APRIL 2026

UOG brings critically endangered håyun lågu back to the wild

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Natural Resources division, alongside the Guam Preservation Trust (GPT) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), hosted an outplanting event at the Atantåno Heritage Preserve in the village of Santa Rita.

The planting event focused on bringing the critically endangered Serianthes nelsonii, an endemic tree species found only on Guam and Rota, back to the wild. Locally, it is known as “håyun lågu” in Guam and “tronkon guåfi” in Rota.

Associate Director for UOG CIS & Sea Grant’s Natural Resources division, Else Demeulenaere, Ph.D., has been working alongside her team in the Island Conservation Lab (ICL) to return the Serianthes nelsonii seedlings back to its natural habitat.

“Our program manager Vince Fabian and I acquired tronkon guåfi seeds from the island of Rota with the help of Rota Forestry, who were instrumental in our team being able to bring these seedlings to Atantåno,” said Demeulenaere.

Additionally, Demeulenaere says that although the Serianthes nelsonii in both Guam and Rota are similar, they have unique genotypes that differentiate those found on one island from the other.

According to Fabian, Serianthes nelsonii once grew throughout southern Guam but today, are critically rare due in part to heavy damage from insect pests that attack the trees at vulnerable stages.

“The team added pest cages around every single tree to give them a fighting chance,” said Fabian. “Interns play an important role in this effort, helping monitor the trees regularly and contributing to the long-term recovery of the species.”

According to Demeulenaere, partnerships and collaborations with sustainability partners like Rota Forestry, GPT and the community at large are imperative to the success of projects such as this. “Public access and regular hikes at Atantåno help connect people with the islands’s natural resources and strengthen stewardship.”

OTHER NEWS

G3 solidifies partnership with GVB at CIS2026

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.

Students, educators, and families gathered this past weekend at the University of Guam (UOG) Science Building to celebrate innovation and discovery at the 48th Guam Islandwide Science Fair, marking another successful year for one of the island’s longest-running academic events.

Held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, the fair featured a full day of project exhibitions following a Friday evening setup that transformed the venue into a hub of scientific exploration. Participants from across Guam—representing elementary, middle, and high schools—presented research and experiments spanning a wide range of disciplines.

Over 314 projects competed in categories including ecology and earth science, physical science and mathematics, biology and medical science, chemistry, energy and sustainability, and computer science, aerospace, robotics, and engineering.

Guam reaffirmed its push toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future this week with a renewed commitment to the Blue Planet Alliance’s 100 x 100 campaign, reinforcing the island’s long-term goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2045.

The recommitment comes at a critical moment for the island, as recovery efforts continue following Super Typhoon Sinlaku—the strongest storm recorded globally in 2026—bringing renewed attention to the connection between energy resilience and disaster preparedness, according to the Governor’s office.

The reaffirmation was formalized during the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability, hosted by the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant. The signing ceremony brought together Gov. Lou A. Leon Guerrero, Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, and Blue Planet Alliance Executive Director Francois Rogers, marking what organizers described as a “concrete action” emerging from the conference discussions on island-led climate solutions.

School librarians from across Guam visited the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub at the CHamoru Village as part of the 2026 Guam Department of Education (GDOE) Annual Library Conference, a professional development event designed to strengthen library services and expand learning opportunities for students across the island.

Organized under the leadership of conference chairperson Dolores Rosario, a librarian at Tiyan High School, the annual conference provides librarians with opportunities to learn about new resources, explore innovative tools, and build partnerships that support student learning.

The G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub serves as a collaborative space where community members, students, and educators can access tools, training, and resources that encourage innovation, sustainability, and hands-on learning.

A collective of local famålao’an filmmakers have partnered with the Guam Museum’s HITA Talk series and will debut the Film Fiesta’s 7 short films at the museum’s indoor theater on Saturday, May 31, 2026 at 2pm.

The free event will be held in collaboration with the Heritage, Ideas, Traditions, Arts (HITA) Talk series held monthly by the Guam Museum Foundation.

The Film Fiesta is made up of works from local artists Tonya Dee McDaniel, Maria Sol Dueñas Marques, Yusra Khuja, Hokule’a Naomi Santos, Trinity Cando Feliciano and Dawn Lynne Fortuna Pechberty.

According to McDaniel, the presentation will showcase the diversity of Guam’s talent and people while highlighting the depth of art and storytelling our culture is known for.

“We liken our collection of short films to the variety of dishes that you’d find at the modern CHamoru fiesta table which come together to create an all-encompassing and unique experience,” said McDaniel. “This will be a multimedia showcase featuring digital collage, stop-motion animated, 2D digitally drawn animated and live-action short films.”

According to the group, the 7 short films will center on CHamoru cultural values such as environmental stewardship and seeking guidance from our asaina or ancestors in the hope of inspiring and creating solutions for our manhoben or youth.

Following the screenings a facilitated panel will be hosted featuring the filmmakers with an open questions and answers format included.

A total of 20 students across both the University of Guam and Guam Community College will spend their year as undergraduate student research fellows for the Guam National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Guam NSF EPSCoR) E-CORE (Optimizing Research Infrastructure on Guam)/ GECCO (Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium for Corals and Oceans) and INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance programs.

The Student Research Experience (SRE) provides students with interest in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) the opportunity to work alongside a faculty research mentor and receive guidance for their own research projects, with the support of a monthly stipend.

This program is designed to build sustainable research infrastructure cores within NSF EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions to improve the overall research ecosystem, foster innovation, and promote economic growth.

Throughout the program, student researchers will meet with faculty mentors on a recurring basis to engage in various research projects. This includes lab and field work ranging from plant pathology, marine biology, entomology, civil engineering, and more.

FEATURED COLUMNS

Stories Rooted In Nature:

Preparing our rare plant nursery for Super Typhoon Sinlaku

I am writing this on Monday evening, April 13, 2026, as we lose power and Super Typhoon Sinlaku enters the Mariana Islands.

My thoughts drift north, toward Rota, Saipan, and Tinian, where the storm’s strongest winds are expected to pass. Typhoon Mawar is still fresh in our memory, and our forests are still recovering.

At the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability’s Island Conservation Lab, we are in the middle of restoration work. More than 10,000 native and endangered plants are growing in our rare plant nurseries, each one part of a longer effort to restore forests across Guam and the region. Preparing for a typhoon means preparing for all of them.

1 Island, 1 Future:

From dialogue to action: The evolution of the University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability

Island communities sit at the frontlines of global change, facing rising seas, limited resources and increasing environmental pressures. Over the past 17 years, the University of Guam’s Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS) has grown into a leading platform where these challenges are not only discussed but actively addressed. Its evolution reflects a broader shift in sustainability itself, from awareness to action, and from local conversations to global collaboration.

Videobyte: Take a tour of the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

SNAPSHOTS!

Supporting Recovery: Following the passing of Supertyphoon Sinlaku, the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps was out in the community assisting with relief efforts. The group worked with partners for debris removal, commodities packing and delivering and more.

Science of the future: The Islandwide Science Fair celebrated its 48th successful event this year with the awards ceremony at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa. Organizers presented certificates and prizes to the top finishers per division and overall winners too.

Earth Month Tasted Good: Slingstone Coffee and Tea Company made a donation to the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant following the sales of special drinks during Earth Month. The proceeds came as the group wrapped up April sales of the Honey Comb Foam Latte and the Wild Lemongrass Cooler which were served at all Slingstone Coffee locations.