KOLONIA, Pohnpei — June 3, 2026 — The Honorable Vice President, Aren B. Palik officially handed over a newly renovated biosecurity facility to Governor Stevenson A. Joseph and the Pohnpei State Government, marking another important milestone in strengthening biosecurity capacity in Pohnpei and protecting its environment, agriculture, and communities from invasive species and other biosecurity threats.

Located at the Pohnpei State Forestry Site, the facility was renovated through the Global Environment Facility (GEF-6) FSM Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Project, implemented by the FSM Department of Resources and Development through its Agriculture Division. The renovation was carried out with technical oversight and support from the FSM Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure (DTC&I).

The renovated facility is one of two dedicated biosecurity facilities in Pohnpei, providing personnel with space to conduct inspections, coordinate operations, and support efforts to prevent invasive species and other biosecurity threats from entering the State.

The handover further strengthens the FSM’s biosecurity infrastructure with all four FSM states having dedicated biosecurity facilities to support efforts to prevent and respond to invasive alien species and other biosecurity threats.

“This facility represents our collective commitment to protecting our islands, our biodiversity, our agriculture and our communities from the growing threats posed by invasive alien species,” Vice President Palik said.

Vice President Palik expressed appreciation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), state governments, project partners, the GEF-6 FSM IAS Project team, and DTC&I for their support in completing the project.

The handover reflects the shared commitment and continued partnership between the National and State Governments in strengthening biosecurity capacity and safeguarding the nation from invasive species and other biosecurity threats.