On Tuesday, June 10, 2014 the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and Palau Community College (PCC) met at the PCC Assembly Hall to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation Agreement (MOCA).  The agreement will develop and implement a collaborative ecological monitoring certification program.  It was signed by Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Palau International Coral Reef Center, and Dr. Patrick U. Tellei, President of Palau Community College.  Witnesses of the signing included staff members from PICRC, PCC, the Protected Area Network (PAN) Office, P-CoRIE, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  PAN coordinators from the states of Koror, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, and Ngiwal were also present at the signing.

The certification program will be hosted at PCC.  It will strengthen the partnership between both institutes, build local capacity for conservation, and support conservation mainly on the aspect of law enforcement.  The program will be developed jointly by both parties and its training will be implemented according to the standards of the college.  Under the collaborative agreement, both institutions will provide and educate trainers who will eventually conduct the courses of the program; provide other resources needed for the program’s conduct; issue certificates of successful completers of the program; and continuously evaluate, modify, and improve the program.  Both parties will join forces to provide proper training in the development of the local ability to preserve and protect Palau’s pristine natural environment.

The training course will prepare individual state conservation programs to comply with PAN requirements.  It will also provide conservation workers with ecological background knowledge.  The courses will be offered through the Continuing Education (CE) Division of Palau Community College.  While it is intended for conservation officers, the training program will be made available to all interested members of the community.