News & Updates

All reports are provided by Mary Rose Nakayama.

NOVEMBER 29, 2006: Phase II: Conservation Project Updates

Murals on Water Tanks:
The Epinup Community has purchased materials such as paints and paint brushes for the design of the water tanks. An artist to draw up the design is yet to be identified. The tanks have not been painted yet because of the bad weather during this rainy and windy season. Additional to painting the tanks, materials for piping water from the tanks into the family home will be purchased soon.

Mangrove Boundary Sign Project:
The first 2 plywoods have been purchased for the signs. An artist is yet to be identified.

Environmental Awareness Project:
2 COM-FSM, Chuuk campus students from Epinup by the names of Radly Flaisek and Jason Moses are involved in the environmental awareness project. They are work-study students at Math and Science Department with Mr. Kind Kanto who is the chairman for the department. Mr. Kind Kanto has assigned these students to work closely with the Epinup Mangrove and Marine Protected Area Project. During the weekends, these students give talks on the environment and conservation during youth activities and other community meetings.

Upcoming Projects:

• Establish an Environmental Club at the Annex School
• Hire and Train 4 conservation officers (click here for Job Description)
• Continue community environmental awareness

Also see...

• October 10, 2006 Full Final Report (pdf)
• November 29, 2006 Conservation Project Update (pdf)
• Financial Report - as of August 8, 2006 (pdf)
• Budget Breakdown for Phase II: Conservation (pdf)
• Community Conservation Officers - Job Description (pdf)

 

OCTOBER 10, 2006: Phase I: Water Catchment Project Final Report

Community Tanks Completed:
The Epinup Community water catchment project is finally completed! There are now 10 families in the community with 10 water tanks complete with rain gutter and faucet. The location of the 10 tanks was strategically placed to ensure easy access for the whole community. The community members understand that the tanks build on their home property are owned by the whole community and should be shared with everybody. No individual will claim personal ownership of the tanks.

• Financial Report - as of August 8, 2006 (pdf)

Conservation Murals:
The budget item ‘miscellaneous’ amounted to $1,202.00 (see budget breakdown). The community is now in the process of purchasing paints and brushes for drawing conservation designs on each of the 10 tanks. These designs will be a form of community awareness on the beauty of our environment and the importance of conservation and sustainable development on our environment and our lives and livelihoods. In addition, the community will be purchasing materials for piping water from the tanks into the family homes.

Family with Tanks:
The families who have tanks placed on their home property are: 1) Sander Flaisek: 2) Tai Ichin; 3) Siker Tonaw; 4) Satosy Sato; 5) Sireison Sam; 6) Marieta Berdon; 7) Achina Auputiw; 8) Sieiosy Kini; 9) Reid Ron; 10) Echikar Ichin (community meeting hall)

Workers:
There were 35 community members who gave their time and energy to work on the water catchment project, and were paid the total amount of $4,500 for labor cost. The names of the laborers are: 1) Johnny Auputiw; 2) Edimon Sefich; 3) AP Auputiw; 4) Tany Ron; 5) Nepan Sefich; 6) Tison Sam; 7) Marino Sefich; 8) Sireison Sam; 9) Iowane Sefich; 10) Echikar Ichin; 11) Morfin Ichin; 12) Ateuo Ichin; 13) Keifin Ichin; 14) K-nor Ichin; 15) Pakin Phillip; 16) Akinsosensio Sichiro; 17) Benjamin Lucas; 18) Sheldon Flaisek; 19) Radly Flaisek; 20) Ridsan Flaisek; 21) Action Kaiser; 22) Richiuo Sika; 23) Akostin Umuo; 24) Satosy Sato; 25) Iansauo Stephen; 26) Ancherson Sam; 27) Noy Kiny; 28) Two-M Maikawa; 29) Narson Moses; 30) Siker Tonaw; 31) Toriano Ona; 32) Aminson Flaisek; 33) Sostu Sato; 34) Jabar Ermut; 35) Sichiuo Saki

Supporters:
The Epinup Community along with the College of Micronesia-FSM, Xavier High School, the Department of Marine Resources, and partners take this opportunity to give special thanks to Seacology and most especially to the generous support of Nu Skin Enterprises’ Force for Good Foundation and the Moore Foundation.

Also see...

• October 10, 2006 Full Final Report (pdf format)
• November 29, 2006 Conservation Project Update (pdf format)
• Financial Report - as of August 8, 2006 (pdf)
• Budget Breakdown for Phase II: Conservation (pdf)
• Community Conservation Officers - Job Description
  

AUGUST 8, 2006: Phase II: Conservation Project Planning Meetings

A series of meetings were held in July at the College of Micronesia-Chuuk Campus with stakeholders to begin planning for the conservation phase of the project. Led by conservation advisor Mary Rose Nakayama, the meetings produced some immediate and long-term action plans including the hiring of conservation officers from the Epinup community.

• Meeting Minutes - July 7, 2006 (PDF files)
• Meeting Minutes - July 20, 2006 (PDF files)

 

JULY 4, 2006: Phase I - Water Catchment Near Completion

Mary Rose Nakayama reported that Phase I: Water Catchment Construction is near completion. Seacology has sent another installment of $11,000 to Xavier High School for Phase II: Mangrove Conservation. The funds will pay workers to start marking the mangrove boundary component of the project. A community meeting was scheduled to be held at the College of Micronesia for updates. >>>see photo updates

AUGUST 8, 2005: Supplies Slowed Phase One

There is concern that the construction of the water tanks does not closely follow the timeline in the work plan. The construction work had been delayed because of the lack of cement on island for the last couple of months. The road and weather conditions have also played a role in the delay of this water tank project. Cement has been available on island as of the end of July, and the construction of 3 tanks has already been completed.

AUGUST 25, 2005: Water Catchment Project Making Progress

There was a visit out to the community to see the water tank construction project. There were 5 tanks that were totally complete, 1 that only needed its cover to be cemented, 3 that only had the frame erected but not concrete yet, and 1 not build yet.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2005: Community Water Project Makes Progress

Last Thursday, September 1, the remainder of the cement was finally delivered. There are now 8 water tanks that are fully complete, 1 that is being cemented inside, and another 1 that is yet to be constructed.

COMMENTS: The size of the water tanks vary. There are 5 tanks that are 8 x 6, 2 tanks that are 9 x 6, 1 tank that is 10 x 5, and 1 tank that is 10 x 6. The bigger size tanks were the first ones to be build. The other tanks were decreased in size because community noted that the amount of materials and supplies would not be adequate for more of the bigger size water tanks. It is for this reason that 50 extra bags of cement were added to the 300 bags listed in the water project cost estimate.

NEEDS: All of the materials and supplies for the water project have been delivered to the project site. The remaining 2 water tanks will be complete by this week, and we are now ready to start ‘mangrove conservation’ part of the project. We now request for the Phase II and Phase III Budget to be wired to the Chuuk RARE Program c/o Xavier High School of Chuuk as soon as possible.

NEWS: New Seacology Field Representative for Micronesia

In an effort to put a more "local face" on Seacology's presence in the Micronesian islands, long-time field representative Olivier Wortel announced that Simon Ellis, the Executive Director of Marine and Environment Research Institute of Pohnpei,eellis@mail.fm will be new Micronesian Field Representative.