The Biosphere Reserve is located on the relatively flat and narrow coastal plain extending from the foothills to the shore. The wetland forest has different kinds of green ferns, and also harbours the only remaining stand of Ka trees (Terminalia carolinesis) in the world. The core area, which is mainly composed of mangrove and marine areas, has been designated with the main objective to protect the area thus prohibiting any human activities including harvesting of natural resources. The terrestrial buffer zone protects the core area against external pressures and the marine buffer zone is protected as a no-take zone. The biosphere reserve has 24 different archaeological sites. The core, buffer, and transition core areas are managed by land use regulations and the Marine Resources Act 2000 (UNESCO-MAB, 2006).
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: • Terminalia Swamp Forest (the only remaining stand of Ka trees (Terminalia carolinesis) in the world)
• Mangrove Forests
• Kosrae Flying Fox
• Low-elevation Broadleaf Forest
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The main conservation objective is to prohibit any human activities including harvesting of natural resources in the marine core area. The well-preserved forests in the buffer zone function as a buffer to the core area against the pressure in the upland forests. No current research and monitoring activities in the biosphere reserve. Planned activities include research/monitoring on pH of water and hydrology; biodiversity of corals and fish; fish aggregation sites; movement of fish and other marine organisms; tourism planning; economic impacts on residents living in the vicinity of the Biosphere Reserve; continued community awareness programs (UNESCO-MAB, 2006).
Protected areas
The core, buffer, and transition core areas of this Biosphere Reserve are managed by land use regulations and the Marine Resources Act 2000 (UNESCO-MAB, 2006).
