Conservationist

Tarita Holm has been an active member of Palau’s conservation community for nearly 25 years. Since returning home to Palau in 2000 after completing her studies, she has worked across a wide range of fields, including biodiversity conservation, terrestrial ecology, plant taxonomy, food security, agriculture, aquaculture, protected areas management, and sustainable land use. Her work has also focused on policy development, good governance, healthy aging, gender and social inclusion, and the application of GIS to support evidence-based decision-making in collaboration with government agencies and local partners.

Throughout her career, Tarita has contributed to several nationally significant initiatives. She was part of the team that led the development of Palau’s Climate Change Policy and Action Plan in 2015 and later served as a climate change advisor to the Palau National Marine Sanctuary Office in 2018. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to balancing environmental stewardship, community well-being, and sustainable development.

Beyond her professional roles, Tarita is deeply engaged in community life. She is an active member of her community in Ngardmau State and is passionate about Palauan culture, traditional systems of governance and economics, environmental conservation, and ensuring that Palau’s core values and traditional knowledge are passed on to future generations.

Tarita is also the mother of three daughters and, together with her husband, operates a small family business called Palauan Made. She brings the same dedication to family and community that has guided her conservation work throughout her career.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Mills College in Oakland, California, and a Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation and Management from the University of London. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys art, music, Indigenous studies, and spending time in nature.