Palau Conservation Society - About Us – History, Mission and Goals

For over a decade, the Palau Conservation Society has been a leader in conservation of Palau’s environment. Dedicated to the protection of biodiversity, our natural resources and to our local communities that use those resources, PCS supports the establishment and management of conservation areas, the development of sustainable resource use policies, and an increase of environmental awareness. A Board of Directors provides guidance and leadership to the PCS staff on organizational policies. PCS’s successes rely heavily on the support and involvement of its members and partners.

Incorporated in 1994, Palau Conservation Society (PCS) is Palau’s first local non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the nation’s biodiversity and natural resources. PCS celebrated its 10th Anniversary on June 14, 2004, a day which the President of the Republic declared as the annual “Palau Conservation Day.”

The mission of PCS is “to work with the community to preserve the nation’s unique natural environment and perpetuate its conservation ethic for the economic and social benefit of present and future generations of all Palauans and for the enjoyment and education of all.”

PCS has developed a set of strategic goals to reflect our mission. PCS has a set of 10-year goals, for 1999-2009. PCS has also developed a set of three-year goals, as part of its Terrestrial and Marine Strategies, as a means of achieving these larger 10-year goals.

An Overview of Our Organization
PCS is led by an eleven-member Board of Directors and managed and operated by an Executive Director and staff of fifteen. Our areas of activities include: establishment and management of conservation areas, terrestrial and marine resource management, community-based research, capacity building, and public awareness. PCS’s successes in these areas and in promoting sustainable development can be traced to its strong partnerships with local communities. PCS has worked to produce strong and productive relationships with Palauan government agencies and the international scientific and conservation community. Key partners include Palau’s National Government, local State Governments, research institutions such as the Palau International Coral Reef Center, and international NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy and BirdLife International. PCS is supported by a membership of about 200 individuals. The numerous partners that support our efforts range from Palau’s business community, private citizens, and overseas private and governmental sources.

Click here for photos
and biographies of our
Board Members and Staff

Click here for
an overview of
Our Programs

Click here for
information about
our past Programs

PCS Board, Staff and Partners at a 2003 Organizational Retreat

pcs logo

The Palau Conservation Society logo is a Biib, or Palau Fruit Dove. The biib is one of Palau’s most loved endemic birds. Palauan legend has it that the biib was once a beautiful, heartbroken young girl, who calls forlornly to the clam, her mother. You can hear the sad “cooing” of the shy dove when you enter Palau’s forests. Click here to read the “Legend of Bieb.”

Palau has a traditional conservation ethic: Omengereomel, which means “to use wisely.” The Society’s name, Palau Conservation Society, was born of this ethic, befitting a group that believes in both protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of resources. One of the first activities of PCS was a national election to select a National Bird. The Biib was elected as the National Bird by students, and was subsequently selected as the PCS logo.

CONSERVATION AREAS We believe in the sound principles of conservation science. We believe that conservation areas are an effective way to protect resources for perpetuity. We believe that they also lead to increases in protected species and other resources both inside and outside the boundaries of the protected areas. We believe that conservation areas can function under a range of management regimes from complete closure to managed use.

SUSTAINABLE USE PRACTICES AND POLICIES PCS believes that it is possible to find the balance between environmental and human needs.

NONCONFRONTATIONAL APPROACH PCS is not an aggressive lobbying or advocacy organization, but instead prefers to provide information to decision makers and resource users and to support community-based decisions.

COMMUNITY CONSENSUS AND ENGAGEMENT Instead of using a top-down approach to conservation, PCS works directly with the communities who use local resources, building community-based support for conservation efforts.

CAPACITY BUILDING No conservation effort will be successful without building the capacity of the local community to manage its own resources. PCS increases local capacity through formal trainings as well as through informal mentoring.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS All of PCS’s programs have an educational component built into them. Education, both targeted and general for all age groups, is critical to building support and to changing behaviors.

RESEARCH PCS supports a small research program that is designed to meet community information needs.

PARTNERSHIPS PCS works in collaboration with a wide range of partners to most effectively reach communities and ensure long-lasting protection of natural resources. PCS partners with local communities, state and national government agencies, other NGOs, businesses, and international organizations.


	Goal 1:	By 2009, Palau will have enacted a comprehensive legislative and policy framework in support of conservation.
	Goal 2:	By 2009, Palau will have the same or more coral reef resources as in 1998.
	Goal 3:	By 2009, Babeldaob will have established competent land use planningincluding establishment of effectively managed conservation areas covering ecologically sensitive sites.
	Goal 4:	By 2009, negative environmental impacts associated with construction of the Compact Road will have been minimized.
	Goal 5:	By 2009, every Palauan resident will understand the importance of conservation and the environmental impacts of different kinds of development.
	Goal 6:	PCS will be developed as a strong and sustainable institution capable of effecting long-term environmental change.

	Goal 1:	At least one community in each State has a vision statement and at least four communities in Babeldaob have begun to incorporate that vision statement into land use and/or management plans that meet their economic and environmental needs.
	Goal 2:	Existing protected areas are effectively managed and there is strong community support for the establishment and management of new protected areas.
	Goal 3:	National support for community level natural resource management has increased significantly.

	Overarching Conservation Goals:
	Goal 1:	To preserve existing diversity of all native marine life.
	Goal 2:	To reduce pressure on marine ecosystems in order to allow imperiled native marine life to recover to historical range and health.
	Marine Strategic Goals:
	Goal 1:	Awareness of sustainable marine resource use practices, the importance of sustained marine biodiversity and the benefits of wise management has significantly increased.
	Goal 2:	Existing marine protected areas are effectively managed and there is strong community support for the establishment and management of new protected areas.
	Goal 3:	Northern Reefs are co-managed (managed in partnership by both communities and state governments) as an ecologically networked system to promote sustainable use and development practices for the benefit of the people of Kayangel and Ngarchelong.
Please help us achieve these goals!

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