Acknowledgements

This Atlas is a collaborative project conducted by:

Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi),
FSM Department of Environment, Climate Change & Emergency Management (DECEM), and
Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific (WERI),
University of Guam (UOG), with funding from the
FSM National Government and the
United States Geological Survey (USGS)

The Atlas core team are:

  • Chief editor:

    Danko Taboroši

  • Co-editor:

    Maria Kottermair

  • Controllers:

    Snyther Biza

  • Skiis Dewey

  • Advisors:

    Andrew Yatilman
    Cynthia Ehmes
    John W. Jenson
    Joseph D. Rouse
    Myeong-Ho Yeo
    Lara Payne
    Shahram Khosrowpanah

  • Developer:

    Ibrahim Mohammed

  • Cartographers:

    Jan Rykr

  • Daniella Levin


The Atlas would certainly not be as comprehensive as it is without the data-sharing agreements and support we have received over the years from the following key partners and contributors:


USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Yap State Department of Resources and Development (Yap R&D)
Pohnpei State Department of Education (Pohnpei DOE)
Chuuk State Environmental Protection Agency (Chuuk EPA)
College of Micronesia (COM-FSM)
Pacific Disaster Center (PDC)

Numerous other organizations contributed to this Atlas in different ways and at different stages of the project. The most significant among them are:


Chuuk Visitors Bureau (CVB)
FSM Department of Resources and Development (FSM R&D)
FSM Telecom
Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority (KIRMA)
Kosrae State Historic Preservation Office (Kosrae HPO)
NOAA National Geodetic Survey (NGS)
NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)
NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM)
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
Yap Community Action Program (Yap CAP)
Yap Department of Health Services (Yap DHS)
Yap State Historic Preservation Office (Yap HPO)

We have also received major support from the following individuals, to whom we extend special thanks:


Tony Kimmet, USDA-NRCS National Geospatial Center of Excellence

Drew Decker, USGS National Geospatial Program

Ross Winans, NOAA Office of Coastal Management


The maps, and indirectly other information in the Atlas, were reviewed and improved based on the comments by the following individuals knowledgeable about their respective islands.


  • Yap:

    Joshua Libyan Tun, Yap DOE
    Francis Ruegorong, Yap Department of R&D
    Douglas Marar, Chuuk Visitors' Bureau

  • Chuuk:

    Brad Mori, Chuuk EPA
    Curtis Graham, Chuuk Conservation Society
    Douglas Marar, Chuuk Visitors' Bureau

  • Pohnpei:

    Peterson Anson, Pohnpei State Department of Land
    Jocyleen Anson, FSM Telecom

  • Kosrae:

    Blair Charley, KIRMA
    Betwin Tilfas, KIRMA
    Ashley Meredith, Kosrae HPO


Numerous other individuals assisted this project in many different ways, from providing advice and existing data layers to carrying out field verifications and creating new data layers specifically for this Atlas. In alphabetical order, we thank:


Itorie Amond, FSM Department of Resources and Development

Mike Aulerio, The Nature Conservancy

John Paul Batarao, student, University of Guam

Julie Callebaut, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme

Ed Carlson, NOAA National Geodetic Survey (NGS)

Matthew Chigiyal, FSM National Oceanic Resource Management Authority

Gretchen Chiques, ESRI

Jacquline Hazen, Island Research & Education Initiative

Mandy Flowers, Island Research & Education Initiative

Wolf Forstreuter, Pacific GIS & Remote Sensing Council

Vaness Fread, Yap Community Action Program

Joyminda Palokoa George, UNICEF

John Gilmatam, Wa'ab Community Health Center / Yap Department of Health Services

Chip Guard, NOAA National Weather Service

William Jeffery, University of Guam

Brihmer Johnson, FSM Department of Resources and Development

Bart Lawrence, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Len McKenzie, James Cook University

Nate Peterson, The Nature Conservancy

Larry Raigetal, Waagey

Bruce Robert, College of Micronesia

Nely Mori Ruben, Chuuk Visitors Bureau

Constance Sartor, student, University of Guam

Sharon Sawdey, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Paulina Yourupi-Sandy, Island Research & Education Initiative

Alex Zuccarelli, Pohnpei Eco-Adventure Guide


Over the years, we were also assisted by many other individuals whose names may not have been added to this list. We apologize for that and remain grateful for all of their help. As we continue the work on the project, we hope that more people will get involved with this Atlas and help us continually improve this resource for everyone.