About the project:
The Ulong Island Restoration Project was made possible by the leadership of the Koror State Government, supported by Island Conservation, the Koror State Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement (DCLE), and the Koror State Rangers. Support for the project was provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Oceankind, Bell Laboratories Inc., the Moore Family Charitable Foundation, the Dawson Family Fund, the Wanderlust Fund, the Fields family, and other island advocates around the world.
And of course, it would not be possible without the support in the planning and implementation alongside our local and international project partners: Belau National Museum, Road Runner Logistics Palau, Air Champagne, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, Palau Coral Reef Research Foundation, One Reef, the Ebiil Society, Palau Conservation Society, and Sonsorol State.
Additional Quotes:
“The Office of Insular Affairs is very pleased that this project has successfully resulted in the return of birds, plants, and other animal life to revitalize the natural environment and to protect cultural history on Ulong Island in Palau. We congratulate Palau on conservation efforts to strengthen its ecosystems and island way of life and are pleased to be one of its many partners in this successful effort.” — William Hague, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. “
“The data from Ulong show just how resilient these island ecosystems can be when negative pressures, imposed by accident, are removed. Within a single year, we’re already hearing and seeing meaningful changes. It’s incredibly encouraging. We’re grateful to support Island Conservation, Koror State, and the local teams on the ground. Their leadership is making it possible for endangered species to recover, and we’re honored to help document that story through science.” — Matthew McKown, CEO, Conservation Metrics
Media Assets:
Field Camera Analysis, Acoustic Data, Photos and B-roll video: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QgU8ofdSnnb7obl6HFYB4JaV1I_ouVs3?usp=drive_link
Interviews available upon request.
Media Contacts:
Sally Esposito, Senior Communications Director, Island Conservation sally.esposito@islandconservation.org
About the collaborators:
Island Conservation’s mission is to restore islands for nature and people worldwide. We are a United States-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a globally distributed team—often made up of local islanders who bring deep knowledge and connection to the places where we work. Together, we collaborate with local communities, government management agencies, and conservation organizations to holistically restore islands by bringing back biodiversity, the foundation of all healthy ecosystems. We do this by removing a primary threat (introduced, damaging invasive species) and accelerating the return of native plants and animals. We utilize innovative technology and techniques to work more efficiently and showcase the many benefits of holistically restored islands for biodiversity, climate resilience, ocean health, and sustainable development across the globe.
Conservation Metrics Founded in 2012, Conservation Metrics partners with communities, conservation NGOs, governments, and industry leaders to monitor species, ecosystem change, and outcomes from projects undertaken to improve the health of our planet. We transform monitoring data into actionable insights through the design of field surveys, custom AI species detection models, and scalable data infrastructure that strengthen community resilience and support long-term conservation. By co-creating rigorous, culturally grounded monitoring programs, we help partners make informed decisions that protect ecosystems and sustain the planet for future generations.
