Palau [4]
(Independent in 1994 from United States UN trusteeship)
ISO COUNTRY CODE: PW
LAND AREA: 494 sq. km SEA AREA: 629000 sq. km
NUMBER OF ISLANDS BY SIZE (sq. km):
| >17,000 | >10,000 | >1,000 | >100 | >10 | >1 | <1 | Unknown | TOTAL |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 31 |
DEMOGRAPHY
POPULATION: 17000 (1996)
DENSITY: 34 persons/sq. km GROWTH RATE: 0%/year
ECONOMY
Income/Capita: $0
ENVIRONMENT (see also individual islands)
NATURE CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
rich flora, many endemics including:
Gulubia palauensis (Rock Island Palm) group endemic
Ptychosperma palauensis (Belau Palm) group endemic
Insects:
2 butterflies
Other invertebrates:
Videna spp. (Trochomorphidae, land snails), remarkable species
radiation.
3 Partulidae (tree snails)
Reptiles-amphibians:
endemic species of ranid frog
Aulacoplax leptosoma (Scincidae, Pandanus Skink) monospecific genus,
group
endemic
Crocodylus porosus (Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile), Endangered
Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle) common
Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback Turtle) common
Birds:
149 species, 43 resident, 4 introduced (including outer islands)
31 land birds, including 8 endemics
Gallicolumba canifrons (Belau Ground Dove) group endemic, endangered
Ptilinopus pelewensis (Belau Fruit Dove) group endemic
Pyrroglaux podargina (Belau Scops Owl) group endemic, endangered,
recovering
Psamathia annae (Belau Bush Warbler) group endemic
Myiagra erythrops (Belau Broadbill or Mangrove Flycatcher) group
endemic
Rhipidura lepida (Belau Fantail) group endemic, recovering
Pitohui tenebrosus (Morning Bird) group endemic
Megazosterops palauensis (Belau White-eye) monospecific genus, group
endemic
Anas superciliosa pelewensis (Belau Grey Duck) group endemic
subspecies,
endangered
Megapodius laperouse senex, group endemic subspecies, Rare (RDB)
Caloenas nicobarica pelewensis (Belau Nicobar Pigeon) group endemic
subspecies, Endangered (RDB)
Erythrura trichroa pelewensis (Belau Blue-faced Parrot Finch) group
endemic
subspecies, Babeldaob, Ngerekebesang, Chelbacheb Islands,
Indeterminate
(RDB) or Rare.
Artamus leucorhynchus pelewensis (Belau White-breasted Wood-swallow)
group
endemic subspecies, Rare (RDB).
Mammals:
Dugong dugon (Dugong), Vulnerable (RDB), 50 (1978)
Marine life:
one of the highest levels of species diversity in the Pacific Islands
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
INSTITUTIONS
GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:
Environmental Quality Protection Board, Office of the President