2008 October

The Rock Islands of Palau

Palau’s Rock Islands are among the most pristine habitats in the Pacific. Unlike most tropical islands, they still support native forests and are not ravaged by exotic invasive plants. They include the only known populations of Ponapea palauensis, the palms we came to study. There are more than 800 Rock Islands, stretching south from the larger volcanic islands of Babeldaob and Koror.

Rock Island terrain with jagged, crumbling rocks.

Waters surrounding the Rock Islands are difficult to navigate, and the terrain can be dangerous. Anyone not bloodied by the razor-sharp limestone will at least leave the Rock Islands very itchy, either as a result of the the poison tree (Semecarpus venenosus, a more potent relative of poison ivy) or chiggers. Because of these dangers and annoyances, the Rock Islands are mostly uninhabited, seldom visited, and show few signs of human impact. Read More…

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This post was written by carllewis on October 6, 2008

The Status of Ponapea in Palau

Palau is home to the rarest, most endangered species of Ponapea. Known only from the Rock Islands, Ponapea palauensis inhabits moist, sheltered pockets among the limestone hills.

Ponapea palauensis, with most of its leaves clipped by cockatoos.

The exotic Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is a threat to Ponapea palauensis.

There are more than 800 Rock Islands, and most are difficult to access and explore. The terrain is rough, with steep cliffs, jagged rocks, and crumbling hillsides. A complete survey of potential Ponapea palauensis habitat would require long-term field research. However, our observations and previous data suggest that the species is restricted to just a few of the larger islands. Read More…

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This post was written by carllewis on October 3, 2008

Independence Day in Palau

Bai replica at the National Museum of Belau

Replica of a traditional meeting house, or bai, at the National Museum of Belau.

Today, October 1, Palauans are celebrating 14 years of independence. Palau is geographically a part of Micronesia, but not politically. Rather than becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palauans opted to do things their own way. After a century of domination by Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States, Palau officially became an independent nation on this day in 1994.

Palau is a small country of about 25,000 people but is geographically quite complex. It is a network of more than 800 islands that add up to just under 200 square miles of total land area. Tourism is one of the most important components of the economy. People come from all over the world to dive in Palau’s gorgeous blue waters, ranked among the top dive spots in the world. Read More…

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