Wotje Atoll, Ratak Chain Marshall Islands

Wotje is an enormous atoll where the traditional chiefs of the Ratak Chain have gathered for centuries. Wotje Atoll once housed a Japanese military base that was liberated by Americans. Wotje atoll’s main village still has a sea plane dock, a working air strip and a high school. This is where PAC RMI will execute the Ratak agro-forestry project for food security and income generation. PAC secured this grant program for Wotje atoll and will begin work in November 2008. The nursery site is pictured to the right. Following completion of stage one of Wotje’s agroforestry project, building and planting the nursery, PAC RMI Inc., with the help of CEO and Iroij Eltera Hermios, will mobilize villagers to farm 3 million sea cucumbers, focusing on the north eastern portion of the lagoon. Traditional customs are still very strong in the Ratak Chain, so well organized team work will quickly result in massive faming efforts. Completion of work will be celebrated with feasting, singing, dancing, storytelling, and games.

The Ratak, or sunrise chain of the Marshall Islands is currently considering the inclusion of all their ten atolls in the PAC model for sustainable development. Some of these atolls, such as Bokak, pictured to the right, and Bikar, pictured to the left have been traditionally protected for centuries. As a result it has still some of the world’s most prolific turtle nesting islands and bird rookeries. PAC is assisting the Ratak Kobamaron, (Alliance of traditional leaders of the Ratak Chain) to have documentaries filmed of unspoiled reefs and other natural resource treasures, and to implement additional conservation measures to protect these pristine atolls.