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The Republic of Palau is the newest member to have joined the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, joining in 2003.

Located at 7° 30' North Latitude, 133° 30' East Longitude, Palau is an archipelago of over 300 islands and atolls nestled in the North Pacific Ocean. It comprises a total land area of 488 square kilometres (km²) and an Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) of 629 000 km² (Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2003).

Palau varies in geology and formation but can be classified into four types of island: volcanic; reef and atoll; low platform; and high limestone. Several of the islands are a combination of these four basic types. The volcanic islands (of Babeldaob, Meiuns, Malakal and the western part of Koror) comprise most of the land area. Seven reef and atoll islands are located north and northeast of Peleliu. The southwest Islands are a combination of low platform islands and atolls, while the central and southern regions of the archipelago comprise of over 300 limestone islands, the majority being the steep, coralline, limestone Rock Islands (National Environmental Management Strategy 1994).

Palau experiences a maritime tropical rainy climate. Mean daily temperatures for all months are 27º C. Rainfall averages at 159 inches with maximum rainfall occurring in July. Prevailing surface winds vary seasonally. From November to May the archipelago is dominated by trade winds from the northeast and east and from June to September, the southwest winds are predominant (National Environmental Management Strategy, 1994).

Minerals found on Palau are phosphate. Substantial phosphate reserves were found and mined exploitatively in Palau during the German and Japanese administrations. Land degradation is now a priority area of sustainable development for the Palau nation (National Assessment Report, 2002). The mineral potential offshore has yet to be determined.

There is limited freshwater source on Palau (National Environmental Management Strategy, 1994). The only sustained stream flow, which is sometimes limited, is found on the large volcanic island of Babedaob. The other surface water resources on this island exist in the form of a fresh-water lake and pond. Gyben-Herzberg? lenses of fresh water can be found on some of the atolls. The four of the states of Kayangel, Ngatpang, Sonsorol and Hatohobei, rely solely on rainwater (NEMS, 1994).

Petroleum remains the common source of energy on Palau. Renewable energy sources include biomass, and solar. These sources are currently being explored on some of the islands.

As of the year 2000, the population of Palau had risen to 19 290 people. Palauans are origins of; Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures (70%), Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28% and whites 2% (2000 est.)

The economy is sustained through tourism, fish exports and aid remittances. Gross Domestic Product per capita US$6, 157 in 2001.