UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant donates fish to Mangilao Mayor’s Office

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As part of recovery efforts post super typhoon Mawar, the University of Guam Sea Grant’s aquaculture program stepped up to help its own community by donating fresh tilapia to the Mangilao Mayor’s Office on Friday, May 26.

UOG Sea Grant harvested the fish stocks from its recirculating aquaculture system adjacent to the UOG Center for Island Sustainability nursery. The system serves as a model for non-profit and community-based organizations who are interested in starting their own backyard aquaculture systems.

UOG Sea Grant also partnered with the UOG Cooperative Extension and Outreach Office, whose team harvested tilapia from their own aquaculture tanks for the community donation.

UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant director Austin Shelton said that while the aquaculture program was launched to increase food security on island, program efforts are also focused on providing urgent relief for communities affected by a typhoon or any disaster.

“After a super typhoon, this is the time that the island needs food security the most. We are happy to get our tilapia fish out into the community to those who need it most, in this time of need” he said.

After the team harvested and prepared the tilapia, UOG Sea Grant aquaculture specialist Dave Crisostomo said, “This is our way of trying to give back and make sure that we don’t waste what we have and provide some food to the people in the community,” Crisostomo said.

“Food security and resiliency has come out to be the top priority now. So, all of these projects that we are doing for aquaculture and aquaponics are geared towards this goal,” Crisostomo added.

After receiving the donation, Mangilao Vice Mayor Kevin Delgado said “Programs are devised to prepare the people for something greater — to provide food and sustainability — at times when it matters the most, especially, during a storm. And to share the fruits of their labor makes the program very rewarding. We are honored that we are able to avail of the harvest.”

“When we announced it, they (the community) were excited. Not because it was free but because it was something that they could provide for their family,” Delgado added.

UOG Sea Grant started the aquaculture program to accelerate the local aquaculture industry by promoting practices that combine traditional knowledge with modern techniques.

The long-term goal of the program is to contribute to the island’s food security and sustainability. The Office of the Governor and the Governor’s Aquaculture Task Force are strategic partners in achieving this goal.

UOG Sea Grant’s aquaculture program promotes Goal 14 (Life Below Water) of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and marine resources for development. In addition, sustainable and long-term growth in the aquaculture industry could also contribute to achieving Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) of the UN SDGs.

May 18, 2023December 31, 2024

G3CC Recap – Island Beautification – Mural Prep

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The G3 Conservation Corps had another week packed with diverse activities designed to enhance and protect Guahan’s natural resources.

A highlight for several of the members was assisting the G3 Art Corps with preparation of walls in Dededo, Yona, Malesso, Sinajana for the artists to paint their murals. “We pressure washed and primed the walls so the artists would have a good foundation in place when they start the murals,” said Ciara Taijeron.

“All the activities we took part in this week were equally important and needed,” explained Cassie Bordallo. She also mentioned she finds some of the activities challenging and that she feels blessed to have this opportunity be a part of the Corps.

The best part of the week for Zeraih Blas was working with the Art Corps team preparing walls for the murals and learning the basics of what it takes to paint one. “It will be exciting to see the murals completed and to be able to say we helped set it up,” he said.

Jace Blas really enjoyed working with Kie Susuico and Joey Certeza from the Art Corps at the Sinajana mayor’s office. “Meeting the new artisans and working with them to provide beautiful artwork for the community and the island was the best.”

Michael Herbert found working with Teddy and the GROW team in the Ugum watershed restoration very important. “We see the need to stay consistent with the work there. We have seen the progress and the potential of bringing back native plants,” he enthused.

Connor Law really appreciated the kindness and support from the community when they were in Sinajana with the Art Corps. “We get a chance to meet a whole range of people working with G3; political leaders, artists, conservationists, people who care about the environment, and people who want to learn more about what we are doing,” Law said.

This week’s amazing opportunity for Michael Torres was cleaning the area of an ancient latte site. “It wasn’t something the Corps usually does, but we enjoyed it very much. The haligi and the tasa were huge. We visited three or four sets of latte houses. It was an awesome experience to have with the Corps. We would love to experience more things like that around the cultural aspects of sustainability and conservation,” he said.

The epic moment for Laura Layan was when she created a firebreak by clearing vegetation to reduce the spread of wildfires in the Ugum watershed for the GROW team.

Ken Manibusan, who handles maintenance for the Ordot-Chalan Pago Mayor’s Office, assisted the G3 Conservation Corps with the village cleanup on Friday. He said, “This is my first time to experience doing a cleanup with these guys. Honestly, I am proud that they are helping Guam stay clean and I am happy to assist them.”

May 6, 2023December 31, 2024

G3 unveils Art Corps, lineup features emerging and seasoned artists

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The Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative and the University of Guam launched their inaugural Art Corps program at the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub. The G3 Art Corps aims to provide a platform for artistic expression while promoting island sustainability.

For the program’s first cohort, G3 selected eight talented artists to collectively design, plan, and execute public murals on Guam. These murals will highlight the island’s journey towards achieving sustainability by 2030, as outlined by the G3 Action Framework and the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The chosen artists include Ariel Dimalanta, Kamaka Aquino, Frank “Kie” Susuico, Corina Benavente, Baptist Bell, Ha’ani Bettis, Geraldine Datuin, and Lucille Ronquillo.

Dimalanta has decades of experience as an artist, sculptor, and publisher. While semi-retired, he decided to join the Art Corps to make a difference. “It is time to give back to the community,” he said.

Each artist will receive a stipend in exchange for participating in capacity-building activities and collaborating with the team to create the murals. For two years, two cohorts will paint 17 murals to disseminate the message of sustainability and sustainable development to a broader audience.

UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton stated that art is crucial for community engagement. “Today, we are bringing something new to the table; we have previously talked about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, Technology, Engineering, and Math before. That is about figuring out the science of our natural resources. But now we add an A in between. Art is important because this is the way that we can connect with our community.”

Meanwhile, UOG President Thomas Krise emphasized that the murals would encourage people to consider their environmental and sustainability impact. “This is another great G3 initiative,” he added.

Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio said that the project engages people and draws attention to the natural resources and beauty of the island, especially for younger generations.

The G3 Art Corps aligns with several UN SDGs, including Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and Goal 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

The Governor’s Educational Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant [Project Award S425H210004] provides support for the G3 Art Corps program.

The UOG Center for Island Sustainability was awarded $840,311.00 for the Guam Green Growth Education and G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub program as part of the Governor’s Education Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant Program.

About G3

The UOG Center for Island Sustainability facilitates Guam Green Growth, or G3, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Guam and the G3 Working Group, whose members represent all sectors of society. With the UN SDGs and G3 Action Framework as a guide, G3 develops tangible solutions to sustainability challenges and contributes to a green economy for the island region.

March 5, 2023December 31, 2024

UOG to build solar carport EV charging facility on Guam

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The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant will soon embark on a renewable energy project that would support the construction of the first public solar carport charging facility for electric vehicles on Guam.

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) has appropriated $1,539,436 under the Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) program for the initiative. The EIC program (formerly called the Empowering Insular Communities program) provides grant funding for energy strategies that reduce the cost of electricity and reduce the dependence on foreign fuels.

With the grant funding, the University will install a solar photovoltaic (PV) carport structure to offset operations of the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub at CHamoru Village. Several electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at CHamoru Village on on the UOG Campus.

Once completed, the charging stations will offer the community a convenient and publicly accessible location to power their electric vehicles, according to Austin Shelton, PhD, the director of UOG Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability. Strategically, he says, it could also cause a positive ripple effect in the community.

Shelton added that the new grant funding complements current program efforts to update the Guam strategic energy action plan. Last year, the EIC selected the UOG Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative to update the plan in partnership with the Guam Energy Office. 

“Now we will be able to lead the development of a plan to create our island’s road map to one hundred percent renewal energy by 2045 to meet the ambitious mandate of Public Law 35-46 that Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed into law in 2019,” Shelton said at a G3 meeting.

Public Law 35-46 boosts the island’s renewable energy portfolio standard by calling for increased energy production from solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources to power public and private infrastructure.

For fiscal year 2022, the OIA has appropriated a total of $9,998,823 in EIC grants for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

According to OIA, the agency has also signed an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide technical assistance in support of the territories’ continued efforts to deploy clean energy systems, improve energy security and resilience, reduce energy costs, and diversify away from dependence on petroleum-based fuels.

March 5, 2023December 31, 2024

UOG CIS and Sea Grant team work for waste free Charter Day celebration

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On March 2nd, 2023, the University of Guam held its 55th Charter Day celebration and the Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) and Sea Grant were there to initiate and implement a zero-waste festivity.

Phil Cruz, outreach coordinator with CIS and Sea Grant, was the mastermind behind the plan with execution by CIS and Sea Grant staff and volunteers from AmeriCorps UOG, EPSCoR/INCLUDES students, environmental biology students and other UOG classes.

Green and blue bins were distributed around campus labeled as to what they would hold: paper and compostable items, aluminum cans, steel cans, and landfill items. Buckets were provided for food waste and volunteers were on hand to assist people in knowing what goes where. A total of 33 volunteers from UOG classes, student organizations, and Guam EPSCoR GRAs monitored the bins.

The zero-waste fun really began in the afternoon, when AmeriCorps UOG volunteers sorted and consolidated the various types of waste. The next step was to transfer it to the appropriate locations. Bio-waste will be shredded with a wood chipper and given to the UOG CNAS Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources program to use as compost for their campus demonstration gardens. Local pig farmers got the food waste, with metal cans to be recycled through the Guam Solid Waste Authority. Aluminum cans were placed in the i*recycle bin located at the School of Education parking lot where we can all add our aluminum to recycle and make money for Guam schools. Trash destined for the landfill was gathered and left for UOG maintenance employees to remove.

“Although I couldn’t participate physically during the event due to a recent tonsillectomy, I’m so grateful to my awesome team at CIS, Sea Grant, and EPSCoR for stepping up and executing the zero waste initiative. I’m also very grateful for the support of AmeriCorps UOG Volunteer Center. Although we didn’t reach the zero waste goal (divert at least 80% of waste from the landfill), we made an impact on our fellow Tritons, visitors, and vendors through our waste diversion efforts,” said Cruz, who directed the event remotely.

AmeriCorps UOG volunteers sorted and bagged the collected waste in 55-gal bags. The total count was as follows:

· 8 bags of biodegradables

· 3 bags of aluminum cans

· 8 bags of landfill waste

· 6 5-gallon buckets of food waste.

The winners of this successful operation are many. First, the people who attended the 55th Charter Day and witnessed the attention to detail of solid waste disposal and how it can be processed so that only the bare minimum makes it to our landfill. Second, everyone onGuam benefits from having less waste traveling to our landfill so that it will be in service for many years to come and limit the need to clear additional acres of savanna.

March 5, 2023December 31, 2024

Guam Green Growth Shares Success with Region

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The Guam Green Growth (G3) Steering Committee Co-Chairs, Lt. Governor Joshua F. Tenorio and UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant Director Dr. Austin Shelton, conducted a series of presentations and discussions with President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr. and his Cabinet earlier this month. Following the success of G3 implementation projects, new funding from the Local2030 Islands Network and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will enable Guam to help neighboring islands establish their own green growth initiatives. The regional coalition will create new green industries and jobs to support a sustainable and prosperous future.

Governor of Guam Lourdes Leon Guerrero committed Guam as a founding member of the Local2030 Islands Network during the 2019 U.N. General Assembly. She then promulgated Executive Order 2019-23 to establish the G3 Working Group. G3 is now the most comprehensive public-private partnership ever created to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future for the island of Guam. The executive order appointed over 100 members from all sectors society to the working group and assigned UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant to facilitate the island-wide initiative.

“Our administration is committed to creating a sustainable future for Guam and our region. We are working to reduce vulnerabilities to external forces and improve our food security and economic prosperity through a green growth approach,” stated Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio.

“Guam Green Growth is becoming a bright spot that we are pleased to share with our island neighbors. In just a few years, we’ve launched three G3 Community Gardens, a G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub at the CHamoru Village, graduated two cohorts of G3 Conservation Corps, and more,” shared Dr. Austin Shelton.

About Guam Green Growth

Aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Guam Green Growth cultivates an ecosystem for transformative action to achieve a sustainable, prosperous, and equitable future for Guam. UOG facilitates the island-wide initiative in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Guam and the 100 members of the G3 Working Group representing all sectors of our society. To track Guam’s progress on the G3 Dashboard and to find out how you can take action on sustainability, visit www.guamgreengrowth.org.

January 10, 2023December 31, 2024

UOG Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps recruiting 12

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The University of Guam is recruiting for the third cohort of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC).

The five-month workforce development program is looking for 12 new members.

The group will be involved in weekly modules that will help prepare them for a career in the emerging green economy.

Focus areas will include renewable energy, zero waste, watershed restoration, endangered species preservation, agriculture, aquaculture, circular economy, invasive species removal, and more.

“We are excited to begin the third season of the G3 Conservation Corps,” said Director Austin J. Shelton of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant. “This program is preparing our people to enter the growing field of green jobs and help create a sustainable future for our island at the same time.”

According to program coordinator Phillip Cruz, G3 Conservation Corps gives members in-depth and in-person exposure to sustainable disciplines and work areas.

“G3CC members will literally get their hands dirty, and their feet wet, with the various activities in conservation and sustainability across the island,” said Cruz. “Experts will mentor the cohort each week, giving them hands-on experience in the various fields.”

Along with professional development opportunities, the corps can also earn 10 continuing education units (CEU) from the University of Guam’s Global Learning and Engagement program for every 10 hours worked, up to 80 for the entire five-month program.

According to Cruz, of the 12 positions available, 10 are for Conservation Corps leaders who will receive a bi-weekly stipend of $1,300 and two are for Conservation Corps supervisors who will receive a bi-weekly stipend of $1,500.

Interested individuals can apply here with applications being accepted from Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 2023.

January 3, 2023December 31, 2024

**G3 Conservation Corps alum helps grow native ifit trees at CIS**

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One of the plant nurseries at the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) is filling up with native ifit seedlings thanks to the addition of Jacob Concepcion to the team.

“Our Natural Resources division hired a recent graduate of the G3 Conservation Corps, and he is doing excellent work,” said Else Demeulenaere, associate director of CIS.

Concepcion was born and raised in Guam and remembers hearing people talking about ifit trees (the territorial tree of Guam), but he had never really seen them and did not understand the deeper cultural meaning of the tree.

It wasn’t until he worked on the Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) initiative planting seedlings that he came to know ifit trees.

Through his work at GROW, he learned about the G3 Conservation Corps and was accepted into the second cohort last March. Under the G3 program, he worked in the native plant nursery at Guam DoAg Forestry division where Pat Quenga taught him nursery skills, how to propagate seeds, and nurture native plants with fertilizer and love.

“I love planting ifit and am always on the lookout for seeds. Ifit trees are firm and strong like the people of Guam,” enthused Concepcion.

He collects seeds ifit from trees he knows around the island and germinates them in the CIS nursery. He now takes care of over 70 seedlings, preparing them for outplanting in the native reforestation projects in Guam.

Concepcion is truly grateful for all he learned while working with GROW, the G3 Conservation Corps, and for the opportunity to work outside with plants to help restore native plants in the island. CIS is grateful to have him and the enthusiasm and expertise he brings.

January 3, 2023December 31, 2024

Guam Green Growth raises ground on third community garden

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The Dededo Sports Complex is the site of the Guam Green Growth (G3) and Guahan Sustainable Culture’s (GSC) third community garden. The ground raising was held on November 1st with members of the community, dignitaries, and volunteers out to celebrate the occasion.

“Our organization is four-years old and to have this ground raising for our third garden shows how much support we have from the community, which is really encouraging,” said Michelle Crisostomo, co-founder and president of GSC.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) and Sea Grant was there in force to support and showcase the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-being, Sustainable Cities & Communities.

UOG CIS and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton commented on the meaning of the occasion, “Having the third community garden means we are making progress toward our sustainable future. The more gardens we have the more opportunities for education and examples of food security for the island to get people involved and taking action toward reducing our reliance on imported food. These gardens benefit all of us.”

Marlon Oberiano, co-founder of GSC, was inspired to give the garden a circular design after visiting the botanical gardens in Chicago. “The concentric circle design allows for expansion with the spaces between the beds wide enough for wheelbarrows and wheelchairs to pass.” She explained that a key feature of this garden is the use of repurposed materials such as concrete blocks obtained from Pacific Soils & Engineering from their PSI testing on concrete for airport tarmacs and roads. “We use the blocks to define the garden beds. The raised beds were made by our partners at Farm to Table and give access for all people to get their hands in the soil.” said Oberiano.

Guam Clearinghouse director Stephanie Flores, summarized the event perfectly, “When we consider the community first it guides us through everything we do and all that comes from that can only be good. The pandemic has taught us if the ships stop coming, we’re in big trouble. Taking care of ourselves, taking care of the land, and taking care of each other leads to a more prosperous society.”

December 12, 2022December 31, 2024

G3 and GSC launch first-ever Guam Grower’s Calendar to kick-off 2023

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The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS), Sea Grant, Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative, and the National Science Foundation EPSCoR program officially launched two community calendars for 2023 at the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub.

More than just a tool for organizing and tracking important dates, Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability, said the new calendars highlight information that promotes a land and sea approach to food sustainability.

“We import over 90 percent of all the food and goods we consume, and we want to reduce that number. The tide chart calendar shows how to catch more local fish and use our abundant local resources in our pelagic areas and the deep ocean. And with the grower’s calendar, we are showing how we can cultivate our land — starting with our own backyard — help community gardens, and bring more local food to families,” Shelton said.

The Guam Grower’s Calendar (Fanha’aniyan Manåmon Guåhan) features photos of fresh local produce. It also includes the CHamoru lunar seasons, growing tips, and pest and disease management guides. The UOG team partnered with Guåhan Sustainable Culture (GSC) for the publication.

The Tide Chart Calendar features photos of some of Guam’s best rod and reel catches, which were selected from locally submitted entries from a photo call-out in August. In addition, the calendar includes information about moon phases and sustainable fishing tips. It also features local tide charts provided by the UOG Marine Laboratory.

“Our publications team and our partners have worked hard to bring amazing information to our children and our community. This is something that we have talked about — a lot of folks are looking at ways to help people grow and catch their own food. So, both calendars are definitely going to help in those areas,” said Kyle Mandapat, assistant director for communications at Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability.

The two calendars are the first two deliverables from a UOG Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability project that focuses on developing and delivering place-based educational resources in marine, environmental, and sustainability sciences. The project received funding from the Governor’s Education Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant program.

“We are excited and appreciative about all the work that has been put into this project to be able to give locally produced materials to our students,” Sylvia Calvo, GDOE school program consultant, said at the launching.

The community can get copies of the calendars at the UOG Sea Grant office or the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub at the CHamoru Village. A digital version of the calendars can also be downloaded at uog.edu/seagrant.