On January 14, 2025, Ngiwal State officially opened their Mangrove Ecotour in the Orsoulkesol Waterfall Conservation Area. This ecotour project has been developed over the last two years in collaboration with the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) technical cooperation project, ‘Project for Enhancement of Integrated Management of Coastal Ecosystem in Palau for Strengthening Their Resilience to Climate Change’ (PICRC-JICA Coastal Project).
To commemorate this, Ngiwal State and PICRC-JICA Coastal Project held a ceremony to celebrate the official launch of the Ngiwal Mangrove Ecotour. The ceremony commenced with an opening prayer by Deacon McWeldon August, followed by a welcoming speech by High Chief Uongruios Elliot Udui. High Chief Udui thanked PICRC and JICA for their collaboration with Ngiwal State over the past few years, a sentiment echoed by Ngiwal State’s Governor Francisco Melaitau in his opening remarks. Governor Melaitau also highlighted the need for continued support and guidance from PICRC to improve the ecotour.
