Micronesian Island Conservation group (MIC) is a non-profit NGO involved in environmental issues here in the Federated States of Micronesia.
At the meeting on 24 Oct 96, MIC decided to have the executive committee sit down with legal counsel and review the by-laws.
A report was made on the status of the Bird Park. A German environmental organization, the Brehm Foundation, is providing seed money of $150,000 over five years to start this project. Construction is due to start in March, 1997. The present Governor of Pohnpei has designated land at the current Kolonia Agriculture Station for the Bird Park. A search is now underway for a local manager of the Bird Park. The Bird Park project is affiliated with the effort to preserve and protect the indigenous Pohnpeian Lory, or Serehd en Pohnpei. The Kolonia Agriculture Station was originally established by the Japanese and contains one of the two buildings still standing in Kolonia from Japanese times.
A report was made on the status of a bird identification book being put together by Harvey Segal, Tom Panholzer, Don Buden, and various local artists. RARE, involved with funding the Serehd project, will be providing funding for the printing of 1000 books, with 500 of those being provided to the elementary schools. The Nature Conservancy has also been involved in the funding and support of the Serehd and Bird Park projects.
Concern was expressed over the manner in which mangrove trees were cleared from around the ancient stone city historic site of Nan Madol. Concern was also expressed over local dive operators not anchoring at designated locations and the consequent damage to the coral reef. There was an unconfirmed report of black coral being harvested by divers and exported without proper permits.
Concern was also expressed as to the safety of the children's environment with respect to their having to walk on the high speed arterial road that runs between Kolonia and Palikir.
The creation and sale of post cards was suggested as a way to generate income for MIC and to bring broader recognition of MIC's existence.
1997 is the year of the coral reef, and MIC decided to make the Year of the Coral Reef the centerpiece of Earth Day 1997. Both an Earth Day subcommittee and a Coral Reef subcommittee were formed. Discussion turned to assisting the post office in producing a stamp series to commemorate the year of the reef. The current plan is to involve the elementary schools via a stamp design contest, with the winner potentially becoming an actual stamp. A chair was also selected for the annual Earth Day poster contest. The contest theme will also be the coral reefs.
There was discussion of the need for a plastic bag law. Plastic grocery bags festoon the mangrove trees and blow off island into the heart of the Western Pacific ocean. The suggestion was also made to have students get involved in lobbying for a can return law. A student was delegated the task of determining whether a student led lobbying effort would be feasible. The student was also tasked with looking into whether there would be interest in a student chapter of MIC at COM-FSM. Motions to actually form a student chapter or fund these efforts await the student's report.
MIC continues to sell fish and bird posters. A member noted the need to distribute the posters to the shops on the airport concourse.
MIC Board Member 1995 - Present
December 1996 Board Meeting
January 1999 Meeting
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