For Ngirur Adelbai, conservation is about strengthening the relationship between people and the places that have always sustained them.
Whether working with the youth in Palau’s mangrove forests or helping document traditional ecological knowledge from Elders, she sees the connections between people, culture, and nature as the foundation of community-based fisheries management.
As Micronesia Community Programs Lead and Finance Officer at OneReef Micronesia, Ngirur transitioned from finance and administration into community programs – a role that reconnects her with her background in environmental and marine science.
She says. “Building relationships and connecting with people has been one of my biggest challenges, but also one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.”
That journey has been especially meaningful through OneReef Micronesia’s youth immersion activities, where students explore Palau’s mangrove forests and learn about ecosystems that have sustained island communities for generations. While the program welcomes all students, Ngirur hopes it inspires Palauan youth to build a deeper connection with their environment and understand how it has shaped Palauan identity.
As a mother herself, those lessons carry an even deeper meaning.
“I want my child to understand that everything is connected,” she says. “We are part of the environment, and what we do affects it. We depend on it for our food and the resources that sustain us.”
That same perspective fuels her passion for documenting Traditional Ecological Knowledge before it is lost.
“I’m most excited about working with youth and Elders to document and share traditional ecological knowledge for future generations. This knowledge isn’t always available in schools or libraries – it’s passed down orally.”
Through interviews with knowledge holders, Ngirur has witnessed firsthand the importance of documenting this knowledge, from sustainable fishing practices to Palauan names for species and traditional tools.
For Ngirur, protecting ecosystems and preserving traditional knowledge go hand in hand, ensuring future generations inherit healthy reefs and mangrove forests, along with the knowledge needed to care for them.