WENO, Chuuk – On February 14, 2017, the Ridge to Reef (R2R) Chuuk State Coordinator, in collaboration with the Chuuk State R2R Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Chuuk State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hosted a State Planning Meeting at Truk Stop Hotel’s conference room. The team invited Directors of partner agencies and NGO’s, along with state, municipal and traditional leadership to the meeting.
The objectives of the meeting were:
- Develop better understanding of existing synergies with the R2R Program; and
- Map out activities and seek endorsement from relevant stakeholders
The meeting was planned during the R2R Inception Workshop held in Pohnpei last October, 2016 as the launching activity for the R2R project in Chuuk. Without the support of State, municipal leadership and community-based organizations (CBOs), the R2R project will not have the success it envisions, hence, the team agreed that the meeting should happen before implementing other activities.
In Chuuk, both marine and terrestrial areas are owned by either a clan, families, or private individuals. As such, resource owners’ endorsement and buy-in on project concept formulation and implementation actions are indispensable to management efforts and development plans, along with the support of traditional clan and island leaders.
The opening remarks was made by Mr. Joseph Sapong, the chairman of the Weno Island Council of Traditional Chiefs. In his remarks, Chief Sapong welcomed all the participants on behalf of the leadership and people of the “city-center” of Chuuk. He also called on all levels of leadership and the grass-root communities in Chuuk to do their best in the implementation of the project.
Following the opening remarks was a presentation delivered on behalf of the Project Manager, Ms. Rosalinda Yatilman, by Chuuk State Representative, Wisney Nakayama. The presentation, conducted in the Chuukese local language, allowed participants to become fully aware of the project's goals and objectives, as well as the targeted outcomes and expected outputs.
A key activity of the planning meeting involved participants breaking into two groups, one focusing on the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) component of the project and the other on Protected Areas (PA). Each group, led by members of the Chuuk R2R TAC, were asked to review the line activities and identify areas of partnerships. Each groups presented on their respective discussions followed by the State R2R coordinator, Ms. Kriskitina Kanemoto, emphasizing partnership, collaboration and team effort as critical to project success.
Present at the meeting were traditional chiefs of the target High Islands, representatives of communities currently implementing land and marine management plans, members of conservation NGO’s, women group leaders, municipal government leaders and State partner agencies.
The conclusion of the meeting was marked with expressed readiness to roll out project activities that will link gaps and open new possibilities in a whole-community approach to resource management.
More in the loop in our next R2R update!
For more details on the R2R in FSM project, please contact:
National Project Implementation Unit: Project Manager, Rosalinda Yatilman [email protected] Tel:+691 320-8815 Fax: +691 320-8936
Chuuk State R2R Coordinator: Kriskitina Kanemoto, [email protected]
Kosrae State R2R Coordinator: Blair Charley, [email protected]
Pohnpei State R2R Coordinator: Jorg Anson, [email protected]
Yap State R2R Coordinator: Debra Laan, [email protected]
Image Caption:
Meeting participants. Others were not available for the photo shooting.
