{"id":860,"date":"2023-06-23T13:17:45","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T13:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/palau\/?p=860"},"modified":"2023-06-23T13:17:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T13:17:45","slug":"day-3-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/palau\/2023\/06\/23\/day-3-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 3: Trees!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We started our day heading out to the state of Ngchesar. \u00a0There was an area where dead trees had been observed and our task was to survey and try to determine what the cause of this was. We split into groups and set off through the tall bush and grass to different areas to make our observations and hypotheses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image: Haley making observations of a suspected tree system that was dying.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We observed lichen, burrow holes, evidence of past fires, and erosion. We came back to the bus full of excitement to share our findings with our classmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image: Dustin, Melissa, and Hilary comparing notes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, we headed north to Ngardmau to the bauxite mines and had lunch before our next project. The bauxite mines were historically used by the Japanese up until the end of WWII. The result of this was that the soil was left degraded and generally unproductive. The Ebiil Society and the state of Ngardmau are undertaking a project to plant native trees that will reestablish vegetation to restore the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n