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Kayangel Atoll, Micronesia © Corbis Images Learn more • About the Conservancy's work on Islands

Preserving the Island Life: Small Island Nations Make a Big Commitment to Conservation

By Erik Ness

Despite the coconut-tree-and-beach-hut stereotypes, life on islands can be tough. These engines of biodiversity are particularly vulnerable to invasive species, habitat loss and climate shifts resulting in warming oceans. Life is so fragile on islands that half of all extinctions recorded in recent history have occurred among island-dwelling species. But several island nations, with support from The Nature Conservancy, are taking steps to protect their vulnerable ecosystems.

Last year, Tommy Remengesau Jr., president of the Pacific island of Palau, announced that his country would protect 20 percent of its forests and 30 percent of nearshore waters by 2010. He challenged his neighbors in Micronesia to do the same by 2020.

In March most of the region answered his call. During the Convention on Bio-logical Diversity in Brazil, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam all made stunning conservation commitments, matching Palau’s pledge. And Kiribati announced the formation of the world’s third-largest marine protected area.

It’s as if the United States had announced it would set aside the Gulf of Mexico, says Gerald Miles, an Asia-Pacific expert at the Conservancy. “On a global scale,” he says, “these are very significant commitments.” The Conservancy and Conservation International are working together to increase technical and scientific support for conservation in Micronesia. Besides pledging $3 million each in matching grants, the two organizations are working to mobilize an additional $12 million from the international community to sustain the countries’ efforts.

Perhaps the most inspiring commitment came from tiny Grenada. This Caribbean island, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 (damage totaled more than twice the nation’s annual economic output), pledged to protect 25 percent of its terrestrial and nearshore marine habitats by 2020. Grenada’s commitment has helped jump-start plans for a Caribbean Challenge.

“Here are small nations doing what they can, challenging the larger and wealthier nations to step up,” says Miles.