1. C O N S E RV A T I O N S O C I E TY OF POHNPEI
SEREHD
Preserving our natural heritage for a sustainable future.
Quarterly Newsletter Volume 13 Issue # 1 April 2012
CSP 2011 Annual Bird Survey Checking on River DFW Strategic Youth-to-Youth in Interns At CSP Around the Office
Review Life Action Planning Action
Avian surveyors
Over 150 people from Missouri Interns and SPC Climate
celebrated CSP’s 11 Colombia contacted French Scientist added Fish and Wildlife His Excellency US Volunteers working Change Mission
years of survey in 4 new species to teamed up with CSP Ambassador Peter A. hard at CSP
Conservation Pohnpei ...Page 3 Pohnpei freshwater and TNC to complete Prahar supported office...Page 6
fauna...Page 4 road map...Page 5 CSP’s Youth-to-Youth CSP/Poahloang
...Page 2 Partnership Project
Program ...Page 5
...Page 7
SPAGs monitoring with significant observation
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
SEREHD
1

2. 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
CSP 2011 ANNUAL REVIEW
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:
csp@serehd.org or cspdirector@serehd.org 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.
Executive Director Joseph presented
his new leadership vision
2
SEREHD

3. 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
Bird Survey on Pohnpei
The 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.
SEREHD
3

4. 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
Checking on River Life in Pohnpei
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.
4
SEREHD

5. C O N S E RV A T I O N S O C I E TY OF P O H N P E I
DFW Strategic Action Planning (SAP)
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.
SEREHD 5

6. 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
CSP Youth-to-Youth Program
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.
Mr. Santos harvesting cabbage with His Excellency Peter A. Y2Y partner heads with His Excellency Peter Prahar
Prahar, students, teachers, and principal. and first lady
6!

7. C O N S E RV A T I O N S O C I E TY OF P O H N P E I
CSP 2012 INterns
I am Brittny Rose Esguerra and I was born in Guam on Hi and Kaselehlie, my name is
January 09, 1996. I’m from Enipein Pah, Kitti, Pohnpei. Daisy Ann Amor. I am from
I like joining programs and being with others because Pohnpei, and I live in the
it teaches me a lot, and I experience many things from
municipality of U in Awak. I
it. I graduated from Enipein Elementary School and
now I am attending high school at Our Lady of Mercy am sixteen years old. I
Catholic High School (OLMCHS). As an OLMCHS graduated from Pohnpei
student (junior and first graduate), I need to serve the Catholic School (PCS) and I
community because it is one of the curriculums of the am a junior at Our Lady of
school. Forty hours for freshmen and sophomores, and Mercy Catholic High School
fifty hours for juniors, since the seniors are not part of (OLMCHS). I am here to
the new high school. We are given
complete one of my courses, which is to help serve my
50 hours to work at two places. I
already finished half of my hours community, also known as Community Service Program.
working at Pohnpei Catholic My favorite subjects are math, science and a little bit of
School (PCS), so now I’m finishing computers but mostly I like to spell words. My favorite
up the rest of my hours here at sports are baseball, volleyball, and little of basketball and
CSP. I chose to work with CSP to soccer. In my free time, I like to be active and do fun
learn about the cool community things. The reason I chose to do my community service
work they do to keep our island
with CSP is to learn about the impressive work they are
clean and beautiful.
doing with the communities.
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 My name is Galliart James. I attended PICS high school and
Komwonlaid. After four years of high school on this graduated from the College of Micronesia (COM-FSM) with an
Island, I attended the College of Micronesia-FSM Associate of Science degree in Marine Science. As a college
majoring in Micronesian studies. I’m now working student, I took on an internship in Hawaii, became a certified
for CSP under a contract as a community liaison for SCUBA diver, and worked at the Conservation Society of
Pelehng, Pwudoi, Toamwoaroalohng and Parem. Pohnpei as a work-study student. During my time at CSP, I
Exploring both marine and terrestrial is an hobby of joined the Green Road Show group while trying to understand
mine. I’m very grateful to be part of a team that the roles of the other divisions (marine and terrestrial). I realized
cares about our biodiversity and natural resources in that CSP’s approaches are on how to
both the uplands all the way to the ocean. It’s a preserve the island environment and all its
tough challenge to content is more effective. I’m planning on
accomplish but it’s your going abroad to continue my studies to
support that will wheel us receive my bachelor’s degree. However,
towards our goals, to I’d like to understand more about the
preserve our natural current problems Pohnpei faces in terms
resources for futures to of population and biodiversity of marine
come. and terrestrial organisms and climate
change before pursuing a BS degree.
SEREHD 7

8. C O C OS N R V R V A O NO N C O NS SOE C IVE A Y I O N O F
N E S E A T I T I R T TO F S OP I HTY
C E OF
P O H N P E I S O C I E TY P O H N O E IN P E I
P
Around the Office
SPC Climate Change CSP/Poahloang
Mission to Pohnpei Partnership Project
In March 2012, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) The Conservation Society of Pohnpei wishes to thank the
held a four-week long climate change monitoring training in community and the participants of the first visit at
Pohnpei. Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) along with Poahloang, for the warm welcoming they offered. It was
Pohnpei State’s Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture (OFA) and unexpected that the team from CSP was greeted with
Division of Forestry and Marine Conservation participated in respect and honor because of the fact that the livelihood of
the training. The purpose of the training is to conduct finfish Poahloang community rely on marine resources and most
inventory on the main Island of Pohnpei and assessing climate of the population are fishermen.
change impact to our coral reef. Pohnpei is fortunate to be The main goal for the community visit is to engage with
selected among the four states of the FSM to be one of the pilot the community on the importance of marine resource
sites for this climate change mission along with several management and conservation, to build a stronger
counties in the Pacific. Mr. Selino Maxin from CSP attended the partnership with the community, and to develop areas of
training. The training was done one week in class briefing on partnership towards an enhanced community-based
species classification, monitoring methods and protocols, and resource management. The first visit was held at village’s
site selection. The remaining three weeks was done in the field chief resident. Marine Sanctuary or MPA management was
collecting baseline data using several rigorous monitoring one of issues discussed. About 25 people showed up and
methods and protocols. All data collected are entered and participated on the discussions. The outreach have shown
stored at SPC headquarter based in New Caledonia to be tremendous interest by the Poahloang communities in
analyzed. Result of findings will be reported back to Pohnpei terms of improving MPA management. To keep
State, which will help determine the next steps in coral reef the momentum, CSP
management mainstreaming climate change. CSP and partners facilitation team
would like to thank SPC for conducting the training. agreed with the
community members
to set up follow up
dates to keep
discussing marine
resource management
issues.
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
Plea s e re n e w y our Me mb e rs hi p to d ay !
Help support the grea t w or k fea t ure d i n t h i s n e w s l e t t e r by s e n d i n g u s the f o rm
on the next page along with your support. Kalahngan!
SEREHD! 8

9. 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 2461
Kolonia, 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: _______________________________ _________________________
Affiliation/Organization:
_______________________________________
Address: ___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Phone: _________________________
email: _________________________
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:csp@serehd.org