Palau’s PAN Act which was passed in 2003 aims to establish a nationwide network of terrestrial and marine protected areas. Its goal is to protect Palau’s biodiversity while assisting local Marine Protected Areas.
Although the PAN Fund (PANF) was recently created to officially administer and disburse funding of the Palau PAN, the House Committee on Ways and Meansfinds that there has been a lengthy delay in the implementation of support for the PAN. Therefore, it finds that it is appropriate at this time to include a PAN Grant section to the FY2011 Budget to allow for the disbursement of the green fees fund that were and will be collected in FY2010.
“Because PAN organizational structure is not yet operational and able to disburse the accumulated funds, it is appropriate for the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) to make one-time direct distribution of these funds to sites which have been designated under PAN and to projects which are necessary to ensure that PAN operates framework and support to utilize PAN to the utmost,” the Committee report said.
At present, $790,328 designated for PAN has already been accumulated.
Of the country’s $58,369,000 proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011, approximately $1,175,000 will go to the PANF for the management and implementation of PAN to eligible sites and projects.
A total of $230,000 will be appropriated to several states and sites for institutional capacity and development of PAN.$50,000 will be appropriated to Ngarchelong State for start-up costs involved in implementing the Ebiil PAN site and Northern Reefs management plans. Another $50,000 will go to Ngiwal State for developing PAN site regulations, awareness and completion of the management plan.$15,000 of which is for legal assistance to Kelulul a Kiuluul.
Melekeok and Hatohobei States will also get $50,000 each for institutional building and refining of the Lake Ngardok PAN site management plan and for Helen Atoll, respectively.
Aimeliik, Ngatpang and Ngaremlengui States will share a total of $30,000 to update and strengthen governance for the Ngermeduu Bay Conservation Area and watershed protection.
Subject to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Delegates’ approval, different government departments and agencies will get a total of $550,000 to facilitate operations of PAN.
The $550,000 will be divided as follows: $90,000 will go to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism to strengthen their technical and administrative capacity to implement the PAN program; $50,000 to the Bureau of Revenue, Customs and Taxation for personnel upgrade and training; $60,000 to the Attorney General’s office to undertake legal and policy research in order to provide legal advice to state and national agencies on matters relating to PAN; $50,000 to the Palau Visitors Authority to undertake an education and awareness campaign for tourists and the tourism industry on the green fee and its objectives; $25,000 to the Belau National Museum to develop protocols for bird monitoring of PAN sites; $25,000 to the Council of Chiefs to review the PAN Act and identify conflicts with customary laws; $50,000 to the Palau Conservation Society to build its capacity to support communities needing assistance in PAN; $50,000 to the Olbiil Era Kelulau to embark on a consensus-building effort to develop a legal framework in support of revenue-generating ventures and enterprises at PAN sites; $50,000 to the Palau National Scholarship Board for a conservation internship project; and $50,000 to Division of Fish and Wildlife to strengthen its capacity to enforce conservation rules and regulations.
The remaining funds, which will be generated from collection of the Green Fee during Fiscal Year 2010, will be appropriated to the Micronesian Conservation Trust. The PANF will allot 5 percent received from the environmental protection fee and any unallocated funds to the Micronesia Conservation Trust Endowment for PANF’s use at a later time.
