public health impacts of climate change in palau

A report by the students of the School of Journalismat Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public Health Impacts ofClimate Change in Palau

A Special Thank YouWe would like to acknowledge the special contribution of Pearl Marumoto in the creation of this publication. Without Pearls deep love and understanding of Palauan culture, the environment and public health, this book would not have been possible. Sulang Pearl.

Palau Climate Change Project i

Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiAbout This Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vBackground. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viiMethod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ixForeword - Bilung Gloria G. Salii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiForeword - Dr. Stevenson Kuartei. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xii

Chapter 1: Public Health 1 Public Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Health Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Mobile Health Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Isolated Populations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Diet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Chapter 2: Agriculture 17Agriculture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Heat & Drought. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Salt Water Intrusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Chapter 3: Medicinal Plants 31

Chapter 4: Fishing 39

Chapter 5: Sea Level Rise 45Sea Level Rise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Flooding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Chapter 6: Climate Change & Culture 53First Birth Ceremony................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Cultural Significance of Taro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Weaving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Storyboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Chapter 7: Eco-Friendly Tourism 73

Chapter 8: An Uncertain Future 77Conclusion - Mark Keim, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Table of Contents

Photo | Julia RendlemanCover Photo | Genna Ord

ii Palau Climate Change Project Palau Climate Change Project iii

Book CreditsJerry Bush Author & PhotographerJulia Fromme Layout & DesignSarah Hubbs Author & Media SpecialistGenna Ord PhotographerMollie Mahany EditorJack Piatt SIU Copy EditorJulia Rendleman Photographer

Southern Illinois University Department of Journalism On-site TeamJerry Bush Journalism InstructorSarah Hubbs Undergraduate Journalism/Media studentGenna Ord Undergraduate Journalism/Photography studentJulia Rendleman Graduate Journalism/Photography student

Palau Ministry of Health (MOH)Stevenson Kuartei, M.D.Pearl MarumotoDekei NgiramengiorJane OlsudongSharp SakumaGaafar J. UherbelauDeidre Yamanguchi

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMark Keim, M.D.Mollie Mahany, M.P.H.

This report was supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This document has not been revised or edited to conform to agency standards.

Acknowledgements

iv Palau Climate Change Project Palau Climate Change Project v

O n September 16, 2010, three journalism students (Sarah Hubbs, Genna Ord, and Julia Rendleman) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois (SIUC) and I embarked on a 10-day journey to the island of Palau in the Pacific island region. Our mission was to gather primary research data concerning the impact of climate change on the public health of Palaus citizens.

The department of journalism at SIUC partnered with the Ministry of Health in Palau to create a three-part project to help raise awareness of the public health aspects of climate change on Pacific islanders. The first step of the project was to create an advertising campaign designed to raise such awareness levels of Palauans. The second part of the project was to create and publish a photojournalism book using the photographic data gathered by the two SIUC photojournalism students. The third step was to develop a website that contained and displayed all of the data collected on our journey.

Ideas and discussions about this project began as early as March 2010 in American Samoa at the annual Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) meeting. One of the main topics for this meeting was the public health effect of climate change on the Pacific island region. Dr. Mark Keim and Mollie Mahany from CDC, Dr. Stevenson Kuartei and Pearl Marumoto from the Ministry of Health in Palau, and I discussed the possibility of documenting climate change events in Palau through photography, video, personal interviews and an awareness survey. It was agreed by all parties that the results from this type of project would not only benefit Palau and other Pacific islands in terms of awareness, but also anyone researching climate change and its effect on public health.

Jerry BushJournalism InstructorSouthern Illinois University Carbondale

About this Project

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T he Republic of Palau is a small island nation located in the Pacific Ocean. Palau consists of eight main islands and hundreds of uninhabited islets, and was first settled over 4,000 years ago. With a population of approximately 21,000 people, Palau is one of the smallest sovereign nations in the world. The country is divided into sixteen states, with the vast majority of the people living in Koror state, the commercial center of Palau.

Once a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau is now a democratic republic and was admitted to the United Nations in 1994. Although Palau has embraced the international economy, it is important to note that the people of Palau maintain a strong cultural identity with many traditional ceremonies and beliefs still being honored today.

The Republic of Palau, like other Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to a number of factors: small physical size, remoteness from major bodies of land, limited natural resources, vulnerability to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and limited financial and human resources. In addition, the important contribution of eco-tourism to the national economy may be threatened by damage to the coral reefs and unique biodiversity of the Palauan islands.

Background

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MethodSouthern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) partnered with the Palau Ministry of Health (MOH) with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the public health consequences of climate change currently being experienced in the Republic of Palau.

The goal of this project is to help raise awareness, both domestically and in the international arena, of the public health effects of climate change on Pacific Islanders by using three tools. The three tools include 1) a photojournalism book to document the local experience and to raise awareness abroad, 2) an integrated marketing communications campaign to increase awareness within Palau of the effects of climate change on human health, and 3) a website to raise regional and international awareness of the findings and to provide a forum for discussion and resource sharing.

A team of 3 journalism students, their instructor, and a CDC public health advisor travelled to Palau to work directly with the Ministry of Health. The SIUC team and the Palau MOH conducted interviews with a broad range of community members including government officials, traditional leadership, fishermen, gardeners, physicians, scientists, and other local residents in order to explore their experiences and perspectives concerning climate change in their community. The interviews were conducted primarily in the Palauan language and were also captured by video. In addition, the team of photojournalists took thousands of images documenting the locally identified effects of climate change that were perceived as having direct or indirect public health consequences for the people of Palau, including coral bleaching, beach erosion, irregular rainfall and extreme weather events, sea level rise, and salt water inundation.

This book aims to present the views of the people interviewed and to document their concerns about their changing environment.

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A lii and Welcome to Palau. Palau is a beautiful island blessed with bountiful natural resources and strong traditions that have led us and maintained our state of health throughout the years. In Palau, men go fish, hunt, and build, while women are delegated the responsibility of caring for the well-being, health, success, and prosperity of the family. A successful woman in Palau (meral redil ra blil-the true woman of her house) is able to conduct the affairs of her household in a successful manner. One of the most important responsibilities is making sure the family is sustained with food. Working in the taro swamp growing kukau (purple taro) and brak (yellow taro), which are the main staple food for Palauans, defines a womans status of Ng techa meklou a klebngel? Who has the best taro in the community?

One of our roles as Palauan women is as the protector of our well being and health. The local knowledge and skills in our traditional medicine and healing, mainly in practicing omesurech (first birth ceremony) are passed on through generations from mothers to daughters, older women to younger women. Our traditional medicines are mostly grown in and around the environments where we grow and harvest our food. Practicing these old methods of planting and harvesting in Palau for generations has kept the mesei (taro swamp) fertile and productive over the years. Practicing our roles as Palauan women has also kept our environment and traditions intact and our families together.

Today, we know that our small island and our identity as Palauans are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The destruction of our beautiful, yet fragile ecosystems mandates an immediate response for protection and restoration of our natural environments before we face irreversible damage that can not only destroy our traditional way of living but also our very existence.

I, as the Bilung, along with the traditional leadership of women of Palau bear the responsibility of practicing, teaching, applying, and protecting cultural wisdom from the past, and for adapting to new protective measures that will enhance the health of Palau. By working with the youth, the young women and women elders to protect Palau, we will not lose our heritage and will leave behind a healthy and beautiful environment for our children for generations to come.

Kom Kmal Mesulang,Bilung Gloria G. SaliiTraditional Leader

Foreword

Photo | Kenny Reklai

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E nvironmental changes in small island traditional cultures like Belau are significant in dictating livelihoods, worldviews, spirituality and the sense of belonging to the worlds eco and ethno-systems. And this is because the consequences have real threats to the people who live in Belau. It is natural to discuss the environment in a broader sense (physical, natural, socio-cultural, economic, political, behavioral, mental, and sacred) because it dictates the rules of eco/ethno-systems that have guided Belauans in the last 4,000 years since arriving in Belau.

Environment changes have led to the changes in the genes, culture, economics, politics, religion, and soon to include spiritualism and sacredness, if time is not taken to reflect on these changes. Survival in the past was because of a fundamental guideline in traditionalism that demanded harmonization to the changes of the environment. In that respect environmentalogy and environmentalism were the keys to survival and provide practical steps on moving forward.

This project, sponsored by the US CDC and Southern Illinois University Department of Journalism, presents a model of documenting environmentology that is consistent with traditional guidelines of ulaoch, that whatever is not harmonious is deleterious. The quiet and assured Belauan existence through the ages has been because of the harmony with the environment. Belauans in this and the next generations should take notice of this project, and be warned by this ulaoch that any disharmony with the environment and to the changes will be deleterious to Belaus existence.

Dr. Stevenson KuarteiMinister of HealthNote: Belau is the Palauan name for Palau.

Foreword

Photo | Pearl Marumoto

Palau Climate Change Project 1

Chapter 1

Public Health

2 Palau Climate Change Project Palau Climate Change Project 3

Public Health

Left: The Belau National Hospital located in Koror, is the only hospital for the entire country of Palau.

Photo | Julia Rendleman

M onitoring and identifying the health impacts of climate change in the Pacific island region is an emerging science. Food security, access to fresh drinking water, vector-borne diseases, heat related illness, and extreme weather events are all issues of great concern for the people of Palau and other Pacific island nations.

Less obvious health impacts of climate change are also of concern. The shift from the traditional diet to one that includes Western foods and processed goods is causing an alarming increase in diabetes and obesity in all the Pacific islands. The increased frequency of flooding and sea-level rise create problems for mobile health units in reaching their patients, or problems for patients attempting to access health facilities.

In addition, increased levels

of stress and anxiety are being experienced in the community due to the threat posed by climate change to livelihoods, development and traditional culture.

There are several challenges for health care systems in Palau and other small island nations such as remote locations and lack of resources. The difficulty in training and retention of medical staff and the fragile health care infrastructure all increase the vulnerability of the population to the health impacts of climate change.

Participation of the community is the key for developing strategies for climate change adaptation. Disaster prevention and preparedness, climate forecasting, and advance weather warning systems need to be integrated with local knowledge and traditional public health initiatives to ensure an effective and appropriate approach.


Above: The Belau National Hospital finds itself at the mercy of the weather as it sits dangerously close to the shoreline; always potentially facing disaster during extreme weather events.

Photo | Genna Ord

Belau National Hospital in Koror is the only public hospital in Palau, and is the sole provider of in-patient medical care in the country, including the outer islands. The hospital is located on an island separated from the main population center of Koror Island, with only a causeway connecting the two together. Landslides, flooding or damage to the bridge could isolate the hospital from a majority of the population leaving no access by road.

The hospital was constructed in very close proximity to the ocean. Although a beautiful location for patients and visitors, rising sea levels, unpredictable tide patterns, and increasing tropical storm activity, have raised concern over the safety and accessibility of the hospital during emergency weather conditions, as well as the risk of damage from tidal waves and tsunamis.

Above: Looking out the back exit of Belau National Hospital, it is easy to see its extremely close proximity to the ocean.

Bottom left: Pearl Marumoto and Sharp Sakuma study the upcoming weeks tide calendar to determine when the next high tide will occur.

Bottom right: The tide calendar, once a reliable predicter of tide activity, is now frequently incorrect.

Photos | Julia Rendleman

Health Access


Above: A Mobile health unit packs up after visiting a patient in her home. These health units visit patients once a month, unless more visits are required.


In Palau, a substantial part of the population relies on mobile health units to reach them and provide medical care.

Medicines and treatment are delivered and administered to those who are unable or do not have the means to travel to health facilities. With limited bed space available in the one public hospital, patients requiring long-term care are sometimes treated in their homes. Trained nurses and technicians make monthly visits to these patients, as well as being on-call for emergencies.

The dense tropical forest and mountainous terrain in Babeldaob make some areas impassable and result in relatively isolated communities. While the main road in Palau is in good condition, the secondary roads vary from good to undeveloped. Recently, tide levels have become less predictable and have left some roads inaccessible due to flooding or road damage.

Left: A patient is administered medicine outside of her home. Elderly populations and other individuals who have difficulties accessing health care facilities, utilize the mobile units for their health care needs.


Mobile Health Units


There are four community health centers located strategically throughout Palau. Three of these superdispensaries are found on the big island of Babeldaob and one on the southern island of Peleliu. These dispensaries provide urgent care and preventive services.

There are two small satellite clinics that serve the more isolated populations in the outer islands; Kayangel in the north, and Angaur and the South-West Islands in the south. If a patient in one of the islands requires hospitalization they are transported by boat to Belau National Hospital.

Kayangel is the northernmost state of Palau, and is about 50 miles north of Koror. The 50 miles that separate Kayangel from Koror is the equivalent of a 2-hour boat ride; a lengthy trip for anyone in need of serious medical attention.

The island of Peleliu has a population of about 700 people. It is located approximately 35 miles southwest of Koror which is about a one hour speed boat ride. The Southern Community Health Center is located in Peleliu and serves as a hub of health care services for the Southern region.

The heavier and more frequent storms that are predicted will make it even more difficult for the people living on these distant islands to reach Koror when emergency care is needed.

Palaus most important road, the Compact Road, is a 53-mile long road that encircles the island of Babeldaob. Being the main road of Palau, unobstructed travel during an emergency weather evacuation or crisis would be critical. However, certain areas of the road remain closed for extended periods of time.

In July 2009, a 200-foot section of the compact roadway dropped about 12 feet due to torrential rainfall. The steep sloping landscape and soil texture in the Babeldaob area retains moisture which also caused several mudslides along the road.

Top: A portion of the main road in Palau collapsed after extended periods of intense rainfall. Road closures have made accessing health care more difficult.

Bottom left: Intense rain fall damages roads and often leaves them flooded.

Bottom right: A man attemtps to repair the pot-hole filled roads caused by flooding.

Photos | Genna Ord & Julia Rendleman

Top: Southern Community Heath Center is the only clinic in Peleliu.

Bottom left: Frannie Ngiltii stands in front of the dispensary pharmacy.

Bottom right: Main desk at Southern Community Heath Center in Peleliu.

Photos | Jerry Bush & Genna Ord

IsolatedPopulations


Above: Diana Hesus, a resident of Kayangel, talks about living on a vulnerable and isolated island and about the limited access to Belau National Hospital.

Opposite: The Peleliu emergency evacuation rescue boat transports residents of Peleliu to Koror where the only hospital is located.

Photos | Julia Rendleman & Jerry Bush


Above: A bowl of tapioca is prepped and placed into ti

leaves (cordyline fruticosa) as a traditional dish and dietary

staple.

Bottom: After preparing the tapioca it is served in various

forms.

Opposite: The traditional school diet is threatened

by the increase of Western processed foods because of damage to local crops and availability of convenient,

pre-packaged foods.


Traditionally, the two main dietary staples in Palau were tapioca and taro which were often consumed during each meal of the day. In recent years there has been a shift in diet from one based on traditional, locally produced foods to one that incorporates more Western style processed foods and a heavy emphasis on white rice.

While several factors may be associated with this change, the increasing difficulty of producing local foods has certainly had an impact. Unusual events such as prolonged periods of high heat, salt water intrusion into fields, and a change in the migratory patterns

of fish have all contributed to the reliance on imported foods.

Shelves in the markets are now lined with poor quality imported foods that hold little nutritional value, and white rice is replacing the more nutrient-rich taro as the carbohydrate of choice. The shift towards a more processed diet has brought about certain health concerns related to non-communicable diseases.

Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are increasing at an alarming rate in Palau. Palau regularly ranks among the top ten countries in the world for adult obesity.1 The results of a Palau Community Health Assessment survey from 2003 revealed that 58% of Palauan males are obese, as well as 62% of females. School-aged children in Palau account for 18.5%

Diet


Above: A cafeteria employee serves students a single scoop of rice in place of the traditional staple of taro.

Bottom left: 25lb bags of imported white rice are commonly sold in stores as the taste for rice replaces that for taro among younger generations.

Bottom right: Local market employee stocks shelves with popular imported processed meats.


Above: Ironically, a chart of healthy, traditional locally grown foods hangs inside the cafeteria of GBH Elementary School where these foods are no longer predominantly served.


of the overall obese population, with an additional 15% of children being at risk. The cost of providing diabetes related healthcare is around 13% of total healthcare expenditure in Palau.2

Several local doctors and nutritionists believe that the most effective way to decrease these numbers is through education. In order to tackle the problem of obesity and other chronic diseases, Dr. Stevenson Kuartei, Minister of Health, has been working with the Ministry of Education to develop a Healthy Lifestyle curriculum to implement in local schools. With the decrease in local food production, the focus of the educational campaign is on how to supplement ones food choices with imported goods while maintaining a healthful diet.


Chapter 2

Agriculture


A griculture in Palau does not just pass through seasons. Instead, crops like taro pass through generations of women; one woman handing down her fields to the next woman in her family. This cultural significance makes the cultivating of crops in Palau more than just farming for food.

Cultivating food is a way of life for Palauans, with farming crops such as taro, tapioca, coconuts and sugar cane supplying dietary staples, as well as contributing to a familys income.

In recent years, the growing of such crops has become more difficult as a result of changing climate conditions. Extreme heat, drought, flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, and a shift in habitats have been damaging crops, and deterring the growth of food and medicinal plants.

Reduced food production leads to

food insecurity and dietary concerns. The diminishing production of traditional crops has led to a diet containing more processed foods than in the past. This trend towards a non-traditional diet raises concerns about the already increasing rate of diabetes and other chronic diseases being seen throughout the Pacific Island region.

In order to increase sustainability of local food production and security, adaptive measures are being examined to help negate the adverse impacts of climate change.

One possible solution being investigated is the testing and introduction of salt water tolerant taro varieties. Also, preventive measures used by other Pacific Islands employing traditional and contemporary technologies to completely stop salt water inundation of taro patches are being examined.

Agriculture

Left: During a typical hot day in her taro field, a woman receives a brief pardon from the sun in a patch of shade.



While only approximately 6% of Palaus Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is from the agricultural industry, farming is still vital to the social, economic and cultural development of the country.3

Taro plants need large amounts of water to flourish. The patches of land where taro is grown are usually found in low-lying areas near a fresh water source. The land is prepared for planting as soon as sticks, branches and stumps are cleared. The women use the leaves of hibiscus trees and plants near the taro swamps as fertilizer, and insert them into the soil

as they turn it over by hand. Water is then drained from the field to make planting and mulching easier. The stalks of the previously harvested taro crops are planted in the prepared soil. Banana leaves are then used to mulch the entire patch in order to keep the soil moist, and to help control the spread of weeds. After about a week, one or two inches of water is reintroduced and maintained in the patch. This procedure supplies the required moisture for the young taro plants.

In recent years, longer periods of drought and high temperatures have caused significant damage to taro, tapioca, sugar cane and other crops in Palau.

Above: Dominica Kunihiro stands in her taro patch, pausing after talking about how salt water from unusually high tides is killing her crops. Taro, which helps define a womans identity and status, is also under pressure from other effects of climate change such as longer periods of very hot temperatures. In addition, swamp crabs (kesako) which are being driven further inland by the rising tides are now burrowing into the taro patches and killing the plants.

Photo | Genna Ord

Top right and bottom left: Damage to taro plants caused by extended periods of drought and high temperatures is becoming a more common occurrence.

Bottom right: A woman examines two young taro plants for signs of damage.

Photos | Genna Ord

Heat & Drought


Drought conditions also leave taro plants more susceptible to disease and insects. Destructive taro root aphids feed most extensively during drought conditions. Young, newly planted taro plants are especially vulnerable to these insects. Much of the time, damage goes undetected long after the plant can be salvaged because the aphid feeding activity happens underground.

Unusual changes in temperature and rainfall patterns also greatly affect crop yields and the kind of crops that can be grown. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, either high or low, may result in decreases in crop yields due to heat stress, drought conditions, soil erosion or increased flooding of river catchments.

Taro farmers have developed clever ways to help protect their crops against the effects of these changes. Irrigation ditches have been created to funnel fresh water into the patches, helping with the extended periods of little or no rainfall.

Above: A woman gathers dead banana tree leaves to use as a mulch to help retain moisture and shield taro plants from extreme temperatures.

Opposite top left: Irrigation ditches are used to supply fresh water to taro.

Opposite bottom left: A freshwater stream near a taro patch provides irrigation tributaries with water.

Opposite bottom right: Grass is left to grow inside the taro fields to help shield smaller plants from damage from direct sunlight.

Photos | Genna Ord & Jerry Bush


Above: Rebecca Marsil cuts into a sugar cane plant. Sugar cane is one of the main crops in Palau and is also being damaged by climate change. Salt water intrusion caused by rise in sea level increases the level of the ground water table. A lower water table is desirable for better growth of sugar cane plants.

Photo | Jerry Bush

Irrigation systems are often shared by neighboring farmers who work together to control tributaries from the main stream of water. Commonly, there are banana trees, sugar cane, pineapples, papaya, coconuts and medicinal plants on the higher ground around the edges of a taro patch, which are maintained for food, medicine, and mulching material. In addition, some farmers allow grasses and sedges to grow taller within their fields to help shade the young, more vulnerable taro plants.

Traditionally small huts or lean-tos in the taro patches serve as a shaded place for seedling plants as well as a

place for the women to rest, retreat from the hot sun, wash up, and change clothes. Some farmers are achieving good results by starting the young, more vulnerable taro plants in greenhouses or other protected areas. Use of these areas ensures the young plants better protection from heat, drought, insects and extreme weather during early development.

As effective as these traditional techniques have been in the past, they are proving insufficient to completely counteract the effects of climate change. Farmers are beginning to discuss new approaches to protecting this important crop and cultural staple.

Top left: Banana leaves are used as mulch for the young and vulnerable taro plants.

Top right: The use of greenhouses is one adaptation measure being used in an attempt to give young starter plants a better chance of survival in the natural environment.

Bottom right: A small hut in a taro field provides shelter from the sun as well as a place to wash off mud and dirt accumulated in the field.



Above: Salt water intrusion is a result of sea level rise and causes severe damage to taro fields. When overtopping occurs, water may inundate an agricultural area for extended periods of time.

Opposite: Bilung Gloria Salii of Palau, points to an irrigation trench at the base of her taro field; explaining the importance of irrigating the fields, especially in times of severe drought.

Photos | Genna Ord

Crops in Palau have become increasingly threatened by incidents of salt-water intrusion into the fields. Salt-water intrusion caused by sea level rise has resulted in significant damage to Palaus taro patches and puts additional stress on Palaus food supply.

Salt-water intrusion occurs in a variety of ways. Wave surges can bring salt-water and debris inland, leading to flooding of agricultural areas. Overtopping, the flow of ocean water over an embankment, is similar to wave surges because it is related to a rise in sea level; however, overtopping is not always accompanied by larger waves. When overtopping occurs, increased water levels may inundate an agricultural area for extended periods of time.

The occurrence of salt-water intrusion because of wave surges and overtopping is not only damaging to crops, but to land as well. Salt-water intrusion contaminates soil and groundwater sources, leading to a loss of productive land. Soil becomes infused with salt-water and effectively kills plant life.

When agricultural fields are subjected to an intrusion of salt-water, it may take years for the damaged land to recover enough to be used for cultivation of crops. Normally, two years of average rainfall will remove contamination and, assuming no further intrusion takes place, crops may then be replanted and harvested. Given the recovery time followed by the replanting and harvesting, the damaged land is essentially

Salt WaterIntrusion


unproductive for up to five years. The first reported significant damage to taro crops in Palau occurred during the 1997/1998 El Nino events. One-third of the population experienced over a 90% loss of their taro crops due to salt-water intrusion.4 Anguar and Peleliu, two states in Palau, experienced the most loss of taro after the El Nino events.

While Palauans have felt the impact of salt-water intrusion most significantly on their taro crops; sugar cane and tapioca crops have also been affected. Excessive rain and salt-water intrusion particularly, deter the growth of these crops. For sugar cane, a lower water table is more desirable for growth. With a rise in sea level, water tables could potentially rise. The effects of a higher water table would greatly hinder the quantity and quality of the sugar produced.

The Palau Community Action Agency and Informal Employment & Sustainable Livelihood (PCAA-IESL) and Palau Community College are assisting critical states including Angaur, Peleliu and Kayangel in identifying high elevation areas to be used as community agriculture sites. These sites are being developed to reduce the potential impact of salt-water intrusion on crop production.

In addition to higher elevation locations being scouted, a salt-water resistant taro plant is being developed. Ebil Misako Mareb is currently working with officials to help grow this new plant in one of her taro patches.

Above: A taro field, severely damaged by salt water intrusion, will need two years of norm al rainfall, followed by a two to three year period of growth without further damage before it will again produce healthy taro for harvest.

Opposite: A wooden bridge is built to cover an old, stone pathway severely damaged by flooding.



Chapter 3

Medicinal Plants


Medicinal plants in Palau are used for a variety of purposes, and are essential to many traditional medical practices. Climate change has impeded the growth of many medicinal plants vital to these practices. During an interview, Dr. Stevenson Kuartei, Minister of Health of Palau, stressed the importance of traditional medicine when he said, we as Palauans need to think of our traditional healing as the healing for us and actually Western medicine coming in as the alternative healing. Not only is traditional medicine used in treating common ailments, but it also serves a significant cultural purpose for first time mothers.

Omesurech, a ritual-cleansing ceremony performed on a mother after bearing her first child requires the collection of many medicinal plants to assist in the healing process. A Palauan medicine woman gathers the necessary plants and prepares them accordingly for the ceremony.

The plants used in medical practices are gathered from more than 70 species, including some that are endemic only to the region, so plant survival and protection is extremely important.

Some of the most common plants and trees with medicinal properties in the area include Bruguiera Gymnorrhiza, Cocos Nucifera, Terminalia Catappa, and Plumeria.

Bruguiera comes from a mangrove tree and is typically found along the inland parts of mangrove swamps and occasionally on beaches. The bark of bruguiera has medicinal properties that when combined with bark of other species, is used to treat cancer. The root is used to

Above: Bilung Gloria Salii separates medicinal plants that were gathered for a birth ceremony (omesurech).

Opposite: Dirrengechel Sariang Tmatk and Martha Dever take inventory of the medicinal plants gathered during the course of the day.

Photos | Genna Ord


Top: Sunlight beams down upon a vibrant plant.

Bottom: A lone green stem finds its way through dead foilage. Many healthy medicinal plants have retreated from the direct sunlight to more shaded areas.


Left: A bowl of tumeric is gathered as an ingredient for the birth ceremony.

Right: A woman carries a basket of medicinal plants on her head as she assesses the area for more plants.


treat diabetes. The Coconut Palm, or Cocos

Nucifera, is commonly found in areas with more human activity. The Coconut Palm is a key species for traditional medicine with more than 40 documented uses. In a 2001 survey it accounted for 10% of the tree volume with medicinal qualities in Palau. The plant can be used for its antifungal properties and is also a diuretic. The coconut milk derived from this plant is used to treat fish poisoning. The root can be used to treat stomach aches, and the oil from the plant is often used during pregnancies.

Terminalia Catappa, found mostly along beaches and low-lying areas has antibacterial and analgesic

properties. In addition to these properties, Terminalia Catappa trees make up 15% of the tree volume with medicinal qualities. Because of its structure, the plant is commonly used for migraines and high fever.

Plumeria, primarily an ornamental tree, accounts for only 2% of the tree volume that contains medicinal qualities. Of the parts of the tree cultivated for medicine, sap and parts of the bark are most often used in the treatment of stings from common insects and cut wounds.

Changing climate conditions can effect availability of medicinal plants as well as impact their effectiveness. In cases of extreme heat and an increase in the annual

number of hot days, many plants have come under temperature stress. The increase in temperature can affect the chemical compounds of plants. The metabolic structure and the source of medicinal activity in the plant can undergo significant changes, and some plants affected by extreme heat may even die.

Extreme heat is the biggest threat to medicinal plants, but it is not the only climatic condition being studied in terms of medicinal plants.

Rising sea level has been considered a contributing factor affecting plant growth, but it has not yet been directly linked. Though sea level rise and its relationship to medicinal plants is being monitored, one study showed that medicinal plants have high reproduction rates and are typically resistant to salt water.5 The real threat to medicinal plants by the sea may be the complete loss of the ecosystem they inhabit.


Chapter 4

Fishing


F ishing and sustenance agriculture still make up a significant portion of Palaus economy. However, after tuna output decreased in Palau by over 30% during the 1990s, fishing as a potential revenue source also declined.6 Nonetheless, approximately 85% of households in Palau have someone who fishes for either subsistence or commercial purposes, and fish remains the primary source of protein in the diet for most Palauans.7

More than just a popular sport, fishing is just as important to Palaus culture as it is to their diet, and is an integral part of how the people of Palau live their daily lives. Traditionally, the men of Palau are taught to fish at a young age, and are responsible for providing fish for their families, while the women focus their attention on crops and the cultivation of taro. The people in Palau are traditionally very competitive. If a man is a fisherman, he aspires to be the best fisherman.

Fishing

Left: A Trigger fish, a parrot fish and a few rabbit fish make up an unusually small catch for a group of night fisherman.



Above: Airai resident Rdialul Marcelino Augustine discusses the rise in sea level and how it is affecting access to a cave that is a traditional meeting place (li ra ltemruchel) of local fishermen. The cave is a registered historical site in Airai and is being threatened by seal-level rise.

Opposite top: From a young age fishing is a way of life, both for fun and food.

Opposite bottom: A fisherman puts on flippers as he prepares for the nights spearfishing expedition

Photo | Genna Ord, Jerry Bush, & Julia Rendleman

People in Palau are highly aware of the decreasing fish populations in the area. Both those who rely on fish as a source of food, and those who rely on fishing as a source of income, are directly affected by the changes in fish distribution. According to field surveys and fish aggregation reports, there has been a decline in fish populations over the last decade in Palau. Fisheries that had always been abundant in the past are no longer reliable sources of fish, and many fishermen are reporting the need to go further and further out in order to catch an adequate supply of fish.

One reported phenomenon impacting fish populations in Palau is the reduction of an occurrence called upwelling. Upwelling is the movement of dense, cooler ocean water with ample nutrients toward the surface, replacing the warmer,

usually nutrient-depleted surface water. El Nio events, expected to increase with climate change, reduce the upwelling of cooler water that supply nutrients that are extremely important to life in more shallow waters. Because of this, fish either die or attempt to migrate to areas with more food available.

Climate change also results in abnormal stress to the coral reefs of Palau. If Palau loses its coral reefs, it loses the fish populations and other marine life that lives there, the income from tourism, and also the coastal protection from the increased number of storms expected from climate change.

There is some reason to be optimistic. It is possible that corals will evolve to become more tolerant of rising temperature and more able to calcify in acidic conditions.


There is some degree of evidence that this is already happening. However, given the unprecedented rate of climate change, a number of coral biologists are questioning if adaptation and acclimation alone will help in long-term survival if climate-related threats are not reduced.8

Andrew Shiro (left) and Arkasius Ngiratrang discuss the decrease in fish they have observed during recent years. When asked how they feed their families when fishing is bad, Shiro responded that his family gardens, raises chickens and now harvests land crabs during full moons, when the crabs come to shore to lay their eggs. The crabs help make up for the declining amount of fish. Shiro states that there are enough land crabs to feed his family and others in his community. Nonetheless, both Shiro and Ngiratrang worry about the well-being of their children and grandchildren if the effects of climate change continue to deplete the fish population of Palau.

Opposite: A Peleliu fish market worker places the only two fish caught from the previous nights catch in a cooler. This is a signifcant change compared to previous years when every cooler was filled with fish on a daily basis.

Top: Fishermen Andrew Shiro and Arkasius Ngiratrang discuss the consequences of a depleting fish population in Palau.

Bottom: At first glance, the waters of Palau seem abundant with fish. However, local fishermen tell a different story.



Chapter 5

Sea Level Rise


R ising sea levels pose a variety of threats to the people of Palau. Human health, economic development, and sustainability of natural resources are all at risk because of these events. Coastal vegetation and agriculture is threatened in low-lying areas as is the purity of Palaus fresh water supply. With the sea level expected to rise 50-99 mm within the next 50-100 years, the threat of flooding is very likely.9 This rise will likely increase the severity of inundation, storm surges, coastal erosion and damage to important infrastructure and facilities.

Coastal erosion and land degradation could one day force thousands of Palauans to seek higher ground and relocate to other communities. With a rise in sea

level to one meter, low-lying atolls, such as the state of Kayangel, could disappear.10 Land loss due to sea level rise could one day force thousands of indigenous people to become climate refugees in other countries. Palaus Permanent Representative to the United Nations, states that displacement might be the only option if climate change continues at the current or increased rate without significant and urgent mitigation by the international community.11 Many of Palaus traditional cultural practices developed over thousands of years could suffer or be lost due to relocation. Climate migration would also threaten Palauans rights to security of person, property, housing traditional knowledge, and self-determination.

Left: Hana Ingais stands in water that threatens her home during a high tide. In the past, water entering her home was never a problem. Now the water regularly floods her home during the semimonthly high tides.

Photo | Genna Ord

Sea Level Rise


Above: Those living in low-lying areas which frequently flood or near areas of standing water are at greater risk for vector- borne diseases such as dengue fever.

Photo | Genna Ord

Above: Exposed mangrove roots. Mangroves absorb

wave energy from the ocean, helping to limit coastal

erosion, and also reduce the impact of tropical storms and

typhoons.

Right: Flooding in many coastal areas has caused

displacement of property boundary markers.

Photos | Genna Ord

Flooding events are becoming more frequent in Palau. Areas of standing water now are seen in places not observed in the past, or simply staying longer before drying up. Dengue fever is one of the vector borne diseases that threatens the health of Palauans. The possibility that higher temperatures and more flooding may increase incidence of vector-borne diseases is a major concern to the people of Palau. While there has been no significant increase in the number of recently reported cases, increased flooding and warmer temperatures may result in more frequent or widespread occurrences of these diseases, particularly in low-

lying areas and near standing water. Residents living near the areas that are now commonly flooded will be at greater risk for contracting these diseases.

Mangrove trees grow along the coast and form a dense, almost impenetrable forest that range from just a few meters of coastal coverage to several miles of coastal protection. As a natural defense against the sea, mangroves provide numerous benefits to coastal areas and also locations that are particularly susceptible to unpredictable tides. Mangroves absorb wave energy from the ocean, helping to limit coastal erosion, and also reduce the impacts of tropical storms and typhoons. Mangroves also support water quality and fish breeding habitats.

Flooding


In Palau, most mangrove areas experience tidal over wash twice daily. This tidal over wash helps to strengthen mangroves, essentially preparing for unpredictable tides. As a result of sea level rise, mangroves naturally migrate inward towards land, becoming stronger and more dense through the process. For areas where inward land migration is not possible due to some obstruction such as roads or buildings, the mangrove forests simply reduce over time. This eventually makes these areas more vulnerable to flooding and land erosion, and results in the loss of important marine habitats.

Rising seal levels also threaten burial grounds near the ocean. Traditional burial grounds and spiritual sites near coastlines have come under increasing danger of crumbling into the rising ocean.

Humans have lived on Palau for more than 4,000 years. Many of its limestone caves were used as burial grounds. People now discuss moving their ancestors farther inland to protect their graves from rising sea levels.

Top: A mangrove forest protects the coastline from erosion.

Left: The entrance to the ancient burial cave Ngerusar Chelechol ra Orrak sits right on the beach and is threatened by rising sea levels and higher tides.

Photos | Genna Ord

Top left: High tide threatens aroosters habitat.

Top right: Roadways that were at one time always dry, are now covered with

water during high tides.

Right: What used to be a spacious front yard play area is now a much more

confined space due to rising sea level.



Chapter 6

Climate Change& Culture


S ome of the effects of climate change are less obvious than increased temperatures and sea level rise. Individual and community well-being may also suffer as important cultural aspects of Palauan life are impacted by the negative consequences of a changing climate.

Palauan society is rich with art, culture, and traditions that are being affected to various degrees by climate change. Omengat, the ceremony which celebrates the successful delivery of a womans first child, is one of those social traditions.

Omengat is a long-honored tradition still practiced today, and culminates in the gathering of family, relatives and

neighbors for a day-long celebration for sharing food, money and good wishes. Several months after giving birth, the woman is formally presented to the families and the public during the celebration, but not before she goes through a ritual cleansing process that may last four to ten days, depending on her clan.

Coconut oils and tumeric (a yellow gingerroot) are rubbed on the new mother daily. She is massaged and bathed with steaming herbal leaves and plants throughout each day of the ritual. The process, overseen by a medicine woman, is believed to help heal mind and body following pregnancy.

First BirthCeremony(Omengat)

Left: Two to three months after giving birth to their first child, Palauan women celebrate omengat or first-birth ceremony.



On the day of her coming out, the womans family will supply an enormous feast for all the guests to enjoy. Finally, she is prepared by the medicine woman and the women in her family for her formal presentation. Once again she is carefully rubbed with the turmeric and coconut oil mixture which gives her skin a lovely yellow glow. She is then dressed in her familys traditional grass skirt cinched with a large woven belt of pandanus (a kind of leaf) at the waist. On her head she wears a feathered headdress which signifies her clan. The new mother is then ready to be presented to the families and the public.

Supported by kinswomen, she walks on a path of matts woven from coconut fronds until she reaches the gathering of her husbands female relatives. Once presented, great singing and dancing commence to celebrate the new child and the mothers new life.

Climate change has have left several traditional elements of the omengat in jepoardy. Some of the materials used for making the skirts for the omengat are becoming harder to find, and many medicinal plants and herbs used in the ceremony are also becoming scarce. This important and joyous aspect of Palauan culture is threatened by these changes, and may be lost to future generations of young women.

Top: A belt woven from pandanus secures the traditional grass skirt.

Botton right and left: Using the water once used to steam the medicinal plants, the new mother is drenched in the herbal

water to complete another step of the cleansing process.


Above: Dirrengechel Sariang Tmatk applies turmeric and coconut oil to Valyne Ikesakes prior to her initial presentation to her family. It is tradition that the new mother be covered head to toe in the mixture.



Opposite and Above: Covered with coconut oils and turmeric, Valyne Ikesakes strikes the traditional pose (left arm under the breasts touching the right elbow with right forearm extended and holding a leaf in her right hand). As she poses, female family members sing and dance around her.



Above: Female relatives place woven coconut fronds on the ground for the new mother to step on.

Opposite: Relatives gather after placing leaves from the red container around the new mothers feet for good luck.



A mesei a uchul a teloched, which translates in English to The taro patch is the mother of our life, illustrates the cultural significance of taro in Palauan society.

Taro has long been the most prominent and important food crop in Palau, but it is also so much more. Women own the taro patches and tend to them daily, watching their children while in the fields and teaching them life lessons and Palauan values. How well a woman tended her familys taro patch, along with providing and preparing food was critical in deciding her status in her family or clan. At one time, taro provided one of the limited ways of accumulating wealth and advancement.

The importance of taro in Palauan life is reflected in stories, songs, legends and its use in all important customs. For 3 days in July 2011, the first annual Taro Festival was held to celebrate the cultural significance of taro, to promote its nutritional value, to recognize its ceremonial and economic benefits and to help disseminate indigenous knowledge.

Right: Taro leaves are placed in a large pot and covered for cooking.

Photos | Jerry Bush

Top left: Taro root, freshly pulled from the ground is rinsed and cleaned for cooking preparations.

Top right: In a cloud of steam, Taro leaves are temporarily removed and checked to ensure the leaves are properly cooked down for the taro soup.

Bottom left: A bowl of tapioca root undergoes a final rinsing.

Bottom right: Excess moisture is removed from coconut shavings as it is prepared into a topping used to coat a variety of dishes made from taro and tapioca root.


The Cultural Significance of Taro


Top left: Two Palauan women oversee the cooking of coconut milk as a

condiment for a taro dish.

Top right: A caramel topping cooks which will later be added to a tapioca

dessert.

Bottom left: A basket of tumeric.

Bottom right: A taro - tapioca mixture rolled into ti leaves.


Above: Bilung Gloria Salii adds sugar to the taro topping to caramelize the mixture.



Above: A resident of Kayangel, Dirrakelau Smanderang, is in the beginning stages of weaving a traditional mat that will be sold in local markets on the main island of Palau.

Opposite Top: Some pandanus used in weaving is becoming more scarce due to climate change events; therefore, requiring more time devoted to searching for it.

Opposite Bottom Left: After the pandanus dries in the sun, it is wrapped and stored in this bin to be used later for baskets and mats.

Opposite Bottom Right: A woman displays a large floor mat that uses the traditional, natural colored grass as well as a dyed grass to give the mat more personality.


The use of coconut palms and pandanus for weaving is common practice in the Pacific islands and Palau is no exception. Highly skilled women weave baskets, sleeping mats and other items to supplement the household income. The leaves are dyed using berries and plants to produce different colors. In recent years, the use of chemical dyes has increased to achieve more brilliant colors, and additional items such as handbags have been added to target the growing tourist market.

While the coconut palms and pandanus are still commonly found in Palau, some weavers report having to spend more time collecting the leaves and other supplies they need, leaving less time for weaving.

Weaving


Above: A woodworker finishes sanding a story board project for the Palau police department.


Palau has a long tradition of producing excellent woodworkers who built great sailing ships and dcorated traditional meeting houses with intricate carvings that depicted important stories and legends. During the Japanese occupation of Palau, the art of carving storyboards was introduced to Palau by a Japanese artist and was readily adapted. Palauans are also great storytellers and the storyboard quickly became the premiere art form in the country. The best boards are relatively expensive, and are mostly sold to tourists or provided as gifts to important guests.

The preferred wood to use for carving a storyboard is from Ironwood trees (known as Dort in the Palauan language). Ironwood refers to several species of trees that produce very hard wood that is prized for its strength, beauty and endurance. The more common mangrove tree is sometimes used as a second choice if ironwood is not available or becomes too expensive.

Top: Tebang woodworkers creating Palauan storyboards.

Bottom left: The shop owner applys paint to a project.

Bottom right: Finishing touches are applied before the staining process.

Photos | Genna Ord

Storyboards


Chapter 7

Eco-Friendly Tourism


Touting the world-famous Rock Islands and Jellyfish lake, as well as some of the worlds most amazing water features and beaches, Palau is known as the ultimate paradise for adventurous tourists. Palau boasts incredible marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and is consistently rated one of the worlds best diving destinations by expert divers from around the globe.

While blessed with some of the most beautiful natural resources in the world; tourism, over-fishing, pollution, invasive species and habitat destruction, all take a toll on the environment.

Certain climate events can have drastic impacts on the Palau marine environment which correlates to a strong effect on its tourism. Increasingly frequent El Nio occurrences have led to more cases of coral bleaching, which could ultimately lead to decreases in tourism. Between the years of 1992 to 1997, tourist arrivals nearly doubled from 30,000 to 60,000 in Palau. However, Palau experienced a 3.3% decrease in their GDP in 1998. This significant decline may be attributed to the 1997-1998 coral bleaching event, as Palaus coral reefs were severely damaged from this occurrence.12 According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (2009) the loss of income by 2015 from degraded reefs is conservatively estimated at several hundred million dollars annually. Revenue lost through tourism causes many of Palaus citizens to be affected financially.13

The tourism industry plays a critical role in Palaus economy, but tourists are also partially responsible for damage incurred to the reefs. Tourists

Above left: In September, 2009, Palau became the worlds first shark santuary banning all commercial shark fishing in its waters.

Above right: The magnificent sunsets in Palau are often the talk among tourists.

Bottom: Japanese tourists prepare for some fun in the water.

Photos | Julia Rendleman, Jerry Bush, & Genna Ord

Left: Photographer, Genna Ord, takes a dip in Jellyfish Lake.

Below left: Although coral reefs have been found to be resillient, recovery takes significant time.

Below right: Natural bridge in the Rock Islands.


who are uneducated about reefs can damage the coral significantly.

Snorkelers and divers who are not trained in proper behavior around reefs can trample delicate soft corals, damage reef structures and injure fish by attempting to feed them14 The government of Palau demonstrates a strong commitment toward preserving its natural resources for future generations. Certain areas of land and water have been designated as specially managed conservation areas. In 2003, the Protected Areas Network Act was passed to establish a nationwide network of marine and terrestrial protected areas that will protect areas of biodiversity significance, important habitats, and other valuable resources essential for the future social, cultural, economic, and environmental stability and health of Palau.15


Chapter 8

An Uncertain Future


On September 20th of 2010, a meeting was convened in Koror to introduce the photojournalism project and to begin a dialogue concerning the impact of climate change on human health with residents of Palau. The meeting was well attended with participants from several government and semi-government organizations, local climate experts, traditional leadership, and other members of the community. Presentations were given on a wide range of climate change issues followed by an open discussion session where participants voiced their personal concerns and opinions about climate change issues.

While Palau has initiated a national strategy for climate change adaptation, there remain significant challenges to successful implementation of this strategy. A recent review of progress on climate change adaptation activities

in the region concluded that the vulnerabilities of the Pacific small island developing states were increasing while their coping capacity was not.16 Some of the challenges cited are the lack of human resources to carry out programs, gaps in knowledge and understanding of climate related science, changing political priorities, absence of local vocabulary related to climate change, and burdensome financial procedures in country.17

The vulnerability of small island developing states to the effects of climate change is well documented. Pacific island nations face the likelihood of more extreme storms, serious damage to coastal infrastructure, loss of land and ancestral sites, unstable food and water supplies, loss of coral reefs, degradation to the environment, increased disease burden, and the real possibility of losing their very way of life.

Top: The Minister of Health, Dr. Stevenson Kuartei, opens the meeting at the Palasia hotel.

Bottom left: Mollie Mahany from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Stevenson Kuartei discuss a chart showing an increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Bottom right and opposite page: Concerned citizens listen intently to presentations about how climate change is effecting their environment.



T he way forward. The very real threat of climate change is not new to Palau. During the 2000 Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, participants at the Ministerial level from Asia-Pacific countries identified Small Island Developing States, (like Palau), as among the most vulnerable nations on earth with respect to the effects of climate change. By 2001, the Palau Office of the President had already completed its first assessment and report on the Current and Projected Impacts of Climate Change in Palau. In August 2002, then-President Tommy Remengesau of Palau led heads of state from sixteen other Pacific Islands nations in urging worldwide ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

By 2006, the United Nations Environmental program predicted that widespread coastal areas of the Pacific, (including Micronesia), would be among the worlds worst affected by climate change. In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provided definitive evidence of anthropogenic climate change and identified resource-poor, Pacific island communities dependent upon local food and water as the most vulnerable. This same report predicted an increase in adverse health events related to sea level rise, extreme weather events and disease throughout affected areas.

This book serves to document the numerous impacts of climate change that are now threatening Palauan health, economics, agriculture and even Palauan culture itself. It is a testimony, spoken by the Palauan people themselves, regarding how climate change is now affecting not only their own land and ocean, but also their livelihood, heath and traditional way of life. This Palauan introspection also serves as an alarm to the rest of the world, a warning of a future in doubt unless steps are now taken to address this issue threatening the future of not only Palau, but all of earths inhabitants.

Finally, this documentary is intended to serve as a distress signala call for help. For all of its wealth held in the warmth of her people, the richness of her culture and idyllic beauty of her environment, Palau, like most other Small Island Developing States, lacks many of the resources necessary to counter the growing threat of climate change. Palau now calls for our understanding, our compassion and our assistance. We are the generation to hear this call, while future generations will stand in judgment of our actions, or lack thereof. In this sense, this call now emanates, not only from our brothers and sisters in Palau, but also from our own children.

Mark Keim, MDNovember 9, 2011

Few will have the greatness to bend history, itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. Robert Kennedy

Conclusion


References(1) World Health Organization, Health and Social Statisticks, 2010, http://www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/obesity.html

(2) Ping Zhang, PhD; Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD; Jonathan Betz Brown, MPP, PhD; Dorte Vistisen, PhD, Richard A. Sicree, MBBS, MPH; Jonathan Shaw, MD;

Gregory A. Nichols, MBA, PhD, Economic impact of Diabetes, 2010, pg 20, http://www.idf.org/sites/default/files/Economic%20impact%20of%20Diabetes_0.pdf

(3) CIA World Factbook, Palau Economy Profile 2011, July 12, 2011, http://www.indexmundi.com/palau/economy_profile.html

(4) Steven Hayes, ICE Case Studies, Palau and Sea Level Rise, June, 2011, Number 242, http://www1.american.edu/ted/ice/palau.htm

(5) Courtney Cavaliere, The Effects of Climate Change on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2009;81:44-57 American Botanical Council, http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue81/article3379.html

(6) Kevin D. Stringer, An Economic Diagnosis of Palau Through the Liechtenstein Lens: Moving Up the Value Chain - International Political Economy Strategies for Microstates, February, 2006, No. 17, http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/PIDPwp017.pdf

(7) (12) Yimnang Golbuu, Andrew Bauman, Jason Kuartei, Steven Victor, The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of Palau, http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/coral_report_2005/Palau_Ch17_C.pdf

(8) John Bruno, Coral reefs and climate change, August 26, 2008, http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coral_reefs_and_climate_change

(9) (11) National Report to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, April, 2002, http://www.unccd.int/cop/reports/asia/national/2002/palau-eng.pdf.

(10) Earthjustice 350.org, Human Rights Advocates, Greenpeace International, Nov 1, 2010, http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session11/PW/JS1_Joint%20submission1-eng.pdf

(13 ) (14) Cesar, H.S.F. and F.H. van Beukering, 2004: Economic valuation of the coral reefs of Hawaii. Pacific Science, 58(2), 231-242(14) Freeman, M. (2003) Coral Reef Adventure. http://www.coralfilm.com/about.html

(15) Hinchley, D., Lipsett-Moore, G., Sheppard, S., Sengebau, F.U., Verheij, E., and Austin S. (2007). Biodiversity Planning for Palaus Protected Areas Network: An Ecoregional Assessment. TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No. 1/07.

(16) Rio+20 Pacific Preparatory Meeting, Joint Ministerial Meeting, Final Record of discussions and decisions; July 2011. http://www.unescap.org/epoc/pdf/Outcomes-Document-Final-Rio+20-Pacific-Prep-Meeting.pdf (last accessed on October 24, 2011)

(17) Palau Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change; Second Multi-partite Review Meeting, Office of Environmental Response & Coordination, August 2011. http://www.sprep.org/att/publication/001096_MPR_II_2011_Day1_Palau_Country_Statement.pdf (last accessed on October 24, 2011)

To see additional photos, videos, and information pertaining to this project visit our website at palauclimatechange.com.

Front Cover: A tropical storm lingers off the coast of Palau.

Photo | Genna Ord

Back Cover: Proper amounts of physical activity and nutritious diets help Palauan children to form healthy lifestyle goals from an early age.


The Republic of Palau, like other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to a number of factors: small physical size, remoteness from major bodies of land, limited natural resources, vulnerability to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and limited financial and human resources. In addition, the important contribution of eco-tourism to the national economy may be threatened by damage to the coral reefs and unique biodiversity of the Palauan islands.

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