Pristine paradise

Seen from PICRC

Hanny and I spent our first day in Palau preparing for our field work, and the process took from 8 am to 9 pm. It was a long but productive day.

The landfill mural tells Palauans to be a hero and recycle

We are based at the Palau International Coral Reef Center, or PICRC (pronounced "pick-rick"). It's a research station in Koror, the capital of Palau, that hosts its own full-time scientific staff as well as visitors from other nations. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Palau, but so far, I have been very impressed. The PICRC staff has been very responsive and helpful, and the station is an absolutely breathtaking location. It's right on the water, surrounded by palm trees and coral reefs. I'm in awe of my surroundings, but every time I point out the beauty around us, Hanny tells me "This is nothing; just wait."

Another thing that impresses me about Palau is its emphasis on conservation. This tiny island nation has a population of only 15,000 people, but it has become a leader in ocean preservation. In 2015, the Palauan government designated a huge portion of its exclusive economic zone as a marine protected area, and they also passed legislation to prevent large tour groups from damaging coral reefs. A large portion of Palau's income is from environmental tourism - people who travel here to enjoy the biodiversity - so the Palauans are serious about preserving their environment. All visitors to the archipelago pay a "Pristine Paradise" fee that funds conservation and restoration efforts, and research in vulnerable habitats is only allowed with a permit. Even the national landfill, just down the street from PICRC, features a large mural extolling the virtues of "3R" (reduce, reuse, recycle) for environmental preservation.

Palau is a really gorgeous place, and I'm so glad to see the Palauan people are preserving the environment that their economy thrives on. Pristine paradise indeed.