President Tommy Esang Remengesau

President Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr., is the eighth President of the Republic of Palau, the first Palauan to be elected as President three times. In 2014, the United Nations Environmental Programme, awarded Remengesau with its top accolade- The Champion of the Earth award for his visionary leadership in strengthening Palau’s economic resilience by spearheading national initiatives to protect its biodiversity. President Remengesau is now spearheading a historic effort in the establishment of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, signed into law on October 28, 2015. This large scale marine protected area that will cover 100% of Palau’s waters (over 600,000 square km) and will include a 80% no-take reserve and a 20% protected domestic fishing zone, providing even greater protection for Palau’s environment while further enhancing Palau’s tourism revenues. The world’s sixth largest fully protected marine area, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary is Palau’s contribution to preserving the world’s ocean resources.