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Guam Green Growth launches first-ever youth conservation corps

A large group of youth conservation corps members and leadership pose indoors, holding up colorful square signs with various icons and Chamoru text representing local sustainability and conservation goals.

Guam Green Growth launches first-ever youth conservation corps

A large group of youth conservation corps members and leadership pose indoors, holding up colorful square signs with various icons and Chamoru text representing local sustainability and conservation goals.
Members of the inaugural Guam Green Growth (G3) Youth Conservation Corps pose for a group photo with leadership from the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & SG), including Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D., Associate Director for Operations and Development Fran Castro, MSc., Associate Director for Communications and Community Engagement Kyle Mandapat, and Program Lead Phillip Cruz, along with Government of Guam representatives and members of the UOG CIS & SG team. The new workforce development initiative provides Guam's youth with hands-on experience in sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship while introducing career pathways in the island's growing green economy.
A young female student wearing a blue t-shirt stands and speaks into a microphone during a presentation inside a classroom setting at the UOG RFK Library, while other seated youth conservation corps members listen attentively and record with smartphones.
Guam Green Growth Youth Conservation Corps members share thier interests and hopes for the program during the official cohort launch held at the UOG RFK Library. Lily Bordallo, a member who attends high school at GWHS, highlighted the importance of our ocean for the people of Guam and said she wanted to really contibute to help protect our marine resources.

Guam Green Growth (G3) and the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS and Sea Grant) launched the first G3 Youth Conservation Corps this week, a new initiative that introduces high school students to careers in sustainability and the green economy.

The initiative builds on G3’s expanding workforce development programs, including the G3 Conservation Corps, by creating opportunities for a younger generation of participants to get hands-on experience in sustainability, conservation, agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship.

G3 and its partners, the Guam Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) and the Office of the Governor, introduced the inaugural cohort during an event held at the UOG RFK Library. This first cohort consists of eight high school students from the Governor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, representing different high schools across Guam.

      • Julius Tabunar, George Washington High School
      • Andrei Destor, George Washington High School
      • Lily Bordallo, George Washington High School
      • Alana Kahele, Academy of Our Lady of Guam
      • Maggie Guzman, George Washington High School
      • Kmaryn Ruta, Okkodo High School
      • Liam Charfauros, Father Dueñas Memorial School
      • Dionne San Nicolas, Academy of Our Lady of Guam

Speaking at the launch, UOG Senior Vice President and Provost Sharleen Q. Santos-Bamba, Ph.D., encouraged participants to embrace the opportunity and invest in their future. “Together we are creating pathways for success and helping cultivate a workforce that is prepared to lead Guam into a more sustainable future.”

When asked about the island resources that must be prioritized in conservation efforts, Guzman said, “One thing that I think we should start conserving is the ocean. I’m very into the water; I have a passion for it as well.”

Destor agreed, “I want to help the ocean as well. Especially the coral reefs. Because coral reefs are really important for us. For our island.”

The first G3 Youth Conservation Corps will spend the summer working alongside partner agencies and organizations while learning practical skills that can lead to future educational and career opportunities. Participants will be exposed to a wide range of sustainability-related fields, including agriculture, aquaculture, invasive species management, and renewable energy.

Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, highlighted the significance of the launch. Shelton noted that the program was designed to introduce youth to emerging career pathways in sustainability.

“Get these job skills now. Become part of that green economy and see that the future really is bright. The opportunities on our island really do exist, and you get to be a part of that…By being in the G3 Youth Conservation Corps, you’re at the forefront of that.”

Representing the Office of the Governor, Acting Chief of Staff Clynt Ridgell underscored the initiative’s broader impact. “Today marks more than just the beginning of the summer job program. It’s an investment in Guam’s future and in the young people, you people, who will help shape it.”

Guam Department of Youth Affairs Director Melanie W. Brennan expressed confidence that the inaugural cohort will pave the way for future participants. “With you starting it off, I know that this will lead to even greater future opportunities.”

The G3 Youth Conservation Corps represents the latest effort under G3 to build local talent pipelines while addressing sustainability challenges and opportunities through hands-on learning, mentorship, and community engagement.
The original Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps is currently in its sixth season after originally starting through support from the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, Guam NSF EPSCoR, the Mayors Council of Guam, the Guam Legislature, and the Office of the Governor.

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Brown Treesnake Workshop: Building community capacity for invasive species management

A young boy wearing a baseball cap looks wide-eyed and curious as a person holds a brown snake (brown tree snake) in the foreground at an educational outreach table.

Brown Treesnake Workshop: Building community capacity for invasive species management

A young boy wearing a baseball cap looks wide-eyed and curious as a person holds a brown snake (brown tree snake) in the foreground at an educational outreach table.
A young participant at the BTS Workshop gets a closer look at the invasive serpent while visiting an outreach table at the event. Photo courtesy of UOG.
An outdoor educational outreach table where a presenter holds out a container to show a young girl and a woman, while other attendees gather around to learn about brown treesnakes.
Visitors line the many outreach tables of sustainability partners to learn more about the threat of brown treesnakes and the adverse impacts this species has on Guam. Photo courtesy of UOG.
A close-up profile view of a native Ko’ko’ bird (Guam rail) with a long beak, brown plumage, and distinct black-and-white zebra striping on its underparts, visible inside a wire mesh enclosure.
A native Ko’ko’ bird is showcased at the DOAG-DAWR table during the BTS Workshop, highlighting the workshop’s focus on protecting Guam’s endemic species. Photo courtesy of UOG.
A group of volunteers conducts a night hunt under a dark sky, using flashlights and headlamps to illuminate a dense grove of palm trees as they search for invasive brown treesnakes.
Volunteers and partners spread out for a night hunt at the BTS Workshop, working together to remove invasive brown treesnakes from the local ecosystem. Photo courtesy of UOG.
A large group photo of workshop participants and volunteers, many wearing bright green shirts, posing together at night under an open-air pavilion while holding up brown treesnakes captured during an evening hunt.
Attendees display their catches following the Brown Treesnake Workshop evening snake hunt. Photo courtesy of AAFB PAO.

Education slithered into the conversation as the UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Island Conservation Lab (ICL) and Joint Region Marianas held their second Brown Treesnake Control Workshop and SnakeHunt at Tarague Beach.

The all-ages event was organized to teach community members about the adverse impacts the invasive snake has on Guam’s ecosystem. Lessons also included how to identify, safely handle, and humanely dispatch the invasive reptile.

Attendees crowded outreach tables setup by sustainability partners including the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services (USDA-WS) to see the snake up-close and learn about native species that they are collectively trying to protect.

Caley Jay Chargualaf, an event organizer with ICL, emphasized, “When you look at the broader picture, you can see the connections in our ecosystem, from the birds and pollinators to the forests and native plant species they support. That’s what we want to share here at this event—that there’s a significant cause and effect between invasive species’ presence and native species’ absence.”

Despite inclement weather, the two-part event saw 60 attendees with dozens of guests putting their new-found skills to use in the snake hunt held later that night.
Allison Kelley, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) working on the Asan Beach Park Restoration Project, helped lead the evening snakehunt. Kelly noted that a component of successful invasive species control relies on strong community support and participation.

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) has caused the reduction in local avian populations since its accidental introduction to Guam shortly after World War II.

Another event partner, supervisory biologist Charlene Hopkins from USDA-WS added, “The more people that understand these invasive threats, the better chance we have of mitigating them in Guam and preventing them from spreading to other Pacific islands.”

Community members interested in supporting brown treesnake control can volunteer with the Friends of Islan Dåno’ by emailing olympia.uog@gmail.com or the Asan Beach Park Restoration Project at WAPA_RestoreAsanRidge@nps.gov.

This workshop was funded by the Department of Defense on behalf of Joint Region Marianas, Guam and the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Marianas.

For more information, visit uog.edu/cis and follow @uogcis and @uogcis.islandconservationlab on social media.

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UOG’s REEF program grows more than just knowledge base of Guam and CNMI students

UOG’s REEF program grows more than just knowledge base of Guam and CNMI students

Dominic Torres, Ale’a Duenas and Angelie Denguines present their final experiences and outcomes at the UOG campus as they wrap up their stint as Research Environmental Education Fellows.
Dominic Torres, Ale’a Duenas and Angelie Denguines present their final experiences and outcomes at the UOG campus as they wrap up their stint as Research Environmental Education Fellows.
The three fellows from Guam and the CNMI worked with Peter Houk, Ph.D. and his team at the UOG Marine Laboratory during the program. They worked with regional coral conservation efforts throughout Micronesia.
The three fellows from Guam and the CNMI worked with Peter Houk, Ph.D. and his team at the UOG Marine Laboratory during the program. They worked with regional coral conservation efforts throughout Micronesia.

Small islands do not mean small impact. Three undergraduate students born and raised on Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands stood before a room of researchers, renowned scientists, and administrators and presented their work, which they hope will have a significant impact on the Mariana Islands and beyond.

Dominic Torres, Ale’a Duenas and Angelie Denguines were all students participating in the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant’s Research and Environmental Education Fellowship (REEF).

The group worked with the Micronesia Coral Reef Monitoring’s (MCRM) Data Portal, which is built to track the health of coral reefs across the region. According to the program’s website, the MCRM is a regional program established under the Micronesia Challenge that partners with local agencies and institutions, providing standardized coral reef data, tools, and support to inform science-based management across Micronesia.

During the project, each student was assigned a different island to monitor. They used AI on the Coral Net platform to help identify and analyze the site and its coral, including their abundance and overall health.

The fellows monitored three different reefs across Yap and Kosrae, all of which showed signs of steady decline in coral populations. Water heating events in those areas are believed to be the reason for the decline.

According to Peter Houk, Ph.D., National Geographic project researcher and faculty at the UOG Marine Laboratory, who also served as the research lead for this fellowship project, monitoring of coral in the region has a lot of room to grow. Houk says this kind of coral monitoring in the islands can be a key part of the plan to bring more climate justice cases to the region and support broader conservation efforts.

For Saipan-born Torres, the research he was able to do can contribute to larger benefits for the coral populations and ocean diversity around the Marianas. “I hope the fisheries take a look at [this],” said Torres. “This data can really help to either loosen or tighten certain regulations.”

Denguines is from Guam and has never seen herself working in the coral space. She admitted that she was more interested in sea turtle and fisheries research, but that after working with coral and seeing the need for help in the research area, she sees herself doing more in that category of marine biology.

“I feel a lot of joy. I’ve never been one to go out and do these types of things. Now, knowing that this can make a huge impact globally, I feel like I want people to know more about what’s going on in our world and not just the surface level,” Denguines explained.

Duenas is a student from the CNMI who has previously participated in STEM fellowships with the NSF’s INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance, Guam NSF EPSCoR and other capacity-building programs. She believes this knowledge and data can help bring improvements and betterment to the ocean we share.

“I think it’s good for the people to know more about their reefs, and kind of dive into the causes and effects, but also what’s going on now,” said Duenas. “It’s really eye-opening. It is one thing to go out and swim and just see it with your own eyes, but it’s another to look at the data and see it all on the graphs and compare it to each other and really make those connections.”

The UOG CIS and Sea Grant REEF program is ongoing and places undergraduates with mentors in the STEM research fields.

Following their completion of the fellowship, all three students intend to complete their undergraduate studies and serve their islands and the region.

While the impact that the program term will have on ongoing conservation efforts may be measurable, according to the fellows, the impacts the program can have for the STEM workforce in the region are endless.

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A Closer Look: G3CC Island Beautification Tour – Tamuning

Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.

A Closer Look: G3CC Island Beautification Tour - Tamuning

Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.
Picture of the G3 Conservation Corps at the Island Beautification event in Tamuning.

True leadership isn’t defined by the strategies we write on paper; it is proven by the work we are willing to do when our community needs us most. 

Looking at these moments from our recent Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps Village Beautification, we are reminded that sustainable progress requires a profound willingness to get our hands dirty. True resilience isn’t passive. It’s an active, daily choice to show up, clear the debris, and build back stronger.

When we look at the systemic challenges facing our environments and communities today, it is easy to get lost in high-level policy and long-term targets. But as we work side-by-side moving heavy debris, sorting materials, and restoring our local spaces, a fundamental truth became clear: global goals only succeed through localized, boots-on-the-ground execution.

Sustainable development isn’t just about preserving what we have; it’s about establishing a circular, resilient mindset that can weather any storm. It’s about looking at a pile of waste and seeing a logistical challenge to be solved, or looking at a blocked pathway and seeing an opportunity for community renewal.

No titles, no egos—just a shared vision for a greener, more sustainable future, one heavy lift at a time.

Leadership is a action verb. Let’s keep moving forward.

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UOG CIS and Sea Grant awards more than $700K for research addressing Micronesia’s coastal challenges

Researcher Reveal Panel

UOG CIS and Sea Grant awards more than $700K for research addressing Micronesia’s coastal challenges

Researcher Reveal Panel
From left, Kyle Mandapat, MBA, UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Associate Director for Communications and Community Engagement; Chris Yeo, Ph.D.; Ernesto Guades, Ph.D.; Fran Castro, MSc, UOG CIS & Sea Grant Associate Director for Operations and Development; Monique Storie, Ph.D., UOG Vice Provost of Academic Excellence, Graduate Studies, and Online Learning; Yong Sang Kim, Ph.D.; Austin Shelton, Ph.D., UOG CIS & Sea Grant Director; Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, Ph.D., Dean of the UOG College of Natural & Applied Sciences; and Phillip Cruz, UOG CIS & Sea Grant Program Leader, pose for a photo during the announcement of the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding at the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center on Thursday.

From stormwater management and groundwater pollution to coral reef conservation and coastal erosion protection, six new research projects at the University of Guam are set to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Guam and the wider Micronesian region.

The projects were selected as recipients of the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding, with more than $709,000 in grants awarded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program to support innovative, community-focused scientific research tied to the region’s coastal resources.

UOG Vice Provost of Academic Excellence, Graduate Studies, and Online Learning Monique Storie, Ph.D., congratulated the awardees and highlighted the university’s role in supporting research that benefits the community. “Thank you for joining us here today as we get ready to start another great cycle of important research that will have great impacts on our island and on our community,” she said.

The announcement was made Thursday at the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center. For this cycle, a total of 11 research proposals underwent a two-tier panel review process before final selection.

Below are the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant competitive research awardees:

      • Rui Zeng, Ph.D. — Improving Infiltration Chamber Designs for Enhanced Coastal Resilience and Stormwater Management in Guam
      • Chris Yeo, Ph.D. and Seung-Buhm Woo, Ph.D. — Integrated Modeling of Land-Based Pollutant Discharge and its Coastal Marine Impact for Guam’s Coral Reef Conservation
      • Ernesto Guades, Ph.D. — Seawater-based Concrete Wall with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Guam Coastal Erosion Protection
      • Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D. and Pablo De la Vega — Characterization of Microbiome Interaction Networks across Kingdoms and Ecosystems
      • Yong Sang Kim, Ph.D. and David J. Yu, Ph.D. — Integrated Resilience-Building Approach for Addressing Water Pollution and Extreme Weather Stressors on Guam’s Water Resources
      • Laurie Raymundo, Ph.D. — Transitioning the Malesso Coral Ocean Nursery to a Nursery and Spawning Hub

UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D, said the federal funding allows the university to invest directly into locally relevant scientific innovations. “We’re both a Land Grant and a Sea Grant institution, that means that we have to ensure that our university is delivering public value, doing science and bringing it out into the community in ways that are useful, usable, and understandable,” he said.

Several awardees shared how their projects aim to address environmental challenges facing Guam and the wider Micronesian region. 

Yeo highlighted the importance of protecting Guam’s natural resources from pollution and climate-related impacts. “This work is intended to support the information about decisions and strengthen conservation efforts and protect long-term resilience of Guam’s coastal area, Guam’s reef and Guam’s coastal community,” he said.

Guades said his project will explore stronger and more sustainable coastal protection materials. “We usually use concrete and steel (for retaining walls)…But the problem with steel is once saltwater intrudes, it weakens.” He added, “And so what I’m going to do for this project is to develop materials from concrete and fiber reinforced polymers. They are suitable because it doesn’t corrode.”

Chris Yeo, Ph.D.
Chris Yeo, Ph.D., one of the six recipients, speaks during the announcement of the UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding for 2026–2028.
Ernesto Guades, Ph.D.
Ernesto Guades, Ph.D., one of the six recipients, speaks during the announcement of the UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding for 2026–2028.

Meanwhile, Kim said his research will examine the links between water pollution, public health, and coastal contamination, “Since I joined UOG over eight years, I focused on water pollution, focusing on groundwater, I mean the NGLA (Northern Guam Lens Aquifer). But I wondered, water pollution issue is not only water pollution because we drink water, so that means it causes health effects. And also all groundwater flow toward coastal areas.”

The competitive research initiative has expanded significantly over the years according to UOG CIS & Sea Grant Associate Director for Operations and Development Fran Castro, MSc. She added that the latest funding cycle attracted researchers from across multiple disciplines. “These just really elevate our program here on Guam,” she said. “We keep moving in a direction where we keep increasing our resources so that we know more about our island and we give back more to our community.”

Yong Sang Kim, Ph.D.
Yong Sang Kim, Ph.D., one of the six recipients, speaks during the announcement of the UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding for 2026–2028.
Fran Castro, MSc
Fran Castro, MSc, UOG CIS & Sea Grant Associate Director for Operations and Development, speaks during the announcement of the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding at the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center on Thursday. Castro oversees the competitive research funding program, which supports scientific projects addressing critical environmental and coastal challenges across Guam and Micronesia.
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G3 Conservation Corps steps up for Sinlaku relief

G3CC members and volunteers posing at LBJ Elementary School

G3 Conservation Corps steps up for Sinlaku relief

G3CC members and volunteers posing at LBJ Elementary School
Members of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps work alongside community volunteers at a donation drive for Super Typhoon Sinlaku at LBJ Elementary School in Tamuning, supporting relief efforts for affected communities across Micronesia.

As communities across Micronesia recover from the impacts of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, members of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC) are proving that sustainability work goes far beyond environmental projects—it is also about showing up in times of crisis.

On Thursday, the corps joined a multi-organization donation drive at LBJ Elementary School in Tamuning, supporting relief efforts led by the Ayuda Foundation alongside partners Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Guahan Sustainable Culture, Guam Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and other groups such as PBS Guam, Breaking Wave Theater Company. 

“Small steps make a bigger impact,” said G3CC coordinator Joseph Certeza.

While the work focused mainly on collecting and organizing donations, G3CC also applied its sustainability lens to the operation, by looking at the waste reduction and resource recovery aspect of the process.

“Right now, we’ve been supporting big time and making sure the space is clean by removing all the trash, dropping to the dumps since we have that capacity. And we’re actually looking through all of the clothes here so that we can play our part and not let these clothes go to waste and go into the dumps,” Certeza said.

In a continuation of that effort, the team is working to extend the life of donated goods.

“So we’re going to wash them ourselves at G3CC and then we’re going to give it back to this donation drive so that actually can serve the communities in need as well.”

The Conservation Corps’ involvement is part of a broader week-long mobilization across Guam. The team also assisted in a commodities and food distribution drive in Yigo, where members packaged around 400 bags of food and supplies and distributed a similar number to the community.

“So for this past week, we’re really mobilizing our G3CC and doing as much relief support, whether it’s being connected with the lieutenant governor’s office, or supporting different organizations,” Certeza said.

The donation drive also drew support from student volunteers, including members of the Ocean Guardian School program at John F. Kennedy High School. Advisor Carolyn Haruo said their participation was driven by a shared desire to help.

“So, we saw their (Ayuda Foundation, MCCA) post about it and we saw what they were doing and so we decided that that would be the organization that we were going to come and help with,” Haruo said.

For student volunteer Sean Matthew Goh, the experience was both meaningful and motivating.

“It actually feels amazing because while we’re helping other people and it feels good as a student and also as a person that you know that you’re helping other people and also while meeting other people, you can socialize more and have more friends and have one same goal and work towards it,” Goh said.

For G3CC member Abcde Tapia, the relief work offered both personal growth and a deeper understanding of service.

“At the end of the day, I feel very honored to be given this opportunity, and to take a new knowledge. I’ve never moved pallets before, or used these equipments, and I get a sense or idea of the next time I donate, how can I better prepare… how I could alleviate some of the work needed to be done,” Tapia said. 

The G3 Conservation Corps is part of the broader Guam Green Growth initiative, a public-private partnership led by the University of Guam and the Office of the Governor that advances sustainability solutions and helps build a green economy for the island. Within this initiative, G3CC  serves as a workforce development program that trains individuals in sustainability practices while preparing them for careers in Guam’s emerging green economy. Members gain hands-on experience in areas such as conservation, waste reduction, and community engagement—skills that translate directly into disaster response and recovery efforts.

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GVB commits to strengthening sustainability efforts for Guam’s future

GVB commits to strengthening sustainability efforts for Guam’s future

GVB President & CEO Regine Biscoe Lee signs an MOU with the University of Guam's Guam Green Growth organization on Friday as UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez (L) and Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero (R) look on.
GVB President & CEO Regine Biscoe Lee signs an MOU with the University of Guam's Guam Green Growth organization on Friday as UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez (L) and Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero (R) look on.
GVB signed an MOU with UOG’s G3 on Friday at the Conference on Island Sustainability held at the Hyatt Regency Guam.  Seated (L-R): UOG President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, GVB President & CEO Regine Biscoe Lee, Governor of Guam Lourdes Leon Guerrero;  Standing (L-R):  GVB Director of Finance Rudd Gudmalin, GVB Director of Research Christian Valencia, UOG Vice President of Finance Dr.Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, UOG Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Sharleen Santos Bamba, Director of UOG Sea Grant and CIS Dr. Austin Shelton, Lt. Governor of Guam Joshua Tenorio, G3 Project Associate Jaret Castro, and G3 Action Framework Coordinator Camarin Quitugua.
GVB signed an MOU with UOG’s G3 on Friday at the Conference on Island Sustainability held at the Hyatt Regency Guam.  Seated (L-R): UOG President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, GVB President & CEO Regine Biscoe Lee, Governor of Guam Lourdes Leon Guerrero;  Standing (L-R):  GVB Director of Finance Rudd Gudmalin, GVB Director of Research Christian Valencia, UOG Vice President of Finance Dr.Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, UOG Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Sharleen Santos Bamba, Director of UOG Sea Grant and CIS Dr. Austin Shelton, Lt. Governor of Guam Joshua Tenorio, G3 Project Associate Jaret Castro, and G3 Action Framework Coordinator Camarin Quitugua.

MOU formalizes collaboration with UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant – Guam Green Growth

(Tumon, Guam) – Today, the Guam Visitors Bureau announced the signing of its memorandum of understanding with the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (UOG CIS), Sea Grant, and Guam Green Growth (G3) at Hyatt Regency Guam in Tumon during UOG CIS’s weeklong Conference on Sustainability.

GVB President and CEO Régine Biscoe Lee penned the MOU with G3 Steering Committee Co-Chair Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio and Dr. Austin Shelton, G3 Steering Committee Co-Chair and Director of UOG CIS & Sea Grant. The document spells out the MOU alliance’s commitment “to effectively promote and develop the island of Guam as a safe, satisfying, and sustainably oriented destination.”

“The UOG CIS & Sea Grant – G3 partnership embodies the collaborative approach and community action GVB envisions for the future of Guam’s visitor industry,” Biscoe Lee said.

The Guam Green Growth public-private partnership is Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s answer to the United Nations’ call for communities all over the world to activate the international peace, security and cooperation organization’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). G3 is facilitated by UOG CIS and Sea Grant.

As a signature event of UOG’s Center for Island Sustainability, the Conference on Island Sustainability is a once-a-year gathering bringing together leaders, scientists, policymakers, and community members to collaborate on solutions to unique sustainability challenges facing island communities.

Green alliance

Today, as a destination management organization that demonstrates its devotion to sustainable practices daily, GVB formally commits its resources to advancing the objectives of the UOG CIS & Sea Grant – G3 partnership.

“Sustainability is not just a global conversation—it is a local responsibility,” Biscoe Lee said. “For Guam, it means protecting our natural resources, preserving our culture, and strengthening our economy in ways that lift all boats.”

“Through a host of current and planned initiatives, GVB and its collaborators will continue to support the G3 movement to develop and deliver tangible solutions to sustainability challenges while doing our best to contribute to the full resilience of a green economy for our island and the region,” Biscoe Lee added.

“We’re moving our island toward a sustainable future,” Shelton said. “The visitor industry is really important to the economy. The conversation has been about regenerative tourism, about making sure that our destinations are authentic, connected to the place, connected to the people for the land. And I’m really pleased that the Guam Visitors Bureau believes in this and is moving forward with our memorandum of understanding for the Guam Green Growth initiative.

“We’re now going to be able to assist the Guam Visitors Bureau and their members in helping to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in locally and culturally effective ways. And that means we bring in the resources that we have. Our team with the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps, our team with the Guam Green Growth Action Framework, and we’ll work closely with the Guam Visitors Bureau team to make sure that the efforts attract tourists and that we’re incorporating these values of our island and the values of island sustainability to move all of that forward.”

For more information about the G3 initiative, visit www.guamgreengrowth.org

For more about Guam Visitors Bureau – www.guamvisitorsbureau.com

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CIS2026 FRIDAY: Rethinking ocean waste in the Pacific

CIS2026 FRIDAY: Rethinking ocean waste in the Pacific

Marine biologist Mafalda Gentil Martins Seiz de Freitas presents at the 17th Conference on Island Sustainability on Friday, sharing her work on marine debris in the Pacific and innovative efforts to transform ocean waste into reusable materials for island communities.

At the 17th Conference on Island Sustainability, marine biologist Mafalda Gentil Martins Seiz de Freitas delivered a presentation grounded in urgency and innovation, drawing directly from her work addressing marine debris across the Pacific.

De Freitas, megaplastics program director at Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, began by describing the essential role of oceans in sustaining life and livelihoods. “A healthy ocean is fundamental to the life on earth. It sustains millions of jobs worldwide, it feeds billions of people worldwide, and it renegades our climate,” she said.

At the same time, she emphasized the mounting pressures facing marine ecosystems. “Our oceans are at risk and under increasing stress,” she said, pointing to overfishing, climate change, and widespread pollution as key drivers.

She said these global challenges are especially visible in the Hawaiian Archipelago, where geography makes the islands particularly vulnerable. Due to its proximity to the North Pacific Garbage Patch, Hawai‘i experiences a constant influx of debris carried by ocean currents.

“Contrary to popular belief, the North Pacific Garbage Patch is not a physical island that you can live on,” de Freitas explained. “It is more of a soup that wobbles back and forth between the Hawaiian islands and the U.S. mainland.” As this “soup” shifts, the islands act as a natural trap, accumulating large volumes of waste along their shores.

“What does this look like when it reaches Hawaii? It looks like this. Huge accumulations of nets, lines, hard plastic mesh,” she said. Over time, this material breaks down further: “If you’re to go to any wooded beach on the Hawaiian islands, you will find microplastic pollution in the sand.”

The consequences extend beyond environmental damage. Marine debris impacts tourism, fisheries, and community safety. “Nobody wants to go to a beach that’s filled with marine debris or just not clean and risk becoming entangled themselves in marine debris,” she said.

Disposal presents another major challenge. “In Hawaii, there is no commercial plastic recycling at all,” de Freitas noted. “Everything gets landfilled or incinerated.” For island communities, she added, expanding landfills is not a viable long-term solution.

Marine biologist Mafalda Gentil Martins Seiz de Freitas presents at the 17th Conference on Island Sustainability on Friday, sharing her work on marine debris in the Pacific and innovative efforts to transform ocean waste into reusable materials for island communities.

In response, de Freitas and a coalition of partners launched a multi-stage initiative supported by the Hawaii Sea Grant. The effort spans detection, removal, processing, and research, all aimed at both managing and preventing marine debris.

One key component is a fishing gear bounty program that incentivizes recovery efforts at sea. “Since the beginning in 2022, we have removed over 191,000 pounds from the Pacific Ocean and intercepted it, preventing it from washing up on the reefs and our shorelines,” she said.

Once debris is collected, the next step is understanding its origins. “We need to sort it to understand what is it? Where does it come from? What kind of gear is it?” she explained. Through detailed analysis, her team found that “over 80% of what washes up on our shores is direct fishing gear,” much of it from outside Hawai‘i.

“If you know the nets and you know the plastic, then you can know the source and type of fisheries that uses them,” she said, describing how material composition helps trace debris back to specific fishing practices and regions.

But the work does not stop at identification. A central goal of the initiative is to transform waste into usable materials, creating a circular economy model for island communities.

“So how can we now use it for good? How can we turn this trash into a local treasure that has copies for our community?” she asked.

Among the solutions being tested are infrastructure applications. “We have incorporated our drone fishing gear, HDPE tool nets, into asphalt road products,” she said, describing pilot projects that integrate recycled plastics into road construction. Another effort focuses on converting debris into plastic lumber for uses like fencing and decking.

“These trials… just goes to show that it is possible to make a circular economy with marine debris at the source,” she said.

Beyond innovation, de Freitas emphasized the broader implications for island resilience and self-sufficiency. “As we talk about resilience and prosperity… being able to empower local communities to use their waste for local goods, their infrastructure, is really important,” she said.

 
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CIS2026 FRIDAY:  Featured speaker at sustainability conference turns waste into opportunity

CIS2026 FRIDAY:  Featured speaker at sustainability conference turns waste into opportunity

“And I think a lot of us, across island communities, are standing in that same proverbial space, surrounded by opportunity, but calling it waste.”

That reflection from William Castillo anchored his presentation at the 17th UOG Conference on Island Sustainability, where he was featured as a speaker sharing perspectives on value-added agriculture and economic resilience for island communities. Castillo is an associate professor and director of workforce development at Leeward Community College, where he leads initiatives that link education, workforce training, and entrepreneurship.

He shared a personal account of returning to Guam after Super Typhoon Sinlaku, arriving to find his family’s yard—like many across the island—covered in debris. Instead of beginning cleanup right away, his family waited for him to arrive. “Apparently, the recovery plan for us was let’s not touch anything outside until Will gets home,” he said.

What began as a familiar post-storm cleanup turned into a broader reflection on how value is perceived in everyday life and in island economies.

Castillo challenged conventional thinking around agriculture and resilience, raising a central question for island communities: “How do we diversify our economy? How do we reduce our reliance on tourism, and build something more resilient?”

He noted that while these concerns feel urgent, they are not new. Historically, Pacific islands like Guam and Hawai‘i sustained themselves through strong local food systems.“In other words, we already know how to do this. But somewhere along the way, we lost it.”

Today, one of the biggest challenges remains the gap between production and market access.

“A significant portion of what commercial farmers grow, some estimates say as much as 60%, never gets to the market… Not because it isn’t good, or it doesn’t taste good, or there’s no value. It’s because it isn’t the picture-perfect, grade-A produce that distributors or markets want.”

Rather than accepting loss as inevitable, Castillo emphasized value-added agriculture as a solution—turning surplus and imperfect crops into new economic opportunities. “A system where we can take off-grade produce, instead of turning it into waste, it’s a starting point for a new product. A new business. A new revenue stream for farmers.”

He illustrated this shift with a simple example,“Take that mountain apple… Same fruit. Vastly different story. Completely different value.”

At the center of this approach is the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center in Hawai‘i, which supports farmers and entrepreneurs in developing, producing, and scaling food products. Through technical training, equipment access, and mentorship, the center helps bridge ideas to market-ready businesses.

“We’ve built the center to lower the barriers to entry and have creativity take over and opportunity thrive.”

Castillo also emphasized that innovation must be paired with solutions to structural challenges, particularly geographic isolation and export limitations.

“When we’re so far from our end customers, everything we sell has to cross the ocean… And crossing the ocean takes time. Time costs money.”

To address this, his team has supported technologies such as High Pressure Processing (HPP), which significantly extends product shelf life without compromising quality. “Shelf life doesn’t just preserve the product, it unlocks the market.”

With longer shelf life, island-produced goods can access regional and global markets, expanding opportunity beyond local boundaries. “Because opportunity shouldn’t stop at the shoreline.”

For Castillo, sustainability is not only environmental—it is also economic and social, rooted in systems that strengthen communities.“Because sustainability for us isn’t just environmental. It’s economic. It’s about building systems that allow families and communities to thrive.”

He closed by returning to the idea that shaped his opening reflection, tying together personal experience and broader systems change: “And so maybe the question isn’t just how we clean up after the storm. But it’s what we choose to do with what’s left behind… Because opportunity doesn’t always arrive as a great product. Sometimes it shows up scattered across the ground, looking like waste. And it’s up to us to decide whether we’re going to throw it away or turn it into something.”

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CIS2026 THURSDAY: Educators call for reimagined prosperity rooted in Pacific Futures at Sustainability Conference

CIS2026 THURSDAY: Educators call for reimagined prosperity rooted in Pacific Futures at Sustainability Conference

Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, Ph.D., founder and executive director of Finafinau and 2021 Teacher of the Year for American Samoa, speaks during the 17th UOG Conference on Island Sustainability, sharing reflections on Pacific resilience, prosperity, and the responsibility to future generations.

“Because for us in the Pacific, resilience is not a trend,” said Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, Ph.D., founder and executive director of Finafinau, one of two educators at the forefront of Pacific scholarship and advocacy who served as featured speakers, framing the emotional and political weight of island resilience in the face of ongoing environmental and social challenges.

Suluai-Mahuka, a 2021 Teacher of the Year awardee for American Samoa and Kenneth Gofigan Kuper, Ph.D., associate professor of Political Science, CHamoru Studies, and Micronesian Studies at the UOG, served as featured speakers on Thursday at the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability 

Drawing from her experiences as an educator, mother, and advocate, she emphasized how deeply personal her connection to sustainability work has become. Reflecting on her daughter’s relationship with environmental storytelling and the ocean, she shared, “But somehow, the ocean became her safe space.” Her remarks culminated in a powerful reframing of development discourse, declaring, “Prosperity is not extraction.”

Suluai-Mahuka used her platform to challenge conventional definitions of progress, warning against systems that prioritize economic growth at the expense of culture, consent, and ecological integrity. Her message stressed that sustainability must be rooted in protection, care, and intergenerational responsibility.

Kuper’s presentation complemented these themes through a futures-focused lens, examining uncertainty, governance, and the moral responsibilities tied to decision-making in the present. He began with a stark reflection on global anxieties, stating, “Most of the time the future scares me. Sometimes the future distracts me far too much from the present.”

Kenneth Gofigan Kuper, Ph.D., associate professor of Political Science, CHamoru Studies, and Micronesian Studies at the University of Guam, presents at the 17th UOG Conference on Island Sustainability, discussing futures thinking, agency, and the role of island communities in shaping sustainable pathways forward.

Throughout his talk, Kuper challenged audiences to reconsider power structures and agency in island contexts. “We must not be afraid of power,” he said, emphasizing the importance of institutions and decision-making authority remaining in the hands of island communities.

Despite addressing difficult global realities, including climate change and geopolitical inequities, he maintained a message grounded in hope and responsibility. “I am not subscribed to a pessimism about the world,” he said, reinforcing the importance of choosing optimism as an active practice rather than passive sentiment.

He closed with a reminder of what is at stake for the next generation, stating, “Our kids do not deserve despair.” His remarks called for intentional investment in futures thinking, education, and systems that empower rather than exclude island communities from shaping their own destinies.

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