Micronesia Conservation Trust

During Project Period of Oct 1, 2020 to Sept 30, 2023, Micronesia Conservation Trust Will Focus on Increasing the Capacity of the Three Freely Associated States (FAS) of Micronesia: the Republic of the Marshall Islands (rmi), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of Palau (ROP) to Protect Their Natural Resources by Enhancing the Environmental Law Mechanisms in Each Jurisdiction. Specifically, This Project Will Establish a Micronesia Environmental Law Fellow Program and Place Three Environmental Law Fellows With the Attorney General Offices or Other Appropriate Agencies in Each Jurisdiction. the Fellows Will Assist Jurisdictions to 1) Strengthen Their Existing Environmental Laws; 2) Support the Development of New Environmental Laws; 3) Improve the Capacity to Prosecute Resource Management Policy Violation Cases; 4) Ensure Best Practices Are Learned and Shared Locally and Regionally; 5) Explore the Establishment of Environmental Courts or Dockets; and 6) Explore Appropriate Penalties or Punishments That Turns Violators Into Environment Advocates as Opposed to Criminalizing Them. the Fellows Will Increase the Jurisdictions' Ability to Enforce Environmental Regulations Aimed at Reducing Exposure to the Impacts of Climate Change, Including Seal Level Rise, Floods and Other Extreme Events. This Project Will Increase Engagement of All Branches of Government in the Enforcement Chain, Including Establishing More Effective Policies and Natural Resource Management Policies Violations That Will Receive the Appropriate Attention and Action Needed to Enhance Island Resilience and Security. the Judiciary Branch Plays a Critical Role in the Enhancement and Interpretation of Environmental Law and Its Institutionalization for the Public Interest in a Healthy and Secure Environment.