Money continues to grow on trees in Yela

The Yela Landowners Association (YELA), Inc. recently convened a meeting to receive their dividends from the Yela Conservation Easement Fund, managed by the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT). For the seventh consecutive year, MCT has disbursed funds ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 per annum to the ten families who possess shares in the Yela "Ka" Forest located in Kosrae. The ka tree, a unique species endemic to Kosrae and Pohnpei, thrives abundantly within the entire watershed of Yela, distinguishing it as the sole watershed dominated by this native tree. Renowned as Terminalia carolinensis, or the ka tree, it features umbrella-shaped canopies and moss-covered buttresses. The ka tree, alternatively known as kehma on Pohnpei, finds utility in various applications such as timber, canoe construction, cabinetry, flooring, medicinal purposes, and the consumption of its edible nuts.

This exceptional initiative, a collaborative endeavor among the Yela Landowners, the Kosrae Island Resources Management Authority (KIRMA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the US Forest Service - Forest Legacy Program, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Micronesia Conservation Trust, stands as the first of its kind in Micronesia. The Easement Fund embodies a mutually beneficial arrangement for all stakeholders involved, as well as the ecosystem itself.

The landowners retain ownership of the land and possess the prerogative to engage in traditional agroforestry and climate-smart agricultural activities. Additionally, they enjoy the freedom to utilize ka trees for canoe construction and partake in eco-tourism endeavors within the splendid forest. Moreover, they shoulder the responsibility of managing the area, including the eradication of invasive species and the cultivation of native flora when necessary. KIRMA assumes ownership of the conservation lease and collaborates with the landowners to ensure their adherence to the easement's provisions. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, TNC and the US Forest Service provide financial resources and technical support whenever required, while MCT oversees the endowment management and disburses annual payments to the landowners.

The landowners shall have perpetual access to their endowment funds, contingent upon their compliance with the easement's terms. "It's akin to an insurance policy for the ka forest. Even in the event of a typhoon or other natural disasters that devastate the forest, the landowners will still be able to access their annual funds," affirmed William Kostka, Executive Director of the Micronesia Conservation Trust. Dr. Tholman Alik, the Executive Director of the Yela Landowners Association, expounded, "This demonstrates that conservation generates tangible benefits, resulting in collective triumph. Indeed, money does grow on trees in Kosrae."