Serehd Quarterly Newsletter

C O N S E R V A T I O N S O C I E T Y OF P O H N P E I

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SEREHDPreserving our natural heritage for a sustainable future.

Bird Survey

Avian surveyors from Missouri Colombia contacted survey in Pohnpei ...Page 3

CSP 2011 Annual Review

Over 150 people celebrated CSP’s 11 years of Conservation ...Page 2

Quarterly Newsletter Volume 13 Issue # 1 April 2012

Youth-to-Youth in Action

His Excellency US Ambassador Peter A. Prahar supported CSP’s Youth-to-Youth Program ...Page 5

Checking on River Life

French Scientist added 4 new species to Pohnpei freshwater fauna...Page 4

Interns At CSP

Interns and Volunteers working hard at CSP office...Page 6

Around the Office

SPC Climate Change Mission

CSP/Poahloang Partnership Project

...Page 7

SPAGs monitoring with significant observation

DFW Strategic Action Planning

Fish and Wildlife teamed up with CSP and TNC to complete road map...Page 5

Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) and the Division of Forestry and Marine Conservation, in partnership with our local and international partners continually strive to enhance the management of Kehpara Marine Sanctuary (Black Coral). A Spawning and Aggregation (SPAG) monitoring program was initiated in 2001 continues to monitor the health and population density of three grouper species that gathers at Kehpara to reproduce (Sawi, Widir and Ripwiripw). The SPAG monitoring team has been subsequently monitoring the site in the course of the spawning seasons.

This year during the month of March and April, the Pohnpei monitoring team successfully completed another round of SPAG data collection on the beautiful reefs of Kehpara. The reefs surrounding Kehpara, is south west of Pohnpei, home’s to a incredible biodiversity of marine life including a spawning ground for various fish species which includes Plectropomus areolatus (Squaretail grouper) as Sawi, Epinephelus polyphekadion (Brown-marbled grouper) for Widir, and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Camouflage grouper) as Ripwiripw. This years observations showed that the groupers are aggregating but not in a clear visual of whether they’re in full aggregating phase or not due to the fluctuation of the numbers counted compared to previous years. Dr. Kevin Rhodes and his team did a deeper observation at a depth of 300 feet which is about 200 feet deeper than the SPAG monitoring depth on March and April of 2011 found that more groupers are aggregating at 300 feet where the SPAG monitoring depth is at 40 to 90 down. This could also be a part of the explanations on why the numbers counted at the SPAG monitoring depth fluctuates every year. Collected data are currently being managed and analyzed by CSP. This database is reviewed and shared with marine biologists around the globe to help guide CSP and partners with MPA management effectiveness.

The management of Kehpara SPAG site may not be in its best stage, but Pohnpei is fortunate in retaining what may be the last remaining grouper spawning site on the Island. CSP and the Division of Forestry and Marine Conservation will continue its effort to work with our partners and the local communities of Pohnpei to improve the management of Black Coral MPA and the grouper spawning and aggregation site.

One of the three grouper species that spwans at Black Coral

C O N S E R V A T I O N S O C I E T Y O F P O H N P E I

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On February 03, 2012 over one hundred fifty members of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP), partners, Board of Directors and friends gathered to celebrate the Society’s 11th year of conservation achievements and lessons learned in review at Nan Tehlik PCR restaurant. Board Chairman Resio Moses Jr. welcomed everyone and expressed CSP’s gratitude and appreciation to all who showed up at the Annual Review reception. The evening highlights included project spotlights presentation delivered by CSP’s outgoing Executive Director Patterson Shed who has faithfully directed CSP over the past six years. The Society also recognized several high achievers among its staff, partners and key community players who achieved beyond the call of duty to advance the work of biodiversity conservation. The CSP wishes to acknowledge and thank the Packard Foundation Organizational Effectiveness program for generously sponsoring this year’s Society excellence awards. Everyone enjoyed the evening with loads of delicious food from the land and sea in good company. CSP would like to thank all dignitaries Lt. Governor Marcelo Peterson, Senator Aurelio Joab, Senator Magdalena Walter, Senator Sendilina Lekka, Senator Alpino Kerman, and Deputy Chief of Mission United States Embassy Ms. Lori Dando for honoring CSP with your time showing your strong commitment to preservation of Pohnpei’s natural heritage.

The Society also officially welcomed Mr. Eugene Joseph as its new Executive Director. Director Joseph set the stage and also presented his new leadership vision and calls for stronger community involvement and policy support to nature preservation. In his inaugural vision Director Joseph presented as example CSP’s newest initiative; Policy and Government Relations program created with aim to work closer in collaboration with Governments, traditional leaders and communities to ensure right policies and laws in place to support or address new challenges facing resource management on land and sea that is unified with Pohnpei’s culture and traditions to resource management. The new leadership also set stretched goals to work with Pohnpei state and communities to add new conservation sites on land and sea to increase biodiversity coverage of the Pohnpei Protected Areas Network. We have exciting hard work ahead planned with determined new leadership to make it happen.

The CSP Board also welcomed two new Board of Directors; Ms. Lynn Pangelinan and Mr. Bermance Aldis to the CSP family. Once more the Society concluded another great year in review and anyone interested to know more we will be glad to share our annual review report with you. You can e-mail us at: [email protected] or [email protected] to obtain the full report of the year in review. We wish to thank our membership, donors, partners, traditional leaders and friends who gave generously to our work in 2011. We ask you to continue supporting our conservation mission. Kalahngan.

CSP 2011 ANNUAL REVIEW

Executive Director Joseph presented his new leadership vision


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Bird Survey on PohnpeiThe University of Missouri Columbia in partnership with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei has conducted an avian survey between January 14, 2012 to March 5, 2012 for the island of Pohnpei and the two of the islands in Ant Atoll. The survey team was form by MS. Candidate Pablo Oleiro and 3 other Avian Surveyors; Adam Yorks, Joseph Drake and Evan Buechley who represented the Avian Conservation Lab directed by Dr. Dylan Kesler at University of Missouri Columbia and CSP Terrestrial Team.

Nineteen avian surveys (transects) were conducted in the Island of Pohnpei, 15 survey transects were conducted between the lowlands and uplands of the island ranging from low elevations areas to the highest points and accessible ridges. In addition 4 survey transects were conducted on mangrove vegetation. Each transect in Pohnpei was surveyed 4 times and each transect in Ant Atoll was surveyed 3 times. These transects selected followed general areas where previous studies conducted by Engbringet al.(1983) and Buden (1994) took place. This approach was selected to represent all major habitats types present in the island and to be able to conduct a comparison among the three surveys.The 2012 surveys followed Engbring’s protocol.

Avian surveys were conducted at early hours when birds are more active. Surveys started at sunrise and stop at 11:00. Transects consisted in following the general area of previous studies and the technique used was variable point-count aural survey. Each transect consisted on point-count stations separated every 200 meters, at the point-count station the surveyor will record: GPS coordinates, weather conditions (wind, rain and temperature), vegetation data (basal area, habitat type, canopy high and canopy cover), noise and start time. At each point-count station surveyors will conduct 8 minutes visual-aural survey. The technician or surveyor will record each species detected, the time (minute 1 to 8) of the detection, land distance to tree where the bird perch (using range finders), detection type(aural or visual) and the number of detections. Surveys were cancelled when weather conditions (rain or wind) affected survey quality or observer capabilities to detect avifauna. The same protocol was used in Pohnpei and And Atoll surveys.

The data collected in all transects will be study and analyzed at the Avian Conservation Lab at University of Missouri Columbia. Further analysis will be conducted to estimate: observation rate, estimate density and species occupancy. The data also will allow us to compare to previous studies and generate a population trend for the local avifauna. Once analyzed the data a final report will be created and shared with the participating parties, scientific community and general public.


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A group of freshwater scientists from the French Natural History Museum recently visited Pohnpei to survey the streams of Pohnpei for fish and crustaceans. This work is part of a large effort to understand dispersion mechanisms of freshwater species in the Pacific. The team was led by Professor Philippe Keith from Paris. He was accompanied by one Ph.D student, Laura Taillebois, a post-doc fellow, Magali Castelin, as well as a freshwater crustacean specialist, Dr. Gerard Marquet also from Paris, and a freshwater conservation expert Dr. Philippe Gerbeaux, member of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention, currently with the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

The team has surveyed streams in many parts of Oceania over the last 30 years, from Melanesia to Polynesia and now Micronesia in collaboration with relevant departmental agencies and conservation societies of the countries visited, which included New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Palau . On this visit to Pohnpei, they collaborated with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei and the College of Micronesia through Dr. Brian Lynch who has a strong interest in freshwater biodiversity.

The fauna had already been scrutinised by various experts from Guam and the US, but using a battery pack and dipping metal rods in the water, they were able to add at least 4 new species of crustaceans to the list of freshwater species living in the waters of Pohnpei. Their machine temporarily immobilizes the in-stream fauna making them easy to scoop up in the hand nets of the scientists. The fish are then released once they have been identified. The researchers however sometimes sample small parts of tissue to take back to their laboratory in Paris where they can study the genetics and understand the dispersion of these species within Oceania and beyond. Some specimens are also kept to study the otoliths (small bones in the ear of fishes) that contain precious information on the time spent at sea.

Streams of Pacific Islands are mostly unstable (due to often intense rainfall events) but many of the species have adapted to survive such harsh natural conditions by letting their small larvae drift downstream out at sea where they slowly grow before returning to freshwaters. That marine phase is of course important to sustain populations. Currents are influenced by climate, and can play an important role in the dispersion of larvae. For some species, the shorter the time out at sea, the more chance it has to be an endemic species. Or at least this is what studies have demonstrated so far. Although like in most of the Pacific the fish fauna is dominated by gobies, several species of these gobies found in Pohnpei are unique to Micronesia (such as Sicyopterus lividus and Sicyopterus eudentatus) says Prof Keith. The second one is extremely rare and has only been sighted once by our team, he said. We were unable to catch it. Change in water quality may occur with land development in the future and this species may become extinct if good management of riparian margins is not implemented quickly.

Checking on River Life in Pohnpei


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On March 21st, Pohnpei state’s newly established Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) completed a Strategic Action Planning (SAP) retreat to develop a three-year road map for conservation law enforcement in Pohnpei. For over ten years, this entity was placed under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) with very minimal resources to carry out conservation law enforcement duties effectively. Numerous consultations and learning exchanges took place over the ten years to help improve conservation law enforcement in Pohnpei. As a result, moving the entity from DLNR to Department of Public Safety (DPS) was the best option recommended by peer agencies locally and regionally. Fortunately, in 2011, the Division of Fish and Wildlife was established under DPS that transferred the conservation law enforcement officers under the proper law enforcement authority.

The objective of the retreat was to develop a three-year conservation law enforcement plan taking into account progress that has been done through the existing resource management and conservation partnership in Pohnpei and Micronesia region. Main activities of the retreat included development of a mission for the new division, assessing current capacity and identify needs, building onto existing partnership, and reinforcing mutual commitments to ensure successful compliance to conservation laws in Pohnpei.

The strategic planning retreat was a success. Pohnpei resource management agencies participated effectively throughout the entire process with valuable inputs to DFW’s strategic plan. Partners participated in the process includes Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Division of Forestry and Marine conservation, Kolonia Town Government, community representatives from the Marine Protected Areas (MPA). Division of Fish and Wildlife now has a clear vision of conservation law enforcement. Although the workshop went very well, DFW is yet to have a complete strategic plan therefore a taskforce was established to complete the write-up of the strategic plan. As a newly established entity, the process took place at the right time allowing the new division to assess their capacity needs. The team went through a self-assessment exercise and discovered there are multiple areas they need to learn pertaining to conservation law enforcement. CSP is currently working with Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) and Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Areas Community (PIMPAC) network and exploring opportunities to conduct conservation law enforcement training to the DFW officers.

CSP would like to thank The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for co-facilitating the process smoothly. With a clear vision and set of goals for effective conservation law enforcement, the Division of Fish and Wildlife now have a bigger network of supporting agencies and partners by involving them throughout the process. CSP joins DFW in thanking all supporting partners and communities who contributed in the process and aim to have a complete strategic plan by midyear.

DFW Strategic Action Planning (SAP)


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Under the Conservation Society of Pohnpei’s Youth–to-Youth Environmental Awareness Program, USDA NRCS was assigned to assist 6th graders of Pohnlangas Elementary school develop and carry out awareness activities throughout the School year. Twenty-Eight students in the class learned about Basic soil science, soil erosion, and ridge to reef conservation principles and Raised bed Gardening Techniques for Home consumption and Income generation. On the harvest day January 27th, 2012 prior to the actual harvest, His Excellency US Ambassador Peter A. Prahar gave an encouraging speech on the importance of the food we eat as to how it impacts our health, the environment, our culture and our economy to both Elementary and High school students at the MHS Cafeteria. He also highlighted that Mrs. Prahar has a garden at the Embassy Residence that they harvest, cook and serve to the leaders of our country at the residence official functions.

The Raised bed garden techniques are very practical and suitable at the household level. Growing crops around the house is an easy and inexpensive way of providing food for a family. Some areas may be too wet, have poor soil or too compacted (hard) but raised bed or container gardening is designed to overcome those issues. So think about this question: “Do you want to keep on

buying crops that you can grow around your house? “. This Youth-to-Youth Raised bed garden demonstration project also combined both 6th graders of Pohnlangas Elementary School and Madolenihmw High School Agriculture students in the regular and transition programs.

CSP Youth-to-Youth Program

Mr. Santos harvesting cabbage with His Excellency Peter A. Prahar, students, teachers, and principal.

Y2Y partner heads with His Excellency Peter Prahar and first lady


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CSP 2012 INternsI am Brittny Rose Esguerra and I was born in Guam on January 09, 1996. I’m from Enipein Pah, Kitti, Pohnpei. I like joining programs and being with others because it teaches me a lot, and I experience many things from it. I graduated from Enipein Elementary School and now I am attending high school at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School (OLMCHS). As an OLMCHS student (junior and first graduate), I need to serve the community because it is one of the curriculums of the school. Forty hours for freshmen and sophomores, and fifty hours for juniors, since the seniors are not part of the new high school. We are given 50 hours to work at two places. I already finished half of my hours working at Pohnpei Catholic School (PCS), so now I’m finishing up the rest of my hours here at CSP. I chose to work with CSP to learn about the cool community work they do to keep our island clean and beautiful.

Hi, there, and kaselelie maingko….. My name is Kachuisto Paul and I’m now 31 years of age. I was born and raised on Pohnpei in the beautiful town of Komwonlaid. After four years of high school on this Island, I attended the College of Micronesia-FSM majoring in Micronesian studies. I’m now working for CSP under a contract as a community liaison for Pelehng, Pwudoi, Toamwoaroalohng and Parem. Exploring both marine and terrestrial is an hobby of mine. I’m very grateful to be part of a team that cares about our biodiversity and natural resources in both the uplands all the way to the ocean. It’s a

tough challenge to accomplish but it’s your support that will wheel us towards our goals, to preserve our natural resources for futures to come.

Hi and Kaselehlie, my name is Daisy Ann Amor. I am from Pohnpei, and I live in the municipality of U in Awak. I am sixteen years old. I graduated from Pohnpei Catholic School (PCS) and I am a junior at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School (OLMCHS). I am here to complete one of my courses, which is to help serve my community, also known as Community Service Program. My favorite subjects are math, science and a little bit of computers but mostly I like to spell words. My favorite sports are baseball, volleyball, and little of basketball and soccer. In my free time, I like to be active and do fun things. The reason I chose to do my community service with CSP is to learn about the impressive work they are doing with the communities.

My name is Galliart James. I attended PICS high school and graduated from the College of Micronesia (COM-FSM) with an Associate of Science degree in Marine Science. As a college student, I took on an internship in Hawaii, became a certified SCUBA diver, and worked at the Conservation Society of Pohnpei as a work-study student. During my time at CSP, I joined the Green Road Show group while trying to understand the roles of the other divisions (marine and terrestrial). I realized

that CSP’s approaches are on how to preserve the island environment and all its content is more effective. I’m planning on going abroad to continue my studies to receive my bachelor’s degree. However, I’d like to understand more about the current problems Pohnpei faces in terms of population and biodiversity of marine and terrestrial organisms and climate change before pursuing a BS degree.

C O N S E R V A T I O N C O N S E R V A T I O N S O C I E T Y OF P O H N P E I S O C I E T Y OF P O H N P E I

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Please renew your Membership today!Help support the great work featured in this newsletter by sending us the form on the next page along with your support . Kalahngan!


Around the Office

SPC Climate Change

Mission to Pohnpei

CSP/Poahloang

Partnership Project

The Conservation Society of Pohnpei wishes to thank the community and the participants of the first visit at Poahloang, for the warm welcoming they offered. It was unexpected that the team from CSP was greeted with respect and honor because of the fact that the livelihood of Poahloang community rely on marine resources and most of the population are fishermen.The main goal for the community visit is to engage with the community on the importance of marine resource management and conservation, to build a stronger partnership with the community, and to develop areas of partnership towards an enhanced community-based resource management. The first visit was held at village’s chief resident. Marine Sanctuary or MPA management was one of issues discussed. About 25 people showed up and participated on the discussions. The outreach have shown tremendous interest by the Poahloang communities in terms of improving MPA management. To keepthe momentum, CSP facilitation team agreed with the community members to set up follow up dates to keep discussing marine resource management issues.

In March 2012, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) held a four-week long climate change monitoring training in Pohnpei. Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) along with Pohnpei State’s Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture (OFA) and Division of Forestry and Marine Conservation participated in the training. The purpose of the training is to conduct finfish inventory on the main Island of Pohnpei and assessing climate change impact to our coral reef. Pohnpei is fortunate to be selected among the four states of the FSM to be one of the pilot sites for this climate change mission along with several counties in the Pacific. Mr. Selino Maxin from CSP attended the training. The training was done one week in class briefing on species classification, monitoring methods and protocols, and site selection. The remaining three weeks was done in the field collecting baseline data using several rigorous monitoring methods and protocols. All data collected are entered and stored at SPC headquarter based in New Caledonia to be analyzed. Result of findings will be reported back to Pohnpei State, which will help determine the next steps in coral reef management mainstreaming climate change. CSP and partners would like to thank SPC for conducting the training.

Upper Photo: Mr. Etner Tom (Nahmwoadoa en Poahloang) and his community shared the need of having a sanctuary to CSP Left Photo: Mr. Selino Maxin second from left with the SPC monitoring crew

CSP MEMBERSHIP FORM

Help Preserve Pohnpei’s Natural Environment for a Better Tomorrow!

______ I want to become a Member of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei.______ I want to renew my Annual Membership for the Conservation Society of Pohnpei.

Please complete the form and send to:Conservation Society of Pohnpei

PO Box 2461Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941

Individual Membership level: Business Membership level:

_____ $5 Student _____$100-250 Oamp (Coconut Crab)

_____$10 Local Pohnpeian living on Island _____$251-500 Merer (Napoleon Wrasse)

_____ $25 Expatriate member living in Pohnpei _____$501-1,000 Serehd (Pohnpei Lori)

_____ $25 Face book member (receive biweekly updates on CSP)

_____$50-$1,000 per year: Contributing Member

Member benefits:All members are listed on CSP’s website, electronic newsletters and Annual Report. Members paying annual dues of $50 or more receive a CSP-t-shirt.

Date: _______________________________ How would you like your name to appear in our newsletter and Annual Report?

Name: _______________________________ _________________________

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Conservation Society of Pohnpei. PO Box 2461. Kolonia, Pohnpei. Federated States of Micronesia. 96941.Tel: (691) 320-5409 fax (691) 320-5063. website: www.serehd.org email:[email protected]

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Serehd Quarterly Newsletter