NGERULMUD, Palau – The House of Delegates’ Health, Social and Cultural Affairs Committee has backed the Belau National Museum’s urgent call for the protection of Belualasmau and the Northern Peleliu Lkes Important Bird Area (IBA), warning that failure to act now could lead to the extinction of key migratory species and the loss of a vital cultural symbol.
Belualasmau, a privately owned land in Peleliu State, along with the surrounding intertidal sand flats, has been identified as the most important site for migratory shorebirds in Micronesia and Oceania. The surrounding waters fall under Peleliu State’s jurisdiction and are already protected by state law. However, the land itself remains vulnerable to potential commercial development, prompting calls for immediate action.
