The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) 1 is the largest and most diverse part of the greater Micronesian sub-region of the vast Pacific region. It is a federation of four semi-autonomous island States, in geographic sequence from east to west - Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap - comprised of 607 islands with land elevation ranging from sea level to the highest elevation of about 2,500 feet (760 m). FSM’s total landmass is 438 square miles (702 km²), with a declared Exclusive Economic Zone covering over 1 million square miles (1.6 million km²). Traditional, social and cultural institutions are still very strong in Micronesia. Micronesian society is based on the extended family, which is responsible for the family welfare, especially in relation to customary family land. The indigenous population is Micronesian with most of the people residing on the main islands of the State capitals. Its marine and terrestrial biodiversity are the nation’s living wealth in which species endemism is high among the terrestrial biota. The high endemism within the nation is a direct result of the isolation of the islands to one another and to other landmasses in the greater Micronesian region. Land and aquatic tenure varies between States where the two most Eastern States – Kosrae and Pohnpei, land is both privately and State owned, while aquatic areas are managed by the State as public trusts. In Chuuk, most land and aquatic areas are privately owned and acquired through inheritance, gift or, recently, by purchase. In Yap, almost all land and aquatic areas are owned or managed by individual estates and usage is subject to traditional control. In all States, land cannot be sold to non-citizens of the FSM, thus these land and aquatic ownership patterns greatly influence the strategies and actions required to sustainably manage the biodiversity of the nation. Thus a necessity in engaging these local stakeholders to raise their awareness on and address certain threats which include explicit increasing pressures from climate change, resource over-harvest, non-application of efficientselective technology and land-based sources of pollution.

The responsibility for environmental issues is shared between the FSM National Government and the individual FSM State governments. The sharing of responsibility has at times resulted in legislation that appears duplicated at the State and National levels. It has also resulted in gaps in legislation and areas in which the location of responsibility between the State and National Governments has been less than clear. Each State has made efforts to control development and manage natural resources through the creation of land use plans, coastal zone plans, legislation and regulations. The National Government provides guidance and technical assistance to the States when needed and requested on matters related to planning, economic development, natural resources, fisheries, and the environment. The Federated States of Micronesia Protected Areas Network (FSM-PAN) Project <http://www.protectedareas.org/> has been developed to address the Convention on Biological Programme of Work on Protected Areas in which the project’s four outcomes set the foundation of establishing a protected areas network to address the above mentioned natural resource management issues in a systematic framework. Most of the FSM’s existing PAs use a combination of traditional and legislative controls. This dual authority approach has been quite successful, and it is locally perceived to 1 http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/islands_oceans_poles/statesmicronesia.jpg be an effective way of establishing protected areas. The development of a national protected areas network offers a major opportunity to provide a framework for the FSM’s national and state governments to collaborate on the dual objectives of protecting the country’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity and assisting with local management of natural resources through establishing an interconnected network of protected areas.

The decentralized political situation in the FSM and the prevalence of private and/or traditional control of lands and waters throughout the nation necessitates broad public consultations to build public understanding of and will toward the importance of conservation and the role of protected areas. In addition, many of the nation’s areas of biodiversity significance are remote and isolated, requiring a significant management role by local communities and land-owners. It is envisioned that most protected areas will be initiated at the community level, where they will be well-supported locally and address local resource over-exploitation concerns. Involving as many stakeholders as possible in the development of the national protected areas network will ensure eventual success. << Read less

Strengthening existing management and Enhancing remote management capacity; Promoting connectivity and creating appropriate linkages to enhance climate change adaptation and/or resiliency; Contributing to local achievements and targets under the Micronesia Challenge Framework

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Through a 2003 enabling activity under the FSM National Biodiversity Strategic Plan Project <http://www.fsmgov.org/biodiv02.pdf>, a geographic prioritization exercise was conducted by FSM national and state governments, technical partners, institutional and local experts which identified 130 Areas of Biological Significance (ABS) nation-wide where produced a Blueprint for Conserving the Biodiversity of the FSM <http://conserveonline.org/library/MicroPg1-47_main.pdf/view.html>. Currently the FSM-PAN Project is conducting gap analysis iterations utilizing the MARXAN analysis tool and collaborating with similar on-going geographical prioritization projects (e.g. FSM Forestry State-wide Assessment and Resource Strategies Project), gap assessment projects (e.g. FSM Atoll Food Security Vulnerability and Adaptive Assessment) and geodatabase project. << Read less

I. Counterpart Funding:

• FSM States Natural Resource Managers and Enforcers - 10% of FTE2: annual estimate USD $56,732
• Forum Fisheries Agency – FSM Matching Grant for Integrated Atoll Food Security Rapid Assessment: USD $19,966
• US Department of Agriculture – Forest Service State-wide Assessment and Resource Strategies FY09 Grant: USD $63,644
• NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Grant to FSM: annual allocation estimate USD $120,000

II. Institutional Commitment:

• FSM-NISP Signatories (refer to institutional context table)
• Micronesia Challenge Declaration
• Micronesia Challenge Support Office and Team Members
• Pacific Regional Organizations (e.g. Secretariat of Pacific Community, Locally Marine Managed Areas Network, etc.)

III. Sustainable Financing Mechanisms:

• FSM Protected Areas Network Sustainable Financing Options Draft Plan
• Micronesia Challenge Financial Mechanism Plan << Read less

Designing and developing a nationwide network of protected areas is a complex, iterative process which takes place over many years. It integrates ongoing scientific research on biodiversity values, resilience and connectivity, and evolving socio-economic, cultural, political factors. While some elements of the design process are precursors for others, many can and should be developed concurrently. The FSM NISP partners have identified and agreed on actions to advance conservation priorities within the framework of a nationwide protected areas network. The vast majority of protected areas and potential sites for new PAs that will comprise the PAN are community-led, and site-based management planning processes have been conducted in coordination with local communities who are compromised of indigenous Micronesians. << Read less

The conservation and preservation of areas of biological significance and associated keystone/endemic species is of particular importance to the FSM’s natural heritage and globally significant. The marine and terrestrial significance are the foundation of the country’s long term economic self-sufficiency as articulated in its National Biodiversity Strategic Plan (NBSAP) <http://www.fsmgov.org/biodiv02.pdf> and subsequently its Strategic Development Plan 2004-2023 (SDP). Maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that nurture this diversity is crucial to sustaining the country’s rich ethnobiological traditions while improving Micronesians’ quality of life since sixty percent (60%) of its population is dependent on subsistence livelihoods (ADB, 2004). Further inventory and monitoring of the FSM terrestrial and marine biodiversities are integral and priority to a thorough understanding and appreciation of the islands’ biodiversity. The spread of invasive species is a continual threat due to increased movement of people and machinery between the islands, and needs to be carefully monitored and controlled. The project will give guidance to the FSM Second National Communication to UNFCCC, FSM Sustainable Land Management Project and beneficiaries, and other similar national and sub-national environmental planning exercises/projects/programs. << Read less

Goal 1.1: To establish and strengthen national and regional systems of protected areas integrated into a global network as a contribution to globally agreed goals
Goal 1.2: To integrate protected areas into broader land- and seascapes and sectors so as to maintain ecological structure and function
Goal 1.4: To substantially improve site-based protected area planning and management
Goal 1.5: To prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of key threats to protected areas
Goal 2.1: To promote equity and benefit-sharing
Goal 2.2: To enhance and secure involvement of indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders
Goal 3.1: To provide an enabling policy, institutional and socio-economic environment for protected areas
Goal 3.2: To build capacity for the planning, establishment and management of protected areas
Goal 3.5: To strengthen communication, education and public awareness
Goal 4.1 - To develop and adopt minimum standards and best practices for national and regional protected area systems
Goal 4.3: To assess and monitor protected area status and trends
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