The Western Pacific Coral Reef Institute (WPCRI) is a collaborative regional partnership whose mission is to protect and preserve Micronesia’s reefs through scientific research that is directly applicable to coral reef management, as well as training and education activities. The research focuses on climate change, land-based sources of pollution, fisheries, and traditional practices of local communities.
Why We Care
The WPCRI builds expertise for improved management of the U.S.-managed coral reefs of the Micronesia islands region in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The institute fosters cooperation between researchers, managers and stakeholders throughout Micronesia in addition to directly funding projects. The WPCRI offers learning opportunities through scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in natural resource management.
What We Are Doing
Our research priorities are developed through a stakeholder approach established by the WPCRI management committee, comprised of representatives from the University of Guam, the state government, academic institutions, and non-government entities from Guam and Micronesia. Each priority is listed according to rank, with subthemes and examples of applicable research problems. Further examples of research linkages may be taken from jurisdictional management planning documents, such as local action strategies under the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Initiative.
The research priorities include:
- Climate Change
- Land Based Sources of Pollution
- Fisheries
- Traditional Practices.
Projects are selected based on a competitive peer-review through a request-for-proposal process. Each proposal is subject to an extensive review conducted by the Science and Technical Advisory Committee, which is comprised of a selected team of scientist and/or managers based throughout Micronesia.