives: provide for a forum through which regional watershed issues are identified and discussed; exploration of existing and other innovative management practices to protect watersheds, inclusive of the processes through which BWA evolved; establishment of networks and partnerships with critical agencies, organizations, and individuals to promote effective and shared watershed management practices; and the promulgation of watershed protection efforts.
“When we talk about watersheds, we will delve into all aspects of the environment,” said Collin Joseph, a member of BWA Steering Committee, “From the clouds to the mountain tops and to the edges of the reefs and beyond. Our concern is water and it touches and affects practically everything that breathes; we are fighting for its protection and in the process, protecting everything else.”Isonahnken Iriarte is attending the workshop on behalf of the traditional leadership of Pohnpei to raise awareness and to support watershed protection efforts in Pohnpei.He said in an interview that watershed protection efforts in Pohnpei officially began in 1987 when the government established and began implementing the Watershed Forest Reserve and Mangrove Act of 1987 – a law that set aside 5,100 hectares (51 million square meters) of central Pohnpei for conservation.The law, according to Isonahnken Iriarte, though worthy of praise, failed to incorporate the pre-existing norms – the traditional protocols – of Pohnpei and in a sense, show disrespect to the traditional leadership of Pohnpei. He further added that efforts are being undertaken to revisit the law; and to build into it “proper procedures” that would provide for its continued implementation without negative implications and fewer challenges.“I am walking the law,” he said, “to show my support of it. I am making a ‘statement’ visit to learn and meet people with similar efforts and to share and exchange knowledge.”According to Beouch, Isonahnken Iriarte will be meeting with Paramount Chief Reklai Raphael B. Ngirmang today to “exchange experiences” of watershed protection and to share ideas to meet future challenges.Attending the workshop with Isonahnken Iriarte from Pohnpei and Kosrae are: Conservation Society of Pohnpei representatives Patterson Shed and Wendolin “Roseo” Marquez; Pohpei State Government, Deacon Valentine Santiago; and community partner, Joseph Felix; and from Kosrae William William of YELA; Fanston Marcus of Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization; Erik Waguk of KIRMA; and Hemilson Phillip, Kosrae’s community partner.During the workshop participants will be making presentations of their work. In addition they would be provided with opportunities to listen to guest speakers and experts talk about issues and challenges directly associated with conservation efforts.
