By Jannice Carrasco, for KUAM News

Guam leaders and sustainability partners gathered for a proclamation signing recognizing the Guam Green Growth Initiative while sharing updates on environmental and conservation projects across the island.

Director Dr. Austin Shelton of the University of Guam says the Initiative continues to expand sustainability programs through partnerships with government, the private sector, and the community. He said, "For educational outreach and a (comet) workshop in January. So we held that at the Guam Museum, we had over 100 participants that day with some expert speakers coming in from the Marianas Trench National Monument and also deep sea (oncologist) from the University of Hawaii, so lots of information is out there."

"The other update is that I have is that we have our Guam Green Growth conservation core, it will be our sixth season starting on March 16, and it will go for about five months until the end of july, so we will be choosing and announcing very soon our 12 new conservation core members that will be getting training for five months straight full time in agricultural, aquacultural, invasive species removal, we are adding on invasive pigs, not just the brown tree snakes and invasive algae this year, installing solar panels, doing ocean conservation work and so much more."

Guam Green Growth Action Framework coordinator Camarin Quitugua says the program continues monitoring the island’s sustainability progress through data and performance indicators. She said, "Strong progress has been made towards zero hunger, good health and well being, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, reduce inequalities, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace justice and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals. Island wide commitment to the STG’s is present but currently requires stronger focus on targets related to stg for quality education, STG 6 clean water and sanitation, STG 9 industry innovation and infrastructure, and STG 11 sustainable cities and communities."

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said agencies are still reviewing public comments related to offshore mineral mining. A representative said, "BOEM is looking to change some regulations, so there is I believe a common period for that as well, sixty days and these changes include not having to consult with state and local governments at our continental shelf minerals so we are closely tracking that and getting some legal opinions as well."

Representatives from thriving natural resources also shared updates on conservation efforts, from tree planting projects to community outreach, events focused on protecting Guam’s natural resources. "And the proposal is to plant 8,000 trees over a period of five years that grant is for three hundred thousand and that we are submitting. In addition the natural resource team has been working on propagating additional native trees," she said.

Leaders say the proclamation reinforces Guam’s commitment to sustainability through continued collaboration between government, community partners, and UOG.