IOCC Supporters Journey to Palau

Key Island-Ocean Connection Challenge supporters and project staff traveled to Palau to witness firsthand the restoration efforts that are helping the ecosystems of these pristine islands flourish. 

The IOCC’s Palauan projects are some of our most ambitious, especially considering how much the local community stands to gain from their success. Ulong, Sonsorol, and Ngerkeklau are each unique sites of Palauan culture and heritage, and they operate as community gardens and centers of indigenous learning. 

Staff from IOCC’s founding members, Island Conservation and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, on a beautiful Palauan beach

The travelers experienced the cultural and ecological richness of the region. Hiking the archaeological sites of Ulong, hearing Palauan legends that teach and inspire, and meeting with the indigenous science group Ebiil Society provided context for the island’s importance and historical significance. Visitors also got to experience the beauty of the Rock Islands and Palau’s pristine seas, diving the famous Iro wreck and the scenic Ulong Channel. They also experienced firsthand the scientific monitoring efforts that make IOCC projects so unique, connecting both land and sea as a continuous ecosystem. IOCC partners Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and OneReef‘s monitoring efforts have made the impact of these projects measurable, helping us demonstrate the benefits of our work around the world.

But the journey was about more than Palau. Like all islands, these disparate projects are united by the ocean that connects them. Holistic restoration projects that repair the land-sea connection have the potential to benefit not just islands, but also surrounding near-shore ecosystems, such as reefs—benefits which spill over both locally and globally. 

For the IOCC, “connection” is right there in our name. Bringing people together is like bringing together the land and sea: it helps create an ecosystem of partnership that benefits everyone and lets us share resources to achieve ambitious conservation goals. 

With your support, we can holistically restore 40 island-ocean ecosystems by 2030. Donate today or join our newsletter!