Kevrumbo;
Unfortunately that article hit it right on the money. We saw an area (visible from the water as we approached Sam's) that was stripped of trees. It was being used for a gravel pit. The need fo gravel has grown since the new highway went in place to Babelthuap. How will they control the erosion? The Japanese are funding a great deal of projects for growth of the infrastructure. The latest funding is going toward road repairs (greatly needed) and road growth. I expecet that growth is the newest wave for Palau. There are so many opportunities for pelple to make money, that conservation often takes a backseat.
While on Peleliu, a palauan captain came in with some Japanese fisherman. The japanese had bragged aobut catching sharks (which were alive in the boat still- sickening) to eat. The conservation officers did absolutely nothing, because although the tourists had caught the sharks in the so-called "Shark Sanctuary", the captain was Palauan and it was okay. Others around us were very distrurbed that the sharks were not killed but rather were left to broil in the hot sun and were seen 'walking' on the boat. When asked if the Palauan would kill the sharks to put them out of their misery, his response was F- you, I'm palauan, I can do what I want.
