The creation and establishment of YELA (Yela Environmental Landowners Authority) originated from conversations between the ten families who own the majestic Ka Forest known as Yela. Although many ideas were proposed over the years, nothing really stuck because no one knew exactly what to do with this unique forest. One thought was to divide the land between the traditional owners. Other suggestions were to create a cattle ranch or to clear the land for farming. There was even a proposal to harvest the Ka trees for profit. None of these ideas captivated the landowners until a new member, who had just graduated from medical school, joined the conversation in 2004.
Today, the conservation easement that is the Yela Ka Forest came by way of many partnerships, including but not limited to …
- Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority (KIRMA)
- Kosrae State Historic Preservation Office
- Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization (KCSO)
- FSM National Archives of Culture and Historic Preservation
- The Nature Conservancy
- United States Forestry Service (USFS)
- USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program (FLP)
We appreciate assistance from Kosrae’s hotels who have brought many visitors to YELA to learn about our forest:
- Nautilus Resort
- Island Hopper Hotel
- Pacific Treelodge
- ASCO
- Hilltop Lodge
We also extend a special thanks to Kosrae Visitor’s Bureau (KVB) for promoting the Yela Forest Conservation Project.
KCSO
The Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization (KCSO) is a non-profit organization incorporated in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia in 1998 with a mission to “sustainably manage and protect Kosrae’s biodiversity and natural heritage through community engagement and partnership for the benefit of present and future generations.” Since its inception, KCSO has built alliances and partnerships with various groups, organizations, and communities to collectively and collaboratively implement relevant ecosystem and biodiversity conservation and management initiatives as well as to build community resilience to the impacts of climate change across Kosrae and throughout the region.
Amongst the most notable partnerships that KCSO had developed and maintained is its partnership with YELA. From the very beginning, KCSO supported the efforts to organize and establish YELA in managing and spearheading efforts to protect against exploiting the unique and majestic Yela Terminalia forest. As a young organization, YELA sought and received technical and financial support from its partners, including KCSO, to help develop its institutional and human capacity and fund implementation of key environmental activities within the forest.
Today, YELA has become one of Kosrae’s leading environmental groups with a number of successful conservation initiatives under its belt. KCSO continues to cherish and value this partnership because of shared interests between the two organizations and commitments to be conscientious stewards of the land and the environment of Kosrae.
The Enchanted Forest 