ALM UNDP

Summary:

The overall objective of the proposed Medium-Sized Project (MSP) is to further build capacity at the national, state, and community levels across sectors to effectively address sustainable land management and land use planning that will assist Palau in the achievement of long-term domestic and global environmental benefits and therein, MDG Goals 7.

According to the NAPA, some of the major causes of land degradation in Palau include a lack of land use planning, drought, sea level rise, the loss of soil fertility, watershed degradation, invasive species and unsustainable development activities. The state of land degradation is also worsened by key barriers to practice SLM such as lacking formal sustainable land management practices and land use planning, lack of available technical, financial, human resources and incentives for people.

This MSP addresses the key constrains towards Land Management in Palau through an inclusive and mainstreamed approach that will facilitate and strengthen partnerships between communities, government at all levels, and other stakeholders. This will be done by strengthening institutional and community capacities, mainstreaming SLM into development strategies and programs as well as on-the-ground interventions. It also aims to develop partnerships with local institutions, community and nongovernmental organizations including women‟s groups, in order to effectively implement land degradation prevention measures. It addresses national and state policy gaps in SLM by developing sustainable land use management plans, as well as regulatory and policy plans, that equitably engage stakeholders at all levels.