Namdrik Atoll

The Second Nominated Wetland ofInternational Importance

for theRepublic of the Marshall Islands.

December 2009

by: Nancy and Brian Vander Velde

Majuro, Marshall Islandsnancyv@ntamar.net

View from southern corner of Ajelto across the lagoon to north.

iii

ContentsIntroductionpages 1 - 6

Settingpage 1Historypage 4

Previous Biodiversity Workspage 5

Namdriks Wetlandspage 7 - 23Marine/Coastalpage 8

Freshwaterpage 18Man-Made Wetlandspage 22

Plant Diversitypages 24 - 26Mangroves and Other Wetland Plantspage 26

Animal Diversity...pages 27 - 28

Importance and Value ofNamdriks Wetlands...pages 29 - 33

What About the Rhizophora of Madmad?...pages 34 - 35

Threats to the Wetlands of Namdrik...pages 36 - 38

Recommendations...pages 39 - 41

Summary...page 42

References...pages 43 - 48

Appendices...pages 49 - 71Appendix A: Vascular Plants of Namdrik Atollpages 49 - 62

Appendix B: Vertebrates of Namdrik Atoll63 - 71

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FiguresView from southern cover of Ajelto across the lagoon. coverFigure 1: Map of Marshall Islands page 1Figure 2 : Image of Namdrik Atoll.... page 1Figure 3: Namdrik Atoll from the air.... page 1Figure 4: Namdrik Community Center.. page 2Figure 5: Namorik Harbour in the 1870s... page 3Figure 6: AIR Marshall Islands' Dash-8 aircraft on Namdrik.. page 3Figure 7: Witt, J. 1881. Die Marschall-Gruppe, Annalen der Hydrographie IX... page 4Figure 8: Map of Namorik Atoll, taken from the 1893 map 'Schutzgebiet der Marshall Inseln'.. page 4Figure 9: Watercolor by Elizabeth Krmer, Namdrik from the west.... page 4Figure 10: Madmad mangrove wetlands... page 6Figure 11: Oceanside intertidal reef, Eoon-ene. page 8Figure 11: Wandering Tattler and Pacific Golden Plover on lagoon beach.. page 9Figure 12: Serrated Ribbon Seagrass (tentative determination) underwater. page 10Figure 13: Boulders on ocean reef, smaller ones near Eoon-ene with canoe fishing in background... page 11Figure 14: Aerial view of sand islets between Ajelto and Madmad.. page 12Figure 15: Entrance to wetland areas of Madmad, looking toward the inflow of saltwater from the lagoon... page 12Figure 16: Probably the Arno skink (Emoia arnoensis) in mangrove area on Madmad Island.... page 14Figure 17: Seagrass and Orbiculate Cardinalfish near Sonneratia alba on Madmad... page 14Figure 18: Mudskipper and periwinkles by Community Center... page 15Figure 9: Old stand of Rhizophora on Madmad Island.. page 16Figure 21: Peperomia ponapensis on Madmad Island.. page 17Figure 10: Sprouted Nypa fruit along ocean beach... page 17Figure 11: Lumnitzera in wetlands of Eoon-ene... page 18Figure 12: Premna serratifolia functioning as mangrove in wetland near urban area. page 18Figure 13: Pectoral Sandpiper... page 18Figure 14: Tethered pigs wallowing.. page 18Figure 27: Coconut palm with Shoestring Ferns, wetland, Eoon-ene... page 19Figure 15: Wetland of Ajelto by air strip.. page 19Figure 16: : Litter of leaves and fruit under Lumnitzera littorea.. page 20Figure 17: Moss covered tree trunk in Lumnitzera wetland. page 20Figure 18: Sprouting seedlings under practically monospecific Hernandia forest, ocean side, Eoon-ene... page 20Figure 19: Possible ancardid shrimp in wetland of Eoon-ene... page 21Figure 20: : Possible Bruguiera x rhynchopetala in wetland of Ajelto, with evident stilts on young trees. page 21Figure 21: Large water catchment tank of private residence with smaller vessels to the side.. page 22Figure 22: Giant Swamp Taro pit.. page 22Figure 23: Soaking pit in mangrove wetland, Eoon-ene... page 23Figure 24: Dragonflies over probable abandoned iaraj pit near urban area.. page 23Figure 25: Water Hyacinth... page 25Figure 39: Australian Pine on Eoon-ene.. page 25Figure 26: Extensive area of White Water Sedge in private yard page 25Figure 271: Small moth near wetlands of Eoon-ene. page 27Figure 42: Ruddy Turnstone. page 28Figure 43: Juvenile Lesser Frigatebird flying over Eoon-ene.. page 28Figure 28: Traditional canoes along ocean beach, in for the evening after a day out fishing and gathering page 30Figure 29: Bananas near private residence.... page 31Figure 46: Peperomia ponapensis from Madmad wetlands. page 31Figure 47: Beautyleaf tree with leaves evidently eaten by caterpillars. page 32Figure 30: Rhizophora flowers and hypocotyl, Madmad Island.. page 34Figure 49: View of Maj-en-an-Lijobkonira from 2001 page 35Figure 50: Mangrove area, Maj-en-an-Lijobkonira the interior of Madmad, late 2009 view... page 35Figure 51: School on Namdrik, built on former wetland area, with the invasive flower, Trailing Daisy, aspart of the lawn.. page 36Figure 52: View from Ajelto looking over to Eoon-ene and Madmad. page 42

vTables

Table 1: Vascular Plants of Namdrik Recorded in Legend and Place Namesand Vascular Plants Recorded by F. R. Fosberg. page 5Table 2: Namdrik Wetlands according to the Ramsar Classification System forWetland Types. page 7Table 3: Mangroves from Namdrik Atoll (based on listings in Duke 2006 andTomlinson 1986). page 26Table 4: Crabs Mentioned During Biodiversity Workshop page 27Table 5: Usages of Mangrove and Wetland Plants as Reported by Participantsof the 1997 Namdrik Biodiversity Workshop.. page 29Table 6: Quantitative List of Mangrove Plant Products in Southeast Asia page 30Table 7: Traditional Sites, Navigational Markers, etc. of Namdrik. page 33

Abbreviations

CEPF: Critical Ecosystem Partnership FundIUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature

RMIEPA: Republic of the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection AuthorityRMIHPO: Republic of the Marshall Islands Historic Preservation Office

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Background of ReportIn 2004, the Republic of the Marshall Islands joined the Ramsar Convention onWetlands. Thereafter, the Jaluit Atoll Conservation Area became listed as a wetland ofinternational importance under the Convention.

In keeping with Article 2 of the Convention, further wetlands are to be designated at thenational level. Hence, with the financial assistance from the Ramsar ConventionSecretariat, preparatory activities have been undertaken for the designation of NamdrikAtoll as their second Ramsar site.

A major component of these preparatory activities is an assessment of the biodiversity in,and associated with, Namdrik Atolls wetlands.

On October 20-27, 2009, Nancy and Brian Vander Velde, who have had long experiencewith biodiversity in the Marshall Islands and other parts of the Pacific, traveled toNamdrik Atoll to investigate the plants and animals of the wetlands.

Spelling of Marshallese Words and Names

The spelling system for Marshallese has been in a state of flux almost since the longspoken language was put into writing. For instance, according to the most recentorthography, the name of the atolls should be Namdik, but actually with a cedilla (or, under the m) (Bender 1976).

But over the years, it has also been spelled Namorik, Namarik, NamurikNamurikku To, and other variations of such. For the purpose of this report, Namdrikis used to conform with that being used by the local government and other agencies(Damon 1861; Young 1877; Bryan 1971).

The names of historic and legendary personages, plant and animal names and site namesare similarly varied as to spelling. In some reports, particularly the older ones, these attimes can be hard to decipher. Whenever possible, attempts are made to bring spelling ofthese names as close as possible to the current orthography, but due to limitations ofknowledge of the phonemes and keyboard, this has not been possible in some (or perhapseven in many) cases.

1Figure 1: Map of Marshall Islands.Figure 2 : Image of Namdrik Atoll(source: Google Earth).

IntroductionSettingNamdrik Atoll is one of the more southern Railik Chain of the Marshall Islands, locatedat 535' to 538' North, 1685' to 1689' East. It is a relatively small atoll with only 2.77square kilometers (1.07 square miles) of land (Bryan 1971; Dashwood 1991).(See figure 1).

This land is divided between two well-vegetated islands Namdrik and Madmad, joinedtogether by a continuous reef, roughly as a trapazoid. (See figures 2 and 3). The highestelevation is figured to be about 3 meters (10 feet) above sea level. (Amerson 1969).

There are a few sandbars and shoals on the connecting reefs which are exposed at lowtide. There are also a number of coral boulders scattered over the same reefs, somesupporting terrestrial vegetation on their upper surfaces.

The smaller island, Madmad, is in the northwest corner of the trapazoid and isuninhabited, although frequented for copra collection and food harvesting. The other,larger island, Namdrik, extends from the northeast corner around to just past thesouthwest corner. It is is divided into two districts Ajelto, from the northern end tosoutheast corner, and Eoon-ene across the southern portion. Namdrik Island is inhabited

Figure 3: Namdrik Atoll from the air; Ajelto in foreground, Eoon-ene behind, with Madmad just out of view tothe right. (photo: M. Honath).

2Figure 4: Namdrik Community Center.

throughout, with the concentration in thecentral portion of Eoon-ene near theCommunity Center. (See figure 4).

The interior lagoon encircled by the twoislands and the reef is only 3.25 squaremiles (8.42 square kilometers, and has nonatural passes. (Bryan 1971; Dashwood1991; Young 1877). The at low tide waterwithin the lagoon can be as much as twometers higher than that of the outsideocean (Krmer & Nevermann 1938[trans. Brant & Armstrong 1942]).

Old records refer to this atoll as Barings Island (Young 1877) but the local nameNamdrik (variously spelled, see above) has been in English accounts since earlycontact.

According to Bender (1976) the name is based on the combination of nam (orsecondary lagoon) and dik (small). While potentially this could refer to some ofthe inshore areas within the lagoon which are encircled by reef, the fact that the lagoonitself is so small and without any passes, this itself may qualify as a rather small nam.

Namdrik is considered to be a very wet atoll with an annual rainfall of 120 to 150inches (Amerson 1969). Generally, Namdrik is in the North Equatorial Current, andsometimes the Equatorial Counter Current moves it latitude. Hence drift material isregularly swept onto and away from Namdriks shores in both directions.

Namdrik Atoll has suffered several typhoons in recorded history. According toSpennemann & Marschner (1994), Namdrik was hit by typhoons in 1875, 1900, 1953,1969, 1979, 1991, 1992. Additionally, in late 1957, Namdrik was the principal atoll inthe Marshalls to feel the fury of Supertyphoon Lola (the first of a series of disastrousstorms to hit the southern Marshalls). That storm destroyed the homes and crops of theover 500 residents (US Dept. of State 1958). A still visible evidence of any of thesestorms are the remaining numerous relief houses still in use.

The lack of a natural pass into the lagoon has created a unqiue environment. Although attimes the water exchange that occur over the reef and into the lagoon during high tide isquite significant by not having as much of a regular influx of open ocean water, thelagoon affords protection to certain marine life such as pearl oyster larvae (Dashwood1991). Since the early 1990s, a blacklip pearl operation has been undertaken in thislagoon, producing black-pearls for export (Dashwood 1991).

3Figure 5: Namorik Harbour in the 1870s (Hernsheim, Franz(1883) Sdsee-Erinnerungen (1875-1880). Berlin: A.Hofmann& Compagnie. plate 4).

Figure 6: AIR Marshall Islands' Dash-8 aircrafton Namdrik.

Goods have long been brought ashore by ferrying from vessels anchored offshore, andthis tedious process is recorded in an old lithograph. (Figure 5).

Over a hundred years ago, this wasdescribed by a visiting ship:

There is no anchorage at the island, andthe only available landing is on the Westside of island near the S. W. point ofatoll, at this place if the tide is low onehas to land on the edge of the reef andwalk some 600 yards over reef to thebeach, but at high water a boat can go in(Young 1877).

Nowadays much smaller freight comes onthe regular flights of AIR MarshallIslands (AMI). A runway spans thenorthern portion of Ajelto, being longenough to accomadate both types ofAMIs current aircraft.

The population is currently estimated to beapproximately 500 people, (according toAisa Peter, the atoll Medical Officer). (Thefigure of 814 persons in 96households/buildings although still in use, isbased on the 1986 survey (Dashwood 1991;wikipedia.org). In the latter part of theninetheeth century, the population wasfigured to be about 400 (Young 1877), in theearly twentieth century about 500 (Krmer& Nevermann 1938 [trans. Brant &Armstrong 1942]) and still again a few yearslater (Amerson 1969), so it appears to

continued relatively at a steady level.In 1996, solar energy was introduced to many of Namdriks by the French governmentand in 2005, an improved system of solar electricity was provided through the PacificIslands Energy Policy and Strategic Action Planing (Empower Consultants Ltd. 2005;Wade & Johnson 2005). Nevertheless, most people still maintain a relatively traditionallifestyle Substance farming continues with traditional crops such as coconuts, breadfruit,pandanus and swamp taro. Traditional outrigger canoes are built from largely localmaterial and daily men sail these canoes to fish in the lagoon or to transit to Madmad togather crustaceans and fish in the wetlands.

4Figure 8: Map of Namorik Atoll, taken from the1893 map 'Schutzgebiet der Marshall Inseln',published Langhans, Paul (1897) DeutscherKolonial-atlas. 30 Karten mit 300 Nebenkarten.Gotha: Justus Perthes. Map 30 'Schutzgebiet derMarshall Inseln' (source: marshall.csu.edu.au).

Figure 7: Witt, J. 1881. Die Marschall-Gruppe, Annalen derHydrographie IX (source: marshall.csu.edu.au).

HistoryThe first recorded sighting ofNamdrik Atoll by a non-Micronesianwas in 1792 by the British captainHenry Bond. Although there waslimited contact for many yearsthereafter, no successful landingswere documented (Hezel 1983).However, in 1864, Namdrik was oneof the first atolls after Ebon toreceive resident Hawaiianmissionaries from the AmericanBoard of Commisioners for ForeignMissions (Walsh 2003).

In the late nineteeth century, Germanybegan the copra industry throughout theMarshall Islands, including Namdrik. Inorder to make way for coconut plantations,native forest were extensively cleared. Bythe 1870s, several trading stations had beenestablished on Namdrik, where copra wasexchanged for imported goods (Hezel1983; NBTRMI 2000). (See figures 7, 8and 9).In 1914, Japanese administration replacedthat of German in Micronesia, but noJapanese were found on Namdrik whenAmerican troups arrived at the end ofWorld War II (Heinl & Crown 1954).Evidently, however, a local trader hadremained, hidden by the local residents,

and when American troops left, he came out of hiding to contine his trading operations atleast for a while (Mead et al. 2003).After a few years of Navy administration, the Marshall Islands and the rest of Micronesiawere put under trusteeship by the United States as part of the Trust Territory of thePacific Islands in 1947. In 1979, this was replaced by a Compact of Free Association andthe Republic of the Marshall Islands came into being (Walsh 2003).

Figure 9: Watercolor by Elizabeth Krmer, Namdrik from the west (source: Krmer & Nevermann1938).

5Table 1:Vascular Plants of Namdrik

Recorded in Legend and Place Names(sources: Erdland 1914, Bender 1976)

English Marshallese ScientificFalse Spider Lily kiep Crinum

asiasticum

Pandanus toar? Pandanustectorius

PolynesianArrowroot makmok

Taccalentopelaloides

Island Walnut kno Corda subcordataRed-floweredBlack Mangrove kimeme

Lumnitzeralittorea

Beach Almond ekko Terminaliasamoensis

Beach Spurge pdal Chamaesycechamissonis

Beach Hibiscus lo Hibiscus tileaceusGolden Mallow kio Sida fallaxBreadfruit ma Artocarpus sp.Giant Lettuce Tree kaal Pisonia grandisLong-leafed OrangeMangrove jo

Bruguieragymnorhiza

Flower of theForest wut

Guettardaspeciosa

Flame-of-the-Forest kajdo Ixora caseiRed-bug Tree kutaak Allophylus

timoriensisBitter Tree kabwijl Soulamea amaraBeach Privet wulej Clerodendruminerme

Vascular Plants Recorded by F. R. Fosberg (1990)Strap Fern ? Ophioglossumpendulum

Scented Fern kino PhymatosorusgrossusLacy Fern ? Pteris tripartitaShoestring Fern ? Vittaria incurvata

False Spider Lily kiep Crinumasiasticum

Beach Sedge padadijmaan Fimbristyliscymosa

Beach Sunflower markubwebwe MeantherabifloraGolden Mallow kio Sida fallaxBreadfruit ma Artocarpus altilisBreadfruit ma Artocapus

mariannensisBoerhavia dbijdeka Boerhavia

tetrandra

Previous Biodiversity WorkThe earliest information about the biodivesityof any location can often be found byexamining the navigational markers, chants,legends, and place names. Until recently, as faras Namdrik is concerned, these have providedmore insight than the published scientificreports have.Navigational markers were of great importanceto such seafaring as the Marshallese. Thefamed stick-charts taught navigators aboutwave patterns, certain patterns of animals ordrifting material served to indicate when acertain atoll lay near.Offshore from Namdrik Atoll, an extremelylarge flock of birds, a pod of porpoise, and aturtle were said to be found. A quanity ofpandanus leaves and the reef boulders were alsoimportant markers (Erdland 1914 [trans. Neuse1961]; Knight 1982; Mwekto undtd; Tobin2002). Erdland also names a greenish herringand a large kidid (a bird usually identified asthe Wandering Tattler [Heteroscelus incanus]).To demonstrate the value of using traditionalknowledge, by referring to just the legend ofthe origin of the Erebra matrilineal clan andplace names, 17 vascular plants can bedetermined, and although still fairly limited,these are far more than the mere 11 speciesrecorded scientifically in 1990 by thebotanist, F. R. Fosberg. (See Table 1).Furthermore, even though Namdrik Atoll didnot receive the extensive scientific investigationthat took place on the nearby atoll of Jaluitduring early contact, some impressions wererecorded.The ship captain James Lyle Young, in hisimpressions of Namdrik from a 1876 visit, describes it as probably the most fertile andproductive group of the Marshalls Group. He also told of heavy straight timber, ofsome kind of hard wood and some cocoanuts [sic] on Madmad Island and the mainisland being densely covered with cocoanuts [sic], pandanus, breadfruit, etc. as well asbananas, pigs, fowls and, in the lagoon, pearl oysters (Young 1877).

6Figure 10: Madmad mangrove wetlands.

The writer, Robert Louis Stevenson was probably the most famous of such visitors torecord his experience on Namdrik. In discussing the harsh conditions he found on mostPacific atolls, he commented that the atoll is a discomfortable home, yet noted thatsome, such as Namdrik, were probably ancient, where a deep soil has been formed andthe most valuable fruit-trees prosper.He recounted how in the atoll of Namorik in the Marshall group, which he said standsalone in my experience, he walked...with equal admiration and surprise, through aforest of huge breadfruits, eating bananas and stumbling among taro as I went(Stevenson 1909:182,183).During the Japanese administration, there was a similar paupacy of scientific work doneon Namdrik Atoll.After the United States took charge in Micronesia, there was considerable interest andinvestigation given to Marshalls atolls, although primarily to the large and diverse ArnoAtoll of the Ratak Chain.Some regional work was done on insects, largely in reports of various economicentomologists working in the area and a few Namdrik insects were described (Beardsley1966).The nuclear testing program of the 1940s to 1960s created a flurry of scientific researchbeing done on Bikini, Enewetak and some of the nearby atolls. Only by extension wasthis information applicable to other parts ofthe Marshalls (Devaney et al. 1987; Garrett& Schreiber 1988; Taylor 1950).But in 1997, little Namdrik Atoll wasselected as the first of five atolls to conductBiodivesity Workshops. Local people fromaround the atoll, together with aninternational and national consultant,gathered to discuss and record the plants andanimals of the atoll and their importance.Many of the wetland species of Namdrikwere recorded for the first time, includingthe mangrove trees and some of the animalsin those wetlands. Additionally, the visitors saw firsthand the mangrove areas ofMadmad Island. (See figure 10).

Most of the results from that workshop were incorporated into the book The MarshallIslands Living Atolls Amidst the Living Sea. The National Biodiversity Report of theRepublic of the Marshall Islands which was printed in 2000 and widely distributed.

The following year some additional work on Namdrik was done by the RMI HistoricPreservation Office during its survey of cultural resources (Mead et al. 2003). Althoughthe focus was on culture, many of the sites described were connected with wetlands andwetland plants and animals.

7Table 2:

Namdrik Wetlands

according to the

Ramsar Classification System for Wetland TypesMarine/Coastal:

A. Permanent shallow marine waters less than sixmetres deep at low tide; includes sea bays andstraits.

B. Marine subtidal aquatic beds; includes kelpbeds, sea-grass beds, tropical marine meadows.

C. Coral reefs.

D. Rocky marine shores; includes rocky offshoreislands, sea cliffs.

E. Sand, shingle or pebble shores; includes sandbars, spits and sandy islets; includes dune systemsand humid dune slacks.

I. Intertidal forested wetlands; includes mangroveswamps, nipah swamps and tidal freshwaterswamp forests. Zk. Subterranean karst and cavehydrological systems.

Freshwater:

Sp. Permanent saline/brackish/alkalinemarshes/pools.

Ss. Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkalinemarshes/ pools.

Xp. Forested peatlands; peatswamp forest.

Zk(b). Karst and other subterranean hydrologicalsystems, inland

"Man-made" Wetlands:

2. Ponds; includes farm ponds, stock ponds, smalltanks; (generally below 8 ha).7. Excavations; gravel/brick/clay pits; borrowpits, mining pools.

Namdriks WetlandsThe most outstanding of Namdriks wetlands are unquestionably its mangrove areas.However, a surprisingly large diversity of wetland types are to be found on and aroundthis small atoll.By using the Ramsar ClassificationSystem for Wetland Types (Ramsar1996) twelve types of wetlands can bedescribed on Namdrik. (See Table 2).Admittedly, the differentiationbetween these types, however, is oftenhard to make and some areas could beclassified under several differentcategories. This is particularly truewhen considering such a small atollwith such limited land. It has evenbeen expressed that in Micronesia,much less the Marshall Islands, thatthere exists no sharp boundarybetween mangrove swamps andfreshwater swamps and that most orall of these Micronesian species areconfined to saline areas by competitionand migrational ability rather than byphysiological necessity (Mueller-Dombois & Fosberg 1998).

Below is a brief explantion of whereeach of these twelve wetlands werefound, along with some of the speciesof these wetlands, bearing in mind,however, that often the distinctionsbetween the wetland are ratherarbitrary and many of the species willcross over into many of the wetlandtypes.

8Figure 11: Oceanside intertidal reef, Eoon-ene.

MARINE/COASTAL A. Permanent shallow marine waters less than six metres deep at low tide;

includes sea bays and straits.The entire encircling reef-flataround both islets and the areasconnecting the two islands wouldfall in this definition, since as allthis area is exposed at low tidesand even at high tides, would notbe more than a meter or two deep.Much of the beginning of theocean reef drop-offs would alsofall into this definition.

MammalsDuring the recent survey, apod of unidentified smallcetaceans were observedswimming near the edge ofthe reef drop-off on the oceanside of Eoon-ene. One of the traditionalnavigational markers tells of either a single cetacean between Eoon-ene andMadmad (Mwekto undtd.) or a pod of porpoises offshore (Knight 1982; Tobin2002).ReptilesBoth the Green Sea Turtle wn (Chelonia mydas) and the Hawkbill Turtlejebake (Eretochelys imbricata) were said to regularly be found in the lagoon ofNamdrik. In order to enter the lagoon, these turtles would have had to transit overthe intertidal reefs between the islets. The number of both types of turtles aregreatly reduced, not only around Namdrik but worldwide the Green Sea Turtleis now considered to be an Endangered Species by the IUCN and the HawksbillCritically Endangered.Several years ago, according to Mayor Clarence Luther, a Leatherback Turtlewon in lometo (Eretmochelys coriacea) washed ashore at Ajelto. This species(which is also considered to be Critically Endangered by the IUCN) regularlytransits through the southern Marshall Islands (McCoy pers. comm. 2009).

Birds:Many seabirds and shorebirds spend considerable time in this area; others at leasttransit this area.

Common winter residents are seen throughout this wetland all around the atoll Pacific Golden Plover kwolej (Pluvialis dominica), Wandering Tattler kidid

9Figure 12: Wandering Tattler andPacific Golden Plover on lagoonbeach.

(Heteroscelus incanus) and Ruddy Turnstone ktkt (Arenaria interpres). (Seefigure 11).

These birds, as well as Bristle-thighed Curlew kowak (Numenius tahitiensis),were named by the participants of the Biodiversity Workshop. The latter isworthy of special note because of itsVulnerable status with the IUCN and beingconsidered to be Potentially Threatened bythe Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund(CEPF) for the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot.

FishesThe participants of the 1997 BiodiversityWorkshop identified 150 species of fishes,primarily reef fishes, most of which are to befound within limits of this wetland. Amongthose named were the Napoleon Wrasse labbo, Cheilinus undulatus, (which isconsidered to be an Endangered Species by the IUCN), and the Brown-marbledGrouper kro, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (classified as Near Threatened by theIUCN).

Other species of groupers, not named during the Biodiversity Workshop are alsoexpected in this area, and are of concern by the IUCN. These would include theSquaretail Leopardgrouper (Plectropomus areolatus), the Blacksaddled CoralGrouper (Plectropomus laevis) (both of which are considered Vulnerable), theSurge Grouper (Epinephelus socialis) and Highfin Coral Grouper (Plectropomusoligacanthus) (Near Threatened).

Near the ocean reef off of Eoon-ene, Yellowfin Tuna bwebwe (Thunnusalbacoros) often come close to shore, and there caught by fishermen fishing fromtraditional outrigger canoes. This fish was named by the Biodiversity Workshop,and it too is considered to be Near Threatened by the IUCN.

MollusksSeveral species of tridacna clams found on Namdrik in this wetland and similarwetland habitats. These included the Giant Clam kabor, Tridacna gigas (IUCNVulnerable Species) and the Bear Claw Clam dimuuj, Hippopus hippopus,Small Giant Clam mejenwod (Tridacna maxima) and Fluted Clam Tridacnasqumosa (all IUCN species of Lower Risk).CoralsNo specific work was done with this group of marine animals during the recentsurvey, but what was observed during the time spent free diving on the ocean reef,was that there is notable variety of species. The formation observed built bycorals at the ocean drop-off was also remarkable.

10

Figure 13: Serrated Ribbon Seagrass (tentativedetermination) underwater. (photo: M. Honath)

Figure 14: Aerial view of eastern end of Madmad, showing reefsand secondary lagoons. (photo: M. Honath).

B. Marine subtidal aquaticbeds; includes kelp beds, sea-grass beds, tropical marinemeadows.

Seagrass is found on much of theshallow sandy area of the lagoonand ocean sides of Namdrik, withsome patches in the mangrove areasof Madmad. The species has beententatively identified as SerratedRibbon Seagrass, Cymodoceaserrulata (Kannan & Thangaradjou2009; Lanyon, J. 1986; McKenzieet al. 2006-2009). (See figure 13).If this identification is confirmed,this would represent a new record for the Marshall Islands. In other parts world, thisseagrass is known as food for the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) (Arthur et al.2009:7).

During brief snorkeling over some of these seagrass beds near the Community Center onEoon-ene, many small fishes and some mollusks and crustaceas were observed. Thiswetland is also a habitat of foraminferans and small plankton.

C. Coral ReefsThere are many areas furtherfrom shore than the intertidalreefs. These would include thecoral pinnacles and reef ridgeswhich encircle the secondarylagoons, such as that just southof Ajelto and those off ofMadmad. (See figure 14).In Namdrik, the marine subtidalaquatic beds share many specieswith the Permanent shallowmarine waters (above). However, open ocean species,such as the mammals, tubesnoutbirds, and Yellowfin Tuna,would be generally absent oronly occasionally present.

11

Figure 11: Large rocks on ocean reef, smaller onesnear Eoon-ene with canoe fishing in background.

D. Rocky marine shores; includes rocky offshore islands, sea cliffs.There are a number of large rocks onthe intertidal reef between the twomain islands. Some of these rocks arelarge enough to have terrestrialvegetation and assocated insects andother arthropods on top, making themreminescent to the famed Rock Islandsof Palau.These reef rocks obviously appearedlong ago. Only a brief visit was madeto those rocks during the recentsurvey, but further investigation intovegetation, animals, formation, andecosystems would seem appropriate.

Legends are assocatiated with these reef roecks. At least the larger ones have names,with those on one side of Madmad being called Ledik-nejin-Lijabkanira (or daughtersof Ms. Jabkanira) and those on the other side, Ladik-nejin-Lijabkanira (or the sons ofthe same woman). These were all players in a story related to the formation of one of thematrilineal clan, Erebra (Erdland 1914 [trans. Neuse 1961]; Mead et al. 2003).These bolders were the basis of a number of navigational signs. Three of the namedbolders, Lijinej, Lijoal, and Lijenmaloklok, are traditional navigation signs, said tohave been women who came from Kosrae (Tobin 2002). Other named navigationalsign/bolders are Lalblok both a greenish colored anchovy and a stone on the southernouter shore and Jelauwe with again a double manifestation, a large kidid(presumably a Wandering Tattler, [Numenius tahitiensis]), and a stone on the outershore (Erdland 1914 [trans. Neuse 1961]).Early records and illustrations of Namdrik show these reef bolders. On one illustration(see figure 9, above), three palm trees are clearly indicated on one of the bolders. Thiswould likely have been another navigation marker, Taij (Krmer & Nevermann 1938[trans. Brant & Armstrong 1942]); Tobin 2002]. These palms are no longer present,perhaps destroyed by a subsequent typhoon.The nearshore seabirds the and shorebirds on and around these bolders would be thosealso found in the Permanent shallow marine waters (above), with many species usingthem as resting spots.

12

Figure 12: Entrance to wetland areas of Madmad, lookingtoward the inflow of saltwater from the lagoon (photo: M.Honath)

E. Sand, shingle or pebble shores; includes sand bars, spits and sandy islets;includes dune systems and humid dune slacks.

At the end of the two islets are sand spits extending out to intertidal reef. On these wasfound a concentration of drift material.Along the north facing intertidal reef between Madmad and Ajelto, there are prominentsand bars and shoals islets, apparently exposed except during the highest of tides. Thearea was not explored during the recent survey. (See figure 15). This environment mayserve as a resting area and potentially breeding area of sand nesting seabirds, such asthe Black-naped Tern, (Sterna sumatrana).

I. Intertidal forested wetlands; includes mangrove swamps, nipah swamps andtidal freshwater swamp forests

All of Namdriks mangrove areas areeffected by tides, but as is typical inthe Marshall Islands, most aremangrove depressions and notintertidal barrier areas (Fosberg 1949,1975; Mueller-Dombois & Fosberg1998).An extensive complex of thesedepressions are found in the interior ofEoon-ene. A small mangrovedepression is found in Ajelto. (Thesewill be discussed in more detail underseveral of the appropriateFreshwater wetlands below).The large mangrove area of Madmadis therefore notable as it is the inflow from the lagoon, (which, again, is not the norm for

Figure 15: Aerial view of sand islets between Ajelto and Madmad.

13

mangrove wetlands in the Marshalls). (See figure 16). Even far into the interior wasfound evidence of the regular influx of distant oceanic material (i.e. Nypa fruticans fruit,fishing floats).This wetland system is one of most beautiful and significant in all of Namdrik. Not onlyis it connected with traditional legend and navigational markers, it also serves as a pantryfor the inhabitants of the atoll. It appears to be in a remarkablly healthy condition, notheavily impacted by foreign species nor suffering a great increase in exploitation.

MammalsWhile rats were not actually observed, there was evidence of their activity. Theyare presumably the Polynesian Rat (Rattus exulans).Free-roaming pigs (Sus scrofa) are allowed to forage in the mangrove areas.

BirdsAs in much of the atoll, Brown Noddy pejwak (Anous stolidus), Black Noddyjekad (Anous minutus), and White or Fairy Terns (Gygis alba) are commonsights overhead. Shorebirds also frequent the area, including the Bristle-thighedCurlew kowak (Numerius tahitiensis) (see above).

The Long-tailed Cuckoo wdej (Eudynamis taitensis) was observed in this area.This bird is Oceania endemic which lays its eggs in the New Zealand region andmigrates to the Central Pacific.

During the recent survey of the Madmad mangrove wetlands, a loud bird cry washeard, which was unfamiliar the authors. No bird was observed that would haveaccounted for the cry. However, there is a remote possiblity that Madmad couldstill be home to the last remnant population of the White-browed Rail (Porzanacinerea). The only documented specimen of this secretive wetland bird was takenfrom Bikini in 1933 (Garrett & Schreiber 1988).

Although there is no way of telling if this bird may also be what is described intraditional legends of a secretive small wetland bird called the anna. Whilenever describing the bird in any detail, old German accounts explain that theannan was extirpated from many areas after the introduction of cats (Krmer &Nevermann 1938 [trans. Brant & Armstrong 1942]). According to informants,there were a few cats briefly living on Madmad but they did not necessarily getinto the wetland areas.Therefore, Madmad could be a last holdout for a small marsh bird in the MarshallIslands, be that the White-browed Rail, the anna or some other species.

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Figure 13: Probably the Arno Skink (Emoia arnoensis) inmangrove area on Madmad Island.

Figure 14: Seagrass and OrbiculateCardinalfish near Sonneratia alba onMadmad.

ReptilesSkinks are well represented in the mangrove and nearby areas of Madmad andEoon-ene. Most are small species kul, in the Emoia striped complex caeruleocauda / cyanura / impar. These species can be tricky to differentiate andsince only photographs were taken, absolute identification cannot be made atpresent.

Larger skinks, aob are also found in a variety of colors. The residents ofNamdrik readily describe how aob came in yellow, brown, green and black.

Some of these are likely color variations of the so-called Emerald Skink,Lamprolepis smaragdina, a wide-ranging oceanic species.

However, the blackskinks are of particularlysignificance since theyare probably the ArnoSkink, (Emoiaarnoensis). This speciesis endemic to theMarshalls, Nauru and afew island of theCarolines and has beenrecognized as potentiallythreatened by the CriticalEcosystem PartnershipFund (CEPF) for the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot.

FishSoon after entering the Madmadwetland, there are small schools of thenearly inactive Orbiculate Cardinalfish(Sphaeramia orbicularia) hangingaround near seagrass and Sonneratiapneumatophores or the specializedbreathing tubes that extend up from theroots of some mangrove species. (Seefigure 18). These marine fishes arecharactically found in mangrove andother protected, calm water areas(Lieske & Myers 1994).

15

Figure 15: Mudskipper andperiwinkles by CommunityCenter.

Little mudskippers or jipalo are even more classically associated withmangroves. The ones that were found around the mangrove root systems on

Madmad Island were likely either the BarredMudskipper (Periophthalmus argentilineatus) orthe Common Mudskipper (P. kalolo) (pers.comm. Gianluca Polgar 2009). These amazingfishes spend much of their time out of water,scuttling away if disturbed. Mudskippers needsoft sediments for their reproductive burrows,which are in abudance on Madmad. (However, itseems that after breeding, these dispersethroughout Namdriks lagoon and are found inmost environments.) (See figure 19).

The much larger Snakehead gudgeon kirinbo (Ophieleotris aporos) inhabit theponds and are pursued by the people of Namdrik for food.The Madmad wetlands also contain eels. Spennemann (1998) felt that thefreshwater eel ton (Anguilla celebensis) was present, likely introduced from thewest, coming first to Namdrik and Jaluit, then on to other parts of the Marshalls.While such a thing certainly could have been done in precontact times, at present,none of our informants felt that ton was present on Namdrik, although knowingit from Ebon Atoll to the south. Unidentified eels, were known by informants asmaj were observed during the survey.

InsectsAs with wetlands in general, mosquitoes are present in those of Namdrik.However it is likely that at least some of these are the endemic species Aedesmarshallensis. Positive identification needs to be made.

CrabsThere are several species of crabs collected for food in the Madmad wetlands.These include the Mangrove Crab (Scylla serrata), the Blue Crab (Gecarcinusquadratus), and the Red Crab (Cardisoma armatum). Hermit Crabs are alsocommon, but it is the related Coconut Crab barulep (Birgus latro) that is prizedfor eating (Mead et al. 2003). Although not observed and not a food species,informants indicated that fiddler crabs (Uca sp.) were also present.One of the traditional stories related to the matriarch of Namdrik, Lijobkonira,explains that her daughters are believed to be small crabs that are found insidethe shells of clams in the swamp. These crabs are said to be unique to theswamp of Namdik (Mead et al. 2003). No determination was made as towhether or not there is any unique crab species in the wetlands of Madmad orsome other part of Namdrik, but this may warrant further investigation.

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Figure 6: Old stand of Rhizophora on Madmad Island.

MangrovesAt the entrance of the area, there are isolated Reef Barrier Mangrove, ke(Pemphis acidula) but then a large area of White Apple Mangrove bulabol(Sonneratia alba) with its characteristic pencil-like pneumatophores extending up.Then Red Mangrove jo(Bruguiera gynmorrhiza)soon thereafter becomesmixed in, plus a few IslandTeak kabok / kije (c. f.Intsia bijuga) trees, all wellarrayed with various fernsand other epiphytes.A short walk from shore, isfound. a small patch of olderStilt Mangrove eoeak(Rhizophora sp.). (See figure20).There are a few olderRhizophora trees found a bitfurther inland. Then in thecenter of the wetland as wellas center of the island, is anextensive area of youngRhizophora trees. Thesemay, or may not, all representthe same species.

Other PlantsExtensive ferns are found in assocation with the mangroves, most of them beingephiphytes growing on trees. The common species included the Fishtail Ferniri (Nephrolepsis acutifolia), Scented Fern kino (Phymatosorus grossus) andShoestring Fern (Vittaria incurvata). The Strap Fern (Ophloglossum pedulum) isless common (Raulerson & Rinehart 1992).The Stalked Procris (Procris pedunculata) is also found growing on trees. Itsfleshy reddish fruit are edible and have a sweet taste and hence are known bymany people on Namdrik as loli (or candy).

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Figure 21: Peperomia ponapensis on Madmad Island.

Figure 7: Sprouted Nypa fruit alongocean beach.

On nearby rocks was foundpatches of the PohnpeiPeperomia (Peperomiaponapensis), anotherregional endemic that isconsidered to potentiallythreatened by CEPF. Thisspecies had been lost toscience for decades so itspresence on Madmad issignificant. (See figure 21;also see page 31).

In addition to this spectacular mangrove wetland inMadmad, were found an ephemeral Nypa area alongthe ocean beach of Eoon-ene and southern Ajelto.Numerous drift Nypa fruticans were discovered bothsprouted and rooted. (See figure 22). Evidently,these regularly wash ashore and althoughephemeral, they can reach a half-meter or so inheight.

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Figure 26: Tethered pigs wallowing.

Figure 9: Premna serratifolia functioningas mangrove in wetland near urban area.

Figure 8: Lumnitzera in wetlands of Eoon-ene.

Figure 25: PectoralSandpiper.

FRESHWATER Sp. Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools.Brackish inland pools are the mangrove depression which are commonly said to be themangrove areas characterizing atolls (Fosberg 1949, 1975; Mueller-Dombois & Fosberg1998). These rise and fall with the tidal flux but are rarely, if ever, completely dry. Thewetlands of Eoon-ene would fall into this category.Immediately behind the main urban area of Eoon-ene, there is an extensive wetland

system consisting largely of Red-floweredBlack Mangrove, kimeme (Lumnitzeralittorea) and Large-leafed OrangeMangrove jo (Bruguiera gymnorhiza).The same epiphyic ferns such as are foundon Madmad are also present.The Red-flowered Black Mangrove hasbright red flowers are traditionally reservedfor the garlands of chiefs.There are a few pools without any typicalmangrove tree species but other species notnormally associated with mangroves areseen functioning this this capacity. Most

notable was False Elderberry kaar (Premnaserratifolia).In addition to the ubiquitous mosquitoes, whichagain may be the endemic Aedes marshallensis,were dragonflies and damselflies.Thiarid snails were also found in some of theponds (pers. comm. R. Cowie 2009).

Seabirds fly overheadand shorebirds oftenforage near thesewetlands. The record ofa single PectoralSandpiper (Calidrismelanotos) was in thisarea. (See figure 25).

A number of non-native species of plants havemade inroads into this area, including invasivegrasses and weeds. Also, they are used as hog-wallows for both tethered and free roaminganimals. (See figure 26)

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Figure 10: Coconut palm withShoestring Ferns, wetland, Eoon-ene.

Figure 11: Wetland of Ajelto by air strip.

Ss. Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/ pools.Some of the pools and ponds of Eoon-ene often loose their standing water during ebbtides. These have many of the same species as those in the previous wetland category,but in this area, there are more extensive stands of Beach Privet wulej (Clerodendruminerme). There was also observed sections dominated by small, seemingly spreadingyoung wild Pandanus edwaan (Pandanustectorius).Epiphytic ferns were again present, sometimes inabundance. (See figure 27). The highlyattractive, non-epiphytic Lacy Fern (Pteristripartita) is also found in the forested areas.There are also planted food crops such asCoconut ni (Cocos nucifera). The area isbordered by Breadfruit m (Artocarpus altilis)Cultivated Pandanus cutivars bb (generalname) (Pandanus tectorius) and Bananapinana (general name) (Musa cultivars).

Some of the larger breadfruit trees are felled andtheir trunks employed in the construction oftraditional outrigger canoes karkar.The far end of Ajelto also has wetlands which forthe most part periodically become dry, althoughinterspersed with deeper hollows. (See figure28).The area has a high overstory, dominated by tall trees the Giant Lettuce Tree kaal

(Pisonia grandis), IslandTeak kubok / kije (c. f.Intsia bijuga), Bittertreekabwijil (Soulameaamara), and the SeededBreadfruit (Artocarpusmariannensis). Many ofthese trees have epiphyticferns. The understoryconsists of smaller nativetrees, ferns and herbaceusground cover plants.Birds nest and roost in thesetall trees, including thegraceful and beautifulWhite-tailed Tropicbirdjipkorj (Phaethonlepturus).

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Figure 12: : Litter of leaves and fruit underLumnitzera littorea.

Figure 14: Sprouting seedlings under practicallymonospecific Hernandia forest, ocean side, Eoon-ene.

Figure 13: Moss covered tree trunkin Lumnitzera wetland.

Xp. Forested peatlands; peatswamp forest.Further out of the residential area of Eoon-ene, the ground rises a bit and the Red-flowered Black Mangrove, kimeme(Lumnitzera littorea) trees reachconsiderable height, some reaches 10 ormore meters. Their litter forms a boggy matunderneath, giving the area a feel like amontane meadow. (See figure 29).Epiphytic ferns are still present but a greateramount of non-vascular plants such asbryophytes appear. (See figure 30). Some ofthese may be Marshalls endemics, as anumber of such have been described from

other atolls, so further investigation would seem warranted.On the ocean side of Eoon-ene is found an extensivearea of a practically monospecific forest of the Jack-in-the-Box Tree pipi (Hernandia nymphyaeifolia).Covering many acres of forest, the dense overstory ofspreading trees mutes the sunlight, giving an almostsurreal effect., and underneath, no plants were seengrowing except Hernandia seedlings, and whenever aclearing can be found, it consists of fallen blackmarblelike seeds and decomposing leaves, all servingto maintain a heavy damp feel to the air and ground.(See figure 31).

Some copra plantations onMadmad, Ajelto as well as Eoon-ene would also fall into thiscategory, although typically clearedof much undergrowth and debris.These areas regularly flood due toheavy rains. Heaps of coconuthusks are left decaying and withinthese are said to be found the largelizard kutiltil. Only a glimpse ofone of these was made during therecent survey so positiveidentification was not made, but thepeople of Namdrik all know this

lizard. To some, it is highly feared, to others, it is becomes a pet.

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Figure 15: Possible ancardid shrimp in wetland ofEoon-ene.

Figure 16: : Possible Bruguiera xrhynchopetala in wetland of Ajelto, withevident stilts on young trees.

Zk(b). Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems, inland.In a mangrove wetland area of Ajelto and afew of those of Eoon-ene, cracks areknown in the bottom of the pools wherewater ebbs and flows according to the tide.Shrimp liponej live in these cracks.These are likely anchialine shrimp,possibly Antecaridina lauensis, which isconsidered to be potentially threatened byCEPF. (See figure 32).Fishermen who catch Yellowfin Tunabwebwe off of Eoon-ene report that thestomachs of these fish are often full of thesame shrimp found in the wetland pools.

Surrounding the pool on Ajelto arenumerous Bruguiera trees, both mature andyoung. At first glance they tend to look likethe widespread B. gymnorhiza. However,upon closer examination, differences wereevident, and they had an appearance verymuch like that of the Hybrid OrangeMangrove B. x. rhynchopetala. Since mostof the atoll seems to receive regular driftmaterial, including much viable seeds andfruit, even though this could represent quitean extension of this hybrids range, it wouldcertainly be possible. (See figure 33).

But the most important subterranean watersystem not only for Namdrik, but atolls ingeneral, is the extensive Ghyben-Herzbergwater lens. Due to regular rainfall, the factthat freshwater floats on saltwater and theporous nature of atolls and other factors,fresh rainwater seeps through and forms anunderground reserve of water. This watersupply is often tapped through wells. Somewells have quite sweet water, with others, itcan be rather brackish (Fosberg 1949;NBTRMI 2000).

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Figure 17: Large water catchment tank of privateresidence with smaller vessels to the side.

Figure 18: Giant Swamp Taro pit.

MAN-MADE" WETLANDS 2. Ponds; includes. farm ponds, stock ponds, small tanks; (generally below 8 ha).Even with the above describedGhyben-Herzberg water lens, andNamdrik receiving a relatively largeamount of rain, getting a safe supplyof drinking water is a continuouschallenge. In times of severe drought,most, if not all wells may turn salty.In recent decades this problem hasbeen addressed by providinghouseholds with private watercatchment tanks. Years ago, thesewere made of concrete and aluminum,but nowadays, plastic tanks are morepopular. (See figure 34). After therecent survey was done, a delivery ofmore of such donated tanks took place.Particularly if left uncovered watercatchment tanks, which are typicallyhold 500 to 1500 gallons tend toattract aquatic insects. Mosquitoes almost immediately lay their eggs, as do alsodragonflies. If unattended for long enough, other insects and invertebrates will find theirway into these tanks, and cytobacteria, algae and other plants will grow in and aroundthem.Additionally, it is typical for other small household water countainers to be utilized forwashing and other purposes. If these are not diligently covered and the water is allowedto stand in them for any length of time, can become havens for mosquitoes and otheraquatic invertebrates.

7. Excavations; gravel/brick/clay pits; borrow pits, mining pools.The inhabitants of the Marshall Islands have since prehistoric times excavated pits forgrowing the important stabile crop, Giant Swamp Taro iaraj (Cyrtospermachamissonis) (NBTRMI 2000) and this certainlythe case on Namdrik.The participants of the Biodivesity Workshopmentioned iaraj as one of the most importantplants. One of the traditional navigational markersrefers to a man digging taro (Erdland 1914[trans. Neuse 1961]). (In the Marshall Islands,unlike in other parts of Micronesia, tending to tarohas long been done by men, not women).

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Figure 19: Soaking pit in mangrove wetland, Eoon-ene.(photo: M. Honath).

Figure 20: Dragonflies over probableabandoned iaraj pit near urban area.

Scattered around the dwellings of Eoon-ene are excavated iaraj pits. (See figure 35).The history of each and every one was not addressed. Often, a natural wetlanddepression will be enlarged by hand in order to be provide enough water to grow iaraj.Some of these had been worked relatively. Mayor Luther explained that many of theexisting pits were dug by heavy equipment in the 1970s with the hopes of being able toprovide additional food for the people.Others have a much longer history and significance. For instance, one of these formeriaraj pits is considered to be a culturally significant site, The Home of Ledebno,(another player in the tales of Lijobkonira). Now appearing as little more than a slightlydepressed area of dark soil located at the center of the island. It was the only prehistoricsite that was located on Namdrikduring the 2001 HPO culturalsurvey (Mead et al. 2003).

One interior wetland, which likelywas at one time used as a taro pit, isnow used as a soaking pit forpandanus leaves for use in theproduction of traditional weavingand handicrafts. (See figure 36).

Admittedly, though, most of thesethese taro pits have fallen intodisuse. Only a few were still beingactively farmed but for the mostpart, they were full of native sedgesand other plants, as well as invasiveweeds. The ones still functioningwere fenced so as to keep the free-ranging pigs out, but not always successfully.

Ecologically, however, these pits, whether inactive use in taro production or not, havesimilar wetland function. These serve as abreeding area for insects, freshwater snails andother invertebrates. (See figure 37).

Fortunately, no evidence was found of theintroduction of the highly destructiveMosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) or any similarexotic fish.

Smaller excavations have been made in theform of wells in order to access the freshwater

lens, wells have long been dug. Some of these are of recent origin while others are so oldto be be considered culturally significant (Mead et al. 2003).

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Plant DiversityFrom an assemblence of only a couple dozen vascular plants recorded historically andscientifically (see Table 1, page 5), and 58 listed by the 1997 Biodiversity Workshop,close to two-hundred vascular plants are now known from Namdrik Atoll (see AppendixA). Of these, 73 are probably native, (probably must be used in such a case because itis almost impossible at times to determine what species arrived on their own and whichones came with humans), another 15 are of probable of aborignal introduction.A few of the plant records are based on drift seeds, fruit or, in the case of bamboo,material. One drift seed was found sprouted and until now, remains unidentifiedOnly a few species which had been reported in earlier reports were not observed. TheGolden Mallow kio (Sida fallax) was recorded by Fosberg (1990), legend and placename but was not definitively found during the recent survey. In general it favors hot,dry conditions. However, it was traditionally planted because of its attractive flower,which could account also for its being known earlier but no longer around.The majority of plants found are of recent origin. Many of these are decoratives plantedaround private homes and buildings. As in other parts of the Marshalls and the world people enjoy beautifying their surroundings with flowers and other attractive plants.However, from the point of view of one place on earth, biodiversity is increased byimporting non-native species. But if an aggressive invasive becomes established anddestroys valuable endemic species, the end result would be an overall reduction in globaldivesity.The plants that were compiled in the current listing were all vascular plants ferns andseed-bearing plants with a system for transporting water and nutrients within themselves.There are in addition an abundance of non-vascular species, such as algae and mosses. Inother parts of the Marshall Islands, regional endemic species of these types of plants havebeen recorded (NBTRMI 2000). It would seem likely that some of these or even otherendemics would be found on Namdrik.Invasive Exotic Species:Many decorative species are not necessarily a problem to the environment butunfortunately, a fair number of the recently introduced decorative plants are among thoseconsidered to be invasives. According to what is typically considered to be ExoticInvasive Species of plants, 44 of such plants were observed during the recent survey ofNamdrik.Some of the invasive plants found on Namdrik were the Trailing Daisy (Sphagneticola [=Wedelia] trilobata), Water Hyacyth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Yellow Alder (Turneraulmifolia).The Trailing Daisy was planted extensively, and covered a large portion of the lawn bythe school. It is frequently used to add color to garlands. Unfortunately, it was observedvery close to a wetland area of Eoon-ene, actually just across a narrow foot path and socould potentially encroarch into such areas.

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Figure 38: Water Hyacinth.

Figure 39: Australian Pine on Eoon-ene.

Figure 40: Extensive area of White WaterSedge in private yard.

Only one planting of Water Hyacynth was seen, it being in a container of water in aprivate yard. Although not yet documented as getting loose into the wild in the MarshallIslands, it is considered to be one of the worlds worst aquatic weeds and is even

banned from interstate commerse in the United States(Whistler 2000).Two other notorious invasives were found only as singleplants the Australian Pine pientri, bulukam(Casuarina equisetifolia) (figure 39) and tangan-tangan(Leucaena leucocephala). While both these trees havebeen promoted for some of their beneficial agriculturalqualities, in general they have proved to be highlydestructive to coral island environments.

Other invasives aremore along the line of grasses, ground covers andfull-on weeds. Several of these appeared healthierthan those of the same species on other atolls. Forinstance, Cinderella Weed bwilbwilkaj(Synedrella nodiflora) and T-grass (Paspalumconjugatum) that were observed on Namdrik wereconsiderably larger and more robust than thosefrequently seen on Majuro.

Of course, the ultimate behavior of new speciesintroduced into an area, whether they are brought inintentionally or accidentally is often hard to predict.

However, from what was observed duringthe survey on Namdrik, one invasivespecies which appears to be a major threatto wetlands is the White Water Sedge(Kyllinga nemoralis). This low-lyingseemingly innocuous ground-cover, canspread by means of a long-creepingrhizome (or underground stem), and it canbe abundant in relatively moist, disturbedplaces (Whistler 1995) as was seen in afew areas of Eoon-ene. (See figure 40).

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Table 3:Mangroves from Namdrik Atoll(based on listings in Duke 2006

and Tomlinson1986)

1. Fish-kill Treewp

Barringtonia asiatica^

2. Large-leafed Orange Mangrovejo

Bruguiera gymnorhiza

3. Hybrid Orange Mangrovejo

Bruguiera x rhynchopetala#

4. Beautyleaflukwej

Calophyllum inophyllum^

5. Beach Hibiscuslo

Hibiscus tileaceus^

6. Island Teakkabk / kije

Intsia bijuga^

7. Red-flowered Black Mangrovekimeme

Lumnitzera littorea

8. Mangrove PalmNypa fruticans*

9. Reef Barrier Mangroveke

Pemphis acidula

10. Hybrid Stilt Mangroveeoeak

Rhizophora x lamarckii#

11. Long-style Stilt Mangroveeoeak

Rhizophora stylosa#

12. Half-flowerknnat

Scaevola taccada^

13. White-flowered Apple Mangrovebulabul

Sonneratia alba

14. Tropical Almondktl

Terminalia catappa^

*ephemeral # tentative identification^ Tomlinson but not Duke

Mangroves and Other Wetland PlantsThere is one school of thought that the only species thatshould be considered to be mangrove or wetland are thosewhich are exclusively found in those environments and noothers. The other opinion is that any species in such areashould be considered as part of the environment (Giesen etal. 2006). For the sake of this report, the broader viewpointis used.Based on observations for this report, 65 plant species areeither exclusively related to wetland or at least associatedwith these areas.All the ferns found were mangrove associates, but some ofthese were also found in non-wetland environments(Raulerson & Rinehart 1992).One species of seagrass, tentatively the Serrated RibbonSeagrass (Cymodocea serrulata), (which if verified, wouldbe a new record for the Marshalls, although potentially alsoat other atolls that have yet been recently investigated).Forteen of these species are what are considered standardlyto be mangroves (Duke 2006). (See Table 3). This listingdoes not include the Polynesian Chestnut (Inocarpus fagifer)that was only observed as a garden tree, or Xylocarpus sp. orBarringtonia racemosa which were found only as drift fruit,none of which seemed viableAll mangrove species in this listing are considered to beindigenous to Namdrik. However, this may or may not bethe actual case. Over the years, botanists and otherresearchers, (including the authors of this report at times)have held to the opinion that mangroves in the MarshallIslands were of aboriginal origin. This nearly-correct ideathat the mangrove areas are all interior depressions has givensubstance to this assumption (Hatheway 1953, Mueller-Dombois & Fosberg 1998; NBTRMI 2000; Spennemann1998).Yet most mangrove species are quite capible of spreadingthrough oceanic drift (Claussen 2005; Smith 1999). Duringthe recent visit to Namdrik in preparation for this report,viable mangrove drift seeds, fruit, and hypocotyls were foundalong all seaward beaches. These included hypocotlys ofBruguiera (likely B. gymnorhiza) and several species ofRhizophora. Additionally, a substancial number of sproutingand rooting fruit of Nypa fruticans were encountered.

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Table 4:Crabs Mentioned During Biodiversity Workshop

name use

baru wan food, medicine, incomebajlo food, incomeatun food

jebarbar foodmaeo food

barulep food, handicraftlikorkor foodkaruk bait, chicken feed

linkorat (nothing stated)mejaj (nothing stated)om bait, medicine

om kot bait, medicineom ed bait, medicine

jawin Madmad (also bird?)

Figure 41: Small moth near wetlandsof Eoon-ene.

Animal DiversityNamdrik and its extensive wetlands are home to anabundance of animal life. Some of these areclassically associated with mangroves.

Among them is the Mangrove Crab (Scyllaserrata), a prized food. But other crabs also arefound in mangrove areas as well as other wetlandareas. Over a dozen of these were listed by theMarshallese names during the 2007 BiodiversityWorkshop, most being considered useful for foodand other purposes. (See Table 4). There aremany more ecological and other values whichwere not named at that workshop.

The little fish, the mudskipper (Periophthalmus sp.) is almost proverbally associated withmangroves. However, on Namdrik, while it is evidently the soft mud of Madmadsmangrove area that are used for a breeding area, individuals are known to venture allaround the lagoon. It thus remains a wetland species, but in environments not sotypical.

Some animal species are connected with water although not necessarily with mangroves.Included in these are ll of the reef invertebrates, including the corals, and marinevertebrates fish, marine mammals and sea turtles. (See Appendix B).

The wetlands of Namdrik are home to a number of aquatic insects, such as dragonflies,damselflies, midges and mosquitoes. The participants of the 2007 BiodiversityWorkshop specifically named boub (dragonfly and possibly also damselfly) and nam(mosquito), the former stated as being valuable because it eats mosquitoes and the latterundesirable because it causes sickness. (However, if the primary mosquito is theendemic Aedes marshallensis, its relatively shorterlifespan would make it a poor vector for somemosquito-borne diseases, such as Dengue Fever.)

Fly ln and ant lon were also mentioned.While these insects are not aquatic in nature, variousspecies of these were observed in many of thewetland environments. Even though pestiferoushouseflies and some tramp ants were seen, many ofthe particular undesirable species, such as the bitingTropical Fire Ant kinal (Solenopsis geminata)were not found.

But many more insects are present in and around the wetlands of Namdrik moths,grasshoppers, earwigs, etc. (See figure 41). It could not be determined during the recent

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Figure 42: Ruddy Turnstone.

Figure 43: Juvenile LesserFrigatebird flying over Eoon-ene.

survey what species these were nor which were native and which were recentintroductions. In general, Namdrik did NOT seem to be suffering from many of theproblematic invasive insects that are plaging other areas. Even the highly destructiveFormosan Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus) which is currently ravagingMajuro, was not found as evidenced by the number of wooden houses that were builtdecades ago and still standing.

In some of the wetlands were found small shrimpliponej presumably anchialine shrimp,possibly Antecaridina lauensis (considered to be potentially threatened by CEPF) or arelated species. (On Jaluit, several species of anchialine shrimp were found in that atollsvarious wetlands, including some that are endemic and a similar situation could beexpected on Namdrik.)

Lizards were one of the more visible vertebratesobserved in the wetlands during the recent survey andseveral of these were named during the BiodiversityWorkshop. From the most of the local names kul,korab, aob it is hard to determine species, but fromthe recent survey, it is apparent that quite a variety ispresent. (Many of these are listed in Appendix B.)

But the animal many people enjoy seeing in wetlands arethe birds. Appendix B lists over two dozen species ofbirds that were either observed or reported on Namdrik.

Most of these arecommon and some ofthese are even kept aspets. (See figure 42).Many of these birds areassociated with wetlands but most also inhabited drierareas. The only exception might be the remote chancethat the White-browed Rail (Porzana cinerea) or maybethe mysterious anna, if such a bird is still exists onMadmad. (See above).

The tall Giant Lettuce Trees kaal (Pisonia grandis) ofMadmad and Ajelto are roosting and nesting sites formany seabirds. A small flock of White-tailed Tropicbird

jibkorj (Phaethon lepturus) were observed flying overhead visiting that area. Some ofthese species, such as the are uncommon sights in other parts of the Marshalls, butAnother not exceptionally common bird seen overhead was a trio of Lesser Frigatebirdsak (Fregata ariel).

The Bristle-thighed Curlew kowak (Numenius tahitiensis) was named by the Workshopparticipants and our informants. It is considered to be a Vulnerable species by the IUCNand one of our informants felt that the number on Namdrik had decreased in recent years.

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Table 5:Usages of Mangrove and Wetland Plants as Reported byParticipants of the 1997 Namdrik Biodiversity Workshop

(in order listed in workshop notes)Coconut (ni):

fooddrinkmedicinebroomlumberhandicraftspearropeplatecharcoal

Pandanus (bb/ edwaan):juicehousedrying breadfruitmedicinemat

Half-flower (knnat):medicinegarlandcanoehousefirewoodfishing pole

Large-leafed Orange Mangrove (jo):housecanoemedicine

Red-flowered Black Mangrove(kimeme):

firewoodhousegarlandcanoeerosion control

White-flowered Apple Mangrove(bulabl):

canoehouse

Scented Fern (kino):medicineroasting with meatgarland

Purple Beach Pea (marlap):medicine

False Spider Lily (kiep):medicine

Reef Barrier Mangrove (ke):medicinehusking stickpoundererosion control

Birds Nest Fern (kartp):medicinewrapping breadfruit

Beach Privet (wulej):medicineshade

Giant Swamp Taro (iaraj):food

Beach Sunflower (markubwebwe):medicine

Giant Lettuce Tree (kaal):soil improvementbird nesting

Flame-of-the-Forest (kajdo):medicine

Beach Almond (ekkon):foodshade

Silver Pipturus (armwe):medicine

False Elderberry (kaar):medicine

Beach Hibiscus (lo):handicraftboathouseropegarland

Red-bug Tree (kutaak):medicinehousefirewood

Importance and Value of Namdriks Wetlands

Traditional

Wetlands have long been extremely important to the daily life of the people of NamdrikAtoll. If fact, it would have been nigh-on impossible for anyone to survive in earliertimes without the resources that were derived from the mangrove, seashore, reef,freshwater habitats, and the underground water lens. The basics of life food, water,

clothing, shelter were allrelated to wetlands. But beyondthose, canoe-building supplies,ornaments, beauty aids,medicines, ceremonial supplies,material for maintainingattractive homesteads and morecame from resources found inwetlands.

It seems that even though therewould have been some activitiesconducted entirely on dry land,there would have been very littlethat was necessarily not wetlandrelated.

The participants of the 1997Biodiversity Workshop listed theuses they knew of from thetwenty-one wetland species thatwere discussed. (See Table 5).

This may seem rather limitedcompared to other reports fromother regions. But, thosetabulations have a much broaderdiversity of plants to consider, aswell as dealing with differentcultures. (See Table 6). Suchlistings from other areas doprovide interesting and oftenuseful information, but it isimportant to not misapply theseto Marshalls wetland.

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Table 6:

Quantitative List of Mangrove PlantProducts in Southeast Asia

(source: Giesen et al. 2007: 30)

Mangrove Use # sp %medicine 110 41*construction material 67 25food 58 22ornamental 46 17fuel 31 12utensils 23 9fodder 23 9tannin 15 6oil & wax 11 4rope & binding 11 4mats & baskets 10 4hedges & fencing 8 3dye 8 3perfume 8 3glue 7 3roofing & thatching 5 2no known use 62 23

* 268 species were included in this evaluation.

Figure 44: Traditional canoes along ocean beach,in for the evening after a day out fishing andgathering.

Wetland animals also are important sources offood and tools. Traditionally, almost all reefand inshore fish were sought as food for thelocal people. There were also the crabs,mollusks and birds. Some of these uses wererecognized during the 2007 BiodiversityWorkshop (see Animal Diversity above).

Namdriks wetlands are culturally importantas shown by the majority of the traditionalsites and navigational markers are oftenassociated with wetlands. (See Table 7, page33).

On Namdrik, Bruguiera, Rhizophora,Sonneatia and Lumnitzera mangroves aregenerally found away from the shoreline andhence not at the forefront in protectingshorelines from waves, winds and storms.But other wetland and mangrove species dostabilize the substrate, those plants themselvesdissipating wave and current energy.

Foremost among these are Half-flower knnat (Scaevola taccada) wild Pandanusedwaan (Pandanus tectorius) and Reef Barrier Mangrove ke (Pemphis acidula).These are major components of the traditional jar or windward forest; a mixedforest of windward shores (Stege 2009).

Modern Times

Many traditional uses of wetlandshave continued until modern times.Men in outrigger canoes karkarregularly gather food from themangrove area of Madmad as well asthe nearshore reef. (See figure 44).Several types of crabs are regularlysought, not only for local consumptionbut also export into Majuro. TheMangrove Crab (Scylla serrata) isfound only in mangrove areas and isparticularly prized.

Some Giant Swamp Taro iaraj isstill grown in wetlands, but Namdrik isrenowned for its abundant supply of bananas. Different varieties of this staple are oftengrown in or near wetlands. Many of the copra producing areas are in the wetlands.

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Figure 1: Peperomia ponapensis fromMadmad wetlands.

Figure 45: Bananas near private residence.

Although coconut has also long been an important traditional food crop, it has alsobecome a major cash crop since the introduction of the copra trade in the late nineteenthcentury. Anecdotally the local peopleclaimed that diabetes did not developamong those actually living on Namdrik.They said that it was found with Namdrikpeople who had moved to Majuro or otherareas who had developed the conditionthere. Whether or not such is true, and todocument such would require carefulinvestigation. However, it does giveinsight into how the people feel about thebenefits of living a more traditional life onNamdrik. (The resident Medical Officer,Aisa Peter [pers. comm.] estimated thatthere were about 10 cases, a much lowerrate than other parts of the Marshalls.)

Scientifically

Many of Namdriks natural features are scientifically noteworthy. Its small size, withonly two islands, and its lagoon without any passes contribute to those. But so has itsisolation and the relatively low number of people, a population figure which hasremained fairly steady since early contact.

This could have allowed some fragile speciesthat have been extirpated in other parts of theMarshall Islands and Micronesia to stillsurvive on Namdrik.

The Pohnpeian Peperomia (Peperomiaponapensis) had all but been lost to science.In earlier personal communication withbotanists knowledgable with this species,none knew of any published reports ofsighting of this plant within nearly fifty years.No one on Pohnpei, where it was originallydescribed, had seen it in recent years. Asidefrom the eastern Caroline Islands and a fewatolls of the Marshalls, this plant was notknown to live anywhere else in the world(Fosberg & Sachet 1975).

Hatheway (1953) documented this species onArno in the 1950s, detailing exactly the

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Figure 47: Beautyleaf tree with leaves evidentlybeing eaten by caterpillars.

location and environment where it was found. The authors in June 2009 revisted this areaand found no trace of it anywhere. So it was very exciting to find that this species is infact not extinct, but a healty population still thriving in the wetland areas of MadmadIsland.

Other endemic species were found in the wetlands of Namdrik. The Arno Skink aob(Emoia arnoensis) was relatively common throughout the atoll, although not in the moreurban areas. Land and freshwater snails were also common although much smaller insize. Some of these appeared that they may be the endemic subspecies, Assiminea nitidamarshallensis, although identification is pending.

There is a crane fly, (Libnotes [=Limonia] beardsleyi) which is endemic to Namdrik, Kiliand Namu (Alexander 1972). At least some of the mosquitoes were likely tentativelyidentified as the Tree-hole Mosquito (Aedes marshallensis), an endemic to the Marshalls,Kiribati, Kosrae and some Caroline atolls. Other species known to be endemic to theMarshalls or at least Micronesia could well be also present liverworts, various insects,reef fishes, the Bull Conch (Strombus taurus), etc. (NBTRMI 2000). There is no knownwork on the protozoa, microbes and other small components of the biodiversity, whichmay be just as likely to contain functionally important species and even endemics.

Having a relatively healthy environment with many endemics already recorded, Namdrikwith its wetlands would also appear to be a likely place to find species never recordedbefore in the Marshall Islands, or even heretofore never undescribed.

A small Beautyleaf tree lukwej(Calophyllum inophyllum) found onthe shore of Madmad has features lookdifferent than typical. Its leavesappear to being eaten by caterpillars,something not known anywhere elsein its range, and is worthy of futherinvestigation (pers. comm. P. Stevens2009).

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Figure 48: Rhizophora flowers and hypocotyl,Madmad Island.

What About the Rhizophora of Madmad?Namdrik residents repeatedly expressed the opinion was that the Rhizophora in Madmadhad been recently introduced from Jaluit, and it is considered to be an invasive species.Granted, no mention of Rhizophora byits local name eoeak was made duringthe 1997 Biodiversity Workshop, but itstill seems that this type of mangrovecame by natural means and likely fromthe west.But, first of all, the Rhizophora ofMadmad is NOT the same as currentlyknown on Jaluit. That species that wasidentified a few years ago is R.apiculata (Vander Velde & VanderVelde 2005). But the differences in theflower arrangement and hypocotylsclearly show that the trees in Madmadare not this species.The peduncle (flower stem) for R.apiculata is short and its bracts arecorky brown. The one on the MadmadRhizophora, the peducles were longerand not corky. The flowers are almostalways in single pairs with R. apiculata they were in sets of one and two ortwo and two with the MadmadRhizophara.The hypocotlys (or the dispersingfruit although actually an immatureplant ready to sprout) of R. apiculata arerelatively small, to about 37 cm long and with a broader section at the end. The ones ofthe Madmad Rhizophora were longer and more cylindrical although with a pointed tip.(See figure 48).There was more than one stand of Rhizophora on Madmad and it is possible that morethan one species is present. The older trees near the entrance to the wetland have fewhypocotlys which are relatively smooth and may be the Hybrid Stilt Mangrove, R. x.lamarckii. However, the young trees in the far interior pond have an abundance ofhypocotyls which more bumps and might be the Long-style Stilt Mangrove, R. stylosa.The trees nearest the entrance to the wetland appeared much older and could have beenpresent for decades, even back to when the Biodiversity Workshop was conducted. Itmay not have been until these mangroves became established into the interior mangrove

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Figure 49: View of Maj-en-an-Lijobkonira from 2001; note smallRhizophora clearly evident. (Source: RMI HPO).

area of Madmad, Maj-en-an-Lijobkonira which is considered to be representative ofNamdiks origins and identity (Mead et al. 2003) that they were really noticed.Evidently this Rhizopora sp. had made its way into the interior occurred sometime beforethe 2001 HPO culturalsurvey of traditionalsites. In a photo taken atthat time, youngRhizophora trees areclearly evident. (Mead etal. 2003). (See figure49). From a comparison ofrecent photographs,while it is evident thatthe Rhizophora hadspread some, they stillappear about the samesize as they did eightyears before. (See figures49 and 50).Furthermore, near the oldstand Rhizophora of treesand the Rhizophora stand part way into the areas shown Nypa fruticans fruit. Althoughnot necessarily viable, the presence of those drift dispersed fruit would point to a naturalintroduction, likely from the west where that species and the various species ofRhizophora are common. (See also page 42 , Recommendations).

Figure 50: Mangrove area, Maj-en-an-Lijobkonira the interior of Madmad, late 2009 view.

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Table 7: Traditional Sites, Navigational Markers, etc. of Namdrik

Ramsar # of wetland type (see page 7 of main report) non-wetlandtype offeature description A B C D E I Sp Ss Xp Zk 2 7 land sea

explanation and/or legend HPO no. and/orother reference

Traditional Coral inintertidal zone XPatch of ephermial slippery coral; associatedwith Lobejbejina. MI-MM-MM-01

Traditional/prehistoric

Swamp, marsh,former taro pit X

Located on the interior of Namdik. House siteassociated with traditional story of Jedebno. MI-MM-MM-02

Traditional/?prehistoric Well X Said to still be in use and never goes dry. MI-MM-MM-03

Traditional Rock located inintertidal zone XPossibly associated with Lomajtamij, one ofLijobknoniras paramours. MI-MM-MM-04

Traditional Well X Supposedly located at site of Jodikwod andstory on origin of the banana. MI-MM-MM-05

Traditional Rock in theislands interior XAssociated with Lotepiej, a famous navigatorand one of Lijobknoniras paramours. MI-MM-MM-06

Traditional Intsia tree alonglagoon shore XAssociated with the story of one ofLijobknoniras paramours. MI-MM-MM-07

Traditional Rocks on thetable reef XRunning from the west side of Madmad to thewest side of Namdik; associated with the storyof Lijobkoniras children.

MI-MM-MM-08

Historic Building ruins X Japanese Trading Post MI-MM-MM-09

Traditional Mangroveswamp X

Associated with the story of Lijobkoniraschildren. MI-MM-MA-01

Totem Brown Booby X Totem of the Erebra jowi. Erdland pg. 343.Green Herring X

NavigationalMarker

Stone onsouthern outershore

X Lalblok. Erdland pg. 361.

Porpoises XNavigationalMarker Stone on

weather side X

Libokja (Erdland); probably same as Linijej,Lijoal, and Lijenmaloklok, women originallyfrom Kosrae said to be reef rocks.

Erdland pg. 361.Knight pg. 72.Tobin pg. 136.

WanderingTattler XNavigational

Marker Stone on outershore X

Jelauwe Erdland pg. 362.

NavigationalMarker unstated X

Lio ilo pat in Madmad, a girl who jumpeddown from a tree. Erdland pg. 362.

NavigationalMarker

Large flock ofbirds. X Off of Madmad, many types of birds together. Tobin pg 135.

NavigationalMarker

Pandanus leafat sea X

Off of Madmad where best pandanus forweaving is said to come

Knight pg. 72.Tobin pg 135.

NavigationalMarker Rocks on Reef X

Daij and Lilibij (Knight);Taij (with two palm trees between Madmadand Namdrik) and Lejpel (Tobin).

Knight pg. 72.

NavigationalMarker Turtle X

Off reef of Jabar and Liltin (perhaps Namdrikor Kosrae). Knight pg. 72.

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Figure 1: School on Namdrik, built on former wetland area,with the invasive flower, Trailing Daisy, as part of the lawn.

Threats to the Wetlands of NamdrikWetlands worldwide face multiple threats. Since Namdriks ecology, including itswetlands, appear to be in relatively good condition, it may be particularly vulnerable tothe early changes of initial impacts that have already taken place in much of the rest ofthe world.

Many of these are of course related to human activities. Over the years probablycenturies, if not millennia it appears that a relative equilibrium has been achievedbetween the people living on Namdrik and its wetlands.

But lifestyle changes and the desires for modern conveniences and perceivednecessities and modern esthetics that such typically brings, could easily havedeleterious effects on many of Namdriks wetlands.

One of such changes that is readily apparent is the discarding of trash, rubbish and otherunwanted material into wetlands, such as along beaches or in mangrove areas. Whensuch material is entirely plant and animal matter, it may still not be very pleasing in somepeoples viewpoint but will eventually decompose or otherwise disappear through naturalmeans. However, if the discarded matter is imported plastics, metals, glass, electronicequipment, etc., these may remain for undeterminably long periods of time, or if they dobreak down into the environment or are burned, they could release toxins.

Similarly, it is apparent thatlimited land clearing and landmoving for homesteads, copraproduction and traditionalgarden plots has long beendone in some of the wetlands.An excessive increase ordecrease in such activitiescould disrupt the ecology, ofwhich humans are a part of.

Farming is currently beingdone in a traditional fashionusing primarily traditionalcrops breadfruit, coconut,pandanus, bananas, taro witha few more modern variants,

such as pumpkins and hot peppers. The system for growing these crops has long beenestablished and the ecology appears to be fairly stabile. However, if the long-standingcrops were abandoned in favor of more modern food plants, this stabile situation wouldmost probably change, possibly even collapse.

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Pressure from a money economy could easily lead to over-harvesting of the crabs, fish,and lumber from the mangrove and other wetland areas, or over-cultivation.

Currently there are no four-wheeled motor vehicles on Namdrik, only a couple ofmotorcycles. Most people transport themselves around the atoll by walking, ridingbicycles, or by outrigger canoes and a few motorboats. Walking allows the greatestaccess with the lowest impact into the wetlands, but even bicycles can go down manynarrow trails without any great impact. If a large number of motorcycles, cars, or ATCswere to replace walking and bicycle riding, the wetlands would undoubtedly suffer.

If a boat channel was to be blasted in the reef, it would likely have hydrodynamicimplications for the lagoon (pers. comm. C. Woodroffe 2009). The actual results andramifications would not accurately known until the after it was done. Many of the effectscould be irreversible even if the channel was subsequently filled. Some reasonablespeculation as to what might happen would be that the removal of protection of lagoonspecies from open ocean species, which could results in mass extirpations and a majorecological disruption in the lagoon. Those could be so as dramatic to eventually changereef and land structure.

It could produce dramatically increased tidal flux in the lagoon, which could causehousehold wells to become brackish or salty rather than fresh. The tidal flux coulddisrupt lagoon ecology and coral growth, perhaps eliminating unstudied systems orspecies. Turbidity and nutrient availability could be greatly altered, resulting inecological and reef structure changes. Lagoon currents would likely be altered,potentially affecting marine life.

High reef flats that are not now normally exposed would likely face long periods of lowerwater than they have ever faced before, causing changes and damage to marine life.Inland wetland level changes would likely be disrupted, potentially altering insectbreeding and other wetland functions, which may affect the inhabitants

The arrival of ships into the lagoon could greatly accelerate the introduction of marineinvasives. Ships and the related improved docking and loading and unloading of goodscould rapidly accelerate the introduction of terrestrial transformer invasive species, suchas many destructive and painful species of tramp ants, destructive termites, more toxiccentipedes, transformer invasive weeds, etc.

It could also allow more allow the presence of heavy earth-moving equipment, which, ifeven present on a short-term, temporary basis, could have drastic impacts on thewetlands.

The current view of coastal management is human actions should not destroy non-renewable resources, but should be sustainable. Impacts, such as resource depletion,environmental degradation and pollution, can often be seen to be the result of poorplanning rather than being an independent problem. With integrated coastal zone

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management (ICZM) traditional, cultural and historical perspectives and conflictinginterests and uses should all be considered (Woodroffe 2002).

Climate change is probably the highest profile threat to atoll wetlands and there is reasonfor concern. A recent report figured that small islands and most particularly low-lyingcoral atolls are especially vulnerable. Coastal wetlands appear to be threatened with lossor significant change in most locations (Abuodha & Woodroffe 2006).

It has further been stated: Climate change components that affect mangroves includechanges in sea-level, high water events, storminess, precipitation, temperature,atmospheric CO2 concentration, ocean circulation patterns, health of functionally linkedneighboring ecosystems, as well as human responses to climate change. But more thanmangroves are at risk. Other ocean related wetlands, including all those found onNamdrik seas beaches, seagrasses, sandy areas, coral reefs may experience reducedarea and health from climate change outcomes, including increased temperature, timingof seasonal temperature changes, and ocean acidification. It is thus figured thatmangroves of low islands and atolls, which receive a proportion of sediment supplyfrom productive coral reefs, may suffer lower sedimentation rates and increasedsusceptibility to relative sea-level rise if coral reefs become less productive due torelative sea-level rise or other climate change outcomes (Gilman et al. 2008).

Even the non-coastal wetlands would not be immune. The vital underground Ghyben-Herzberg water lens may be particularly vulnerable. Climate-change induced sea-levelrise influences the location of the freshwater-saltwater interface in function of thelocation of the groundwater table above sea level. Therefore it is figured that even asmall sea-level rise would create an amplification effect in saltwater intrusion(Kundzewicz 2008).

But alien invasive species potentially pose an even greater threat, often coming in subtly,just one species at a time, and raising no alarm until it is too late. And while at times theinvasive species comes in as an unwanted pest, frequently they are intentionallybrought in by well-meaning people wanting pretty flowers or a new type of food crop(Space & Flynn 2002). They can sometimes grow out of control, like a cancer(Wildlife Committee 2008).

This is happening throughout the world and Namdrik has not escaped. (See PlantDiversity pages 24-25 and