GEF Small Grants Programme funds Tamil Marine Conservation Area

By Sean Kadannged, Tamil Resources Conservation Trust

 

 

Photo Credit: Sean G Kadannged

“Signing of TRCT’s Project Declaration and Launching of Tamil MCA project on May 09, 2014”

Front Row (From Left to Right): Steven Mar (Tamil Municipal Chief), David Yow (Tamil Council Member and TRCT Vice-Chairman of Education and Awareness Sub-Committee), Peter Tharngan (President of Tamil Resources Conservation Trusts (TRCT)), John Mooteb (TRCT Advisor), John Kadannged (Chief of Maa’ Village), Patterson Shed (NC for GEF-SGP FSM), Christina Fillmed (GEF-SGP Steering Committee  Member and TRCT’s Local Partner EPA) , Dr. Margie Falanruw ( TRCT’s Resource and Advisor), Tom Fetan (Tamil Council Chairman and TRCT’s Advisor)

 

Back Row (From Left to Right): Stan Filefiney (Tamil Council Member), Cyril Pong (TRCT’s Vice-President), Nicholas Gamagag (TRCT Board Member), Henry Giltamag ( TRCT Board member), Vitus Foneg (Tamil Council Member, Chief of Bugol village and TRCT Chairman of Education and Awareness Sub-Committee), Raymond Pitmag (TRCT Secretary), Javez Mooteb (TRCT Chairman of Monitoring Sub-Committee), Jesse Faimau (Tamil Council Vice Chairman and TRCT’s Advisor), Paul Yarmad (TRCT Board Member,) Peter Ruechugrad (Tamil Council Advisor), Ivan E. Kadannged (TRCT Member) 

 

 

On May 9^th, 2014 the Tamil Resources Conservation Trust (TRCT) was granted funding from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme FSM in the amount of $50,000, and launched its first project. The 18 month project, “Tamil Marine Conservation Area with Tamil Resources Conservation Trust”, has a goal to sustain and increase fish abundance and marine biodiversity in Tamil’s near-shore marine area to contribute toward food security for the Municipality, neighboring communities, and Yap state in the years to come.

This project contributes to TRCT’s long term goal and efforts towards protecting and managing Tamil’s natural resources for the betterment of livelihoods today and for future generations of the Tamil municipality, Yap State, and Micronesia region.  The implementation of this project will include the following:

Activity 1: Effectively implement a Marine Conserved Area.  

Activity 2: Monitor and protect area from poachers by developing and implementing a system that integrates both modern surveillance and enforcement methods and Tamil’s traditional practices of resource management.

Activity 3: Conduct marine resource assessments within the area to track changes over time and to use                   the data to help drive management decisions.

Activity 4: Develop and conduct education and awareness outreach activities in the community and Yap State to increase project knowledge, importance, and support.

 

Tamil’s village Chiefs, Council and local partners such as Yap Community Action Program (YapCAP), Yap State Resources and Development (R&D), and other communities who manage or support MPAs are an important component to the success of this project. Both local partners and other regional partners, specifically The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), have been involved in the project design and are integral contributors to the success of TRCT today. Working together with partners has taught us and the Tamil municipality so much, which has greatly impacted the community’s perception towards our own environment, increased our knowledge about the condition of our environment, and emphasized the need and urgency to take the lead and manage our own natural resources effectively. Special recognition to TNC, PICRC, YapCAP, MCT and the GEF Small Grants Programme for their commitment towards TRCT’s Tamil MCA project’s implementation and success.

 

The Small Grants Programme, FSM is part of a global GEF funding modality initiative implemented by UNDP on behalf of GEF partnership to provide grants to FSM NGOs and community-based initiatives that works to mitigate threats to the environment, support sustainable community livelihood development and to build capacity of its grantees to be more effective.  The Programme is hosted by the UN Joint Presence Initiative office in country on Kaselehlie Street in Pohnpei.