Micronesian Challenge in the News

Marianas Variety, Monday, December 11, 2006

Regional group to implement Micronesia Challenge
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

OFFICIALS from the CNMI and other Pacific islands have formed a regional body that will implement the Micronesian Challenge.

An initiative of Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Micronesia Challenge is a program that aims to conserve marine and forest resources across the region.

The program initially targets the conservation of at least 30 percent of near-shore marine sources and 20 percent of forests all over Micronesia by the year 2020.

Besides Palau and the CNMI, the other jurisdictions involved are Guam, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Four officials from CNMI environmental protection agencies attended a meeting held from Dec. 4 to 8 in Palau to discuss the Micronesia Challenge.

They are Fran Castro and Peter Houk of the Division of Environmental Quality and John Joyner and Cathy Yuknavage of the Coastal Resources Management Office.

DEQ spokeswiman Reina Camacho said the CNMI has already achieved 19 percent conservation in fish and wildlife, 13 percent in near-shore marine resources and 17 percent in forestry.