The Annotated Ramsar List: Palau

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

PALAU / PALAOS

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Palau on 18 February 2003. Palau presently has 1 site designated as a Wetland of International Importance, with a surface area of 500 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Lake Ngardok Nature Reserve. 18/10/02; Melekeok; 500 ha; 07°31'00”N 134°36'00”E. Nature Reserve. A small, natural, freshwater lake on Babeldaob island with some swamp vegetation, the largest permanent freshwater body in Palau and the largest natural freshwater lake in the bioregional context. The site includes the entire protected Nature Reserve and catchment of the lake and thus also includes several streams and small areas of riverine marsh and freshwater swamp forest as well. It supports indigenous fishes representative of Palauan fish fauna and has a small breeding population of the CITES Appendix I-listed estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). The site includes bird species of conservation value such as the endemic Palau Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus pelewensis), Palau Fantail (Rhipidura lepida), Palau Flycatcher (Myiagra erythrops), and Palau Ground Dove (Gallicolumba canifrons). The lake is particularly important to the small population of Melekeok State for control of floods and maintenance of water quality. It is the only important source of water supply for Melekeok State and the national capital of Palau. The site is strictly utilized for educational awareness and scientific research and there are no other forms of land use in the surrounding areas, which are all part of the Reserve. Erosion, poaching, invasive species, and the effects of climate change are perceived as potential threats. Ramsar site no. 1232. Most recent RIS information: 2012.