The project will complete a marine habitat map for all of palau

The federal Project Grant award ID D23AP00247, in the amount of $299,994.00, was issued on August 15, 2023 by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (CFDA 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories) to the Coral Reef Research Foundation. The funding will be used to complete a detailed marine habitat map for the entirety of Palau. This mapping effort will establish a baseline to assess past environmental changes in the region using historical aerial and satellite imagery, as well as provide predictive capabilities to understand the impact of future events. The grant will also support the documentation and monitoring of non-native marine species in Palau, which will guide future management and eradication efforts. As a non-profit organization focused on coral reef research and conservation, the Coral Reef Research Foundation has previously received federal grant and subcontract funding for related initiatives in Palau, such as supporting sustainable tourism and fisheries.

The new detailed habitat maps will allow assessment of past changes, using historical aerial and satellite photos as the earlier baseline, and as well as provide predictive capacity around future events. The habitat maps are also an excellent vehicle with which to document and understand the occurrence of marine nonnative species (NNS) and guide efforts to control or eradicate these organisms.