South Pacific Studies Vol.35, No.2, 2015

Environmental Degradation (Dumped Vehicles) in Major
Islands of the Federated States of Micronesia
REHMAN Hafiz Ur

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Science andEngineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065 Japan
E-mail address: hafiz@sci.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Abstract
Environmental degradation due to urbanization in major islands (e.g. Pohnpei, and Weno Island inChuuk state) of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a growing problem for the future generationsof the islanders. In this study, I highlight a major environmental degradation problem in these islands
which is associated with the disposal of abandoned vehicles. The Island of Pohnpei, the capital city of theFSM, and the Island of Weno, a major city in the Chuuk state, are the most populous areas, comprising
about 40 % of the population of FSM. Both these islands have partially to fully paved roads encircling theislands among which some roads extend to inside valleys to some extent. The main source of transportation
within the islands for the inhabitants is either walk or via private vehicles. Since, there is no regular bus
or public transport system; people tend to depend on own vehicles to move around. However, due to badroad conditions and non-availability of proper repair shops, the vehicles are abandoned after a few years. Inaddition, the absence of proper regulatory measures from the government sector and no vehicle scrappage
facility, the abandoned vehicles stay forever on the islands and present a bad impression of the locals on thetourism industry. In this study, I suggest several remedial points that could be useful for the environmentalprotection of the country, hence will also attract more foreign tourists to contribute foreign revenue in thecountry. (1) If there is an arrangement of public transportation by the government or private sector, the levelof dependency of local population on their personal vehicles will reduce. (2) If a proper scrappage programby public sector or used-cars traders is introduced (e.g. when someone buys a vehicle, it should be replacedwith the old or damaged vehicle, or the issuance of vouchers/discounted tickets, or recycle certificates),
people will begin to recycle their used vehicles which will be helpful for the preservation of natural beautyof the islands. (3) In addition, public awareness programs should be put in action in order to make thesemeasures effective. The problem of environmental degradation is not yet very big, however, with passageof time and with no remedy it can be a big threat to the limited natural environment of islands and to its
inhabitants.
Key words: environmental degradation, Federated State of Micronesia, Pohnpei, public transportation,
scrappage, used vehicles

Received: 12 December, 2014
Accepted: 13 February, 2015

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South Pacific Studies Vol.35, No.2, 2015

Introduction
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), situated in the western Pacific,
comprises of four main states that have a total of 607 islands known as the Caroline
Islands. The four main states: (1) Yap, (2) Chuuk, (3) Pohnpei, and (4) Kosrae,
geographically spread from west to east in the Pacific low latitudes in the northernequatorial region (Fig. 1), and all these states have a considerable autonomy anduniqueness in their geography, ecology, language and culture (ASHBY 2003).
Based on the information from the FSM Visitors Board (available on line), thestate of Yap is made up of 4 large islands, 7 small islands and 134 atolls, with a total
land area of 45.6 square miles. The state of Chuuk has a total land area of 49.2 square
miles and includes seven major island groups whereas the state of Pohnpei has 133.4
square miles of land area, of which 130 is accounted for by Pohnpei island, the largestin FSM. Kosrae is essentially one high island of 42.3 square miles. Among these fourstates Chuuk and Pohnpei are the biggest and most populated islands.
According to the World Fact Book (CIA, available on line), major problems in
the FSM are large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
Government sector and a number of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) areworking to educate people related to marine environment and biodiversity. More efforts
are needed to bring awareness in the people of those islands to protect and preserve
nature of the islands for their future generations especially attention needs to be paid
toward the environmental degradation due to urbanization. Based on the data fromthe World Fact Book, total population of the FSM is 105, 681 (July 2014, estimate),oo

140 Eo150 E

160 E

Guam (US)Philippine Sea

Fais
Colonia
Ngulu

Ulul
Sorol

YAP State

Fayu

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FEDERATED STATES OFMICRONESIA
400

Minto Reef
OrolukPakin
AntPalikir
Pohnpei
Mokil

Etal
SatawanPingelap

Kosraeo

POHNPEI StateCHUUK (TRUK) State
NukuroNational CapitalState Capital

200o10 N

MuriloNomwinWoleai0MarshalIslands

CAROLINE ISLANDS

Ulithi5N
KOSRAE State

600 kmKopingamarangi

Equator0oFig. 1. G eographic location of the Caroline Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, western
Pacific. Map modified from the FSM government official site: http://www.fsmgov.org/info/
map.html.

REHMAN H. U.: Environmental Degradation in FSM

DETAY

59

SMITH

and the population distribution is Chuuk: 49.3%, Pohnpei: 29.8%, Kosrae: 6.3%,
Yap: 5.7%, Yap outer islanders: 5.1%, Polynesian: 1.6%, Asian: 1.4%, and other 0.8%
(2010 estimate). However, the FSM government database of 2010 census (Office ofthe SBOC, available on line), the total population of FSM is 102,843. Among the total
population there are 48,654 people in Chuuk and 36,195 people in Pohnpei. These twostates, hence, comprise more than 80% of the total population (Table 1). The reason
for higher population in these states is, of course, the larger land size of these twoislands, and because of the availability of facilities (such as education, employment,and developed infrastructure in the capital city of Pohnpei and Weno, a major cityof the Chuuk state). In the last decade, due to development of infrastructure (roadsconstruction, sanitation etc.), an increase in the use of private vehicles is observed.
Unfortunately, there is no exact statistical figure available regarding the number of
dumped vehicles but according to the world health organization (WHO) database (WHO2013) the total number of registered vehicles in FSM are 8,337 (cars and 4-wheeled
light vehicles: 7,356; heavy truck 747; buses: 138; and motorized 2- and 3-wheelers:
96; year 2010 data). In addition, the data regarding number of registered vehicles ineach of the four states of FSM since the year 2001 to 2011 show no dramatic change(Table 2), however in the year 2011, drop in the number of registered vehicles canbe observed which means that those vehicles were unregistered after their short term
usage but ultimately remain on the islands as dump. Besides, there are no rules for thevehicles standards, penalty/dominant point system for safer road uses, and or laws to
use helmet or seat-belts (WHO 2013). It is obvious, with an increase in the populationand extension of roads, more people will start to use imported but used vehicles, theeasiest and cheap way. But, when the vehicles have technical faults or broken parts,
there, possibly, could not be a quick remedy.

60South Pacific Studies Vol.35, No.2, 2015

This short report aims to highlight a major environmental degradation problem
caused by urbanization which will be a real threat for the future generations of theFSM. In addition, the environmental degradation can pose a bad impact on the tourism
industry of the country, through which a significant amount of revenue could begenerated if promoted. The increasing number of dumped vehicles along the Islandof Pohnpei and in Weno needs to be identified and proper public awareness should be
brought to preserve the natural beauty of these paradise islands. Government can play amajor role to overcome this problem by developing proper public transport system and/or by implementing regulatory systems on the business community dealing with thosematters and the people who use vehicles. In additions, NGO’s could play greater role tobring public awareness.

Background of the study
The Pohnpei and Weno Island in Chuuk atoll are developing due to the centerof government bodies, construction of infrastructure, and providence of overseas
funds for the development of educational, infrastructure and enhancing the businessties with foreign business firms. Besides, these remedies, large number of population
faces problems of unemployment and heavy dependence on foreign aid, particularly
US aid (for details refer to OSMAN 1989, DAHL 1993). On the other hand, residentsof FSM, being a part of the US Trust Territory, move to USA (Guam or mainland)
for work and send revenue to lookafter their family members back in FSM. There isnothing wrong in earning and living in this way rather it is an important source for thepeople of FSM to improve their livelihood. With improved life style and having somesavings, people tend to buy vehicles for their daily use or for leisure. In particular, if
there is no public transportation system, people need privately owned vehicles for theircommuting to workplace, schools, and hospitals etc. Buying a new vehicle in a low

OLIAC AUTOSREHMAN H. U.: Environmental Degradation in FSM

61

income country might not be an easy task. Therefore, people try to buy cheap but usedcars. Unfortunately, it is hard to present an accurate figure of the imported used cars
to the FSM. The only, source of the used cars imported from Japan to FSM was OLIACAUTOS, a Japanese used cars exporter (OLIAC AUTOS, available online). The number ofexported vehicles to FSM by OLIAC AUTOS can be a minor part (Table 3), but at least
it gives an idea that every month or year a certain number of used vehicles are comingin the FSM. Buying used cars mean the vehicles will run for lesser years and will havedamages or broken parts quite often. For which they need to have proper repair shops
or spare-parts stores. However, due to lack of such facilities it is hard for the residents
to get their vehicles properly repaired once something is broken or damaged.
One of the major reasons for the vehicles to get broken or damaged is the lackof good and/or asphalted roads. The roads are becoming better in the recent years andconstruction work on some parts is in progress. Once, the situations get better vehicle
damage problems will be resolved to some extent. Presently, old vehicles, bad roads,
and the lack of repair shops, are major contributing factors for the degradation ofisland’s natural environment. The vehicles once broken have no place to go but stayat the owners place forever or at the place where the vehicles had been broken. Alongthe major roads around the islands of Pohnpei and Weno (Fig. 2), a large number ofdumped vehicles were observed (Figs. 3 & 4). The coastal lagoons, beautiful atolls, thegreen and scenic mountains, and fantastic waterfalls, and not to say, the historical Nan
Madol in Pohnpei, all present a unique and picturesque view of these paradise islands(for example see DAHL 1993). However, looking at the dumped vehicles, a strongly
negative impression one develops upon the first sight on these environmentallydegraded places. It is not to blame the local citizens only but local and overseas traders,
particularly from the developed countries, contribute an equal share toward theseproblems. The number of dumped vehicles is increasing on those islands as can be seenfrom the shape of the vehicle, from the degree of weathering of the surface of vehicle,
and from the growth of plants/grass around and in the vehicle (Figs. 3 & 4). It can beeasily estimated that dumping of this heavy urban pollution started at least more thana decade and the number is continuously increasing. Unfortunately, there is no source
available to know the exact digital figure on the imported vehicles.

Remedial measures for the control of environmental degradation
Below, several remedial points are explained which could be useful to improve theurbanization-related environmental degradation problems in the major islands of FSM.
Public awareness and proper regulatory measures
It is the utmost duty of government sector to make proper legal measures andbring awareness to the people about the environmental degradation. In the beginning,people may not feel of the problem of increase in dumped vehicles but with time it will

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South Pacific Studies Vol.35, No.2, 2015(a)N
Mt.Tonachau

Chuuk Int..
AirportortrtPou Bay

Nomenuk Bay

PacificOceanXavier High SchoolSWeno
Chuuk Visitors Bureau

Pacific Ocean

Mt.Tonoken

02 km

Mt.Chukuwen(b)Pohnpei Intl.
AirportNKolonia
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Collage of Micronesia SSokehs

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Waterfall

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Madolenihmw
Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs

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Sawarlap
Waterfall
Sahwartik Waterfall
Lehn Paipohn Waterfall

0

Pacific Ocean

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Waterfall

Nanan Madol

15 km

Fig. 2. G eographic maps and roads on Weno Island in Chuuk state (a) and Pohnpei Island (b). Maps
modified from the FSM visitors’Board data.

REHMAN H. U.: Environmental Degradation in FSM

63

be a big environmental issue. However, they have no option to the remedy. They do notknow what to do if there is no place to recycle, scrap or to sell their vehicle after theyno more need it. Government sector can make legislations and implement legal rules

Fig. 3. P hotographs evidencing environmental degradation in Weno Island, Chuuk state. For privacy
the locations or identification are obscured if needed.

64South Pacific Studies Vol.35, No.2, 2015

which should be obeyed by the users of vehicles. In addition, when some resident of
the area gets driving license, he/she should be educated about the vehicle use and therecycling policies.
Government should also implement legal obligations on the business community
and importers of used-vehicles to properly recycle the vehicles when these are not usedanymore. It might be hard and discouraging for the people or business community toenforce them to carry such measures, however, a small surcharge or fee if implemented
on people upon purchase of vehicle and the deposited funds could be pooled forrecycle or scrappage activities. In return, the people should receive vouchers or recycle
certificates of certain amount which could be reimbursed upon proper recycling of thedumped vehicles. In the beginning the funds may not suffice, however, if the process
goes on for several years, the concerned governmental department may be able toFig. 4. P hotographs evidencing environmental degradation in Pohnpei. For privacy the locations oridentification are obscured if needed.

REHMAN H. U.: Environmental Degradation in FSM

65

overcome this problem.
Establishing a public transport system
One of the biggest reasons for the dumping of vehicles is the non-availability ofproper public transport system. There is a system of private taxis, but it is an irregularsystem and people are not sure if they can get some or not on time. If a timely transportsystem is available, people will utilize, hence, their dependency on privately owned
vehicle might drop. This can, to some degree, reduce environmental degradation.
Developing repair centers or spare-parts stores
It is not to say, when public demand rises, there will be car-repair shops andspare-parts stores however at present facilities are not sufficient. If people have noreplacement for the broken parts in their vehicle, they cannot use that vehicle anymore,
ultimately the vehicle stays, at the place where broken or where parked, forever. By
improving repair facilities or developing technical skills of the people involved in therepair work, the situation will get better.
Recycling and Implementing vehicle scrappage programs
In the islands of Pohnpei and Weno, where citizen use vehicles, government
should implement a vehicle scrappage programs (VSPs). For details on such programs(implemented in the US) readers are referred to see ZOLNIK (2012). Through theimplementation of VSPs, the vehicle owners should be encouraged with vouchers or
discount tickets that could be used upon the purchase of vehicles. Such programs could
be useful as the owners can manage to bring their abandoned vehicles to the scrap
center or to a car dealer where they can replace them with their new and/or used vehicle
during the new purchase. In addition, government should advise the used-cars dealers
to make the trade smooth so that the process goes on. Moreover, building scrappage
facility where the vehicles and heavy machinery, if exist, should be turned into scrap
and could be easily transported to places where they can be recycled. Such measures
will greatly help in improving the environmental degradation; a major problem of thecountry for its future if persists.

Acknowledgements
I am thankful for the cooperation by the Pohnpei and Chuuk State governments
for giving us the permission to conduct field survey in FSM. Sincere thanks to thedirector and staff of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (known as CSP) for theirhelp in providing information and logistical support. Due thanks to Relio LENGSI, ourefficient guide in Pohnpei, Danny, a geologist, I met there, for sharing his knowledge
about the Island. Fruitful discussions with the staff of the Kagoshima University,
Research Center for the Pacific Islands (Prof. KAWAI K., Prof. YAMAMOTO S., Prof.

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South Pacific Studies Vol.35, No.2, 2015

OTSUKA Y. and Prof. NAGASHIMA S.) for their help in the field. Research membersof the group (e.g. UDO S., NAKATANI S. and KITAMURA Y.) are also thanked for theircooperation and discussion afterwards. I also thank the constructive comments of tworeviewers which improved the manuscript. This research was funded by 2013-2014
Presidential Discretionary Fund for the Kagoshima University Research Center for thePacific Islands.

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