Nett, Pohnpei – The chief executives of Micronesia recently signed an agreement formally establishing a Micronesia Challenge (MC) regional office and awarding it the full legal status necessary to operate as an official intergovernmental agency. The signing, which took place November 20th during the 10th Micronesian Chief Executives’ Summit in Pohnpei, also gives the office the capacity to function as a semi‐autonomous body under the auspices and direction of the Micronesia Challenge Steering Committee composed of national focal points from throughout the region.

“This agreement demonstrates the serious commitment the leaders of Micronesia have made to the Challenge and our overall dedication to effectively preserve our important natural habitats,” said Marion Henry, chair of the Steering Committee which serves the role of the Board for the Micronesia Challenge. “The new office will serve as a command center and allow us to coordinate our efforts in addressing the environmental and sustainable development issues confronting communities throughout Micronesia.”

As an intergovernmental agency, the MC office will have the ability to raise public and private funds, govern the disbursement of funds within each of the jurisdictions, enter into contracts, and acquire and dispose of its assets and properties.

Signers of the agreement included H.E. Emanuel Mori, president of the Federated States of Micronesia; H.E. Tommy E. Remengesau, president of the Republic of Palau; Hon. Tony deBrum, minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Hon. Felix P. Camacho, governor of Guam; Hon. Benigno R. Fitial, governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Hon. John Ehsa, governor of the State of Pohnpei; Hon. Robert Weilbacher, governor of the State of Kosrae; Hon. Wesley Simina, governor of the State of Chuuk; and Hon. Sebastian Anefal, governor of the State of Yap.

The agreement continues the collective momentum the Challenge has gained during the past year including the selection of Charlene Mersai as the first Micronesia Challenge Regional Coordinator. Mersai has ten years of conservation work experience and was most recently a researcher at the Palau international Coral Reef Center (PICRC). In September, the Republic of Palau received $1 million as the first payment from The Nature Conservancy’s $3 million pledge to sustainable funding for the Micronesia Challenge. Similar funds have also been pledged by Conservation International.

Already, the Micronesia Challenge, along with the Global Island Partnership – an international joint venture that assists islands in protecting their natural resources – has spurred more than 20 island countries throughout the Pacific, the Coral Triangle and the Caribbean to take more ambitious steps toward sustainable environmental conservation.

The Micronesia Challenge is a commitment by the Chief Executives of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands to effectively conserve at least 30% of the near‐shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020.

Covering 6.7 million square kilometers of ocean, the Micronesia Challenge represents more than 20% of the Pacific island region and 5% of the largest ocean in the world.

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