The Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps is a six month workforce development program supported by Kupu in Hawai’i. During the program, members are trained and hosted by agencies and programs with the intent to develop skills that can help them thrive in the emerging green economy. This photo was taken in connection with research authorized under the ESA Recovery Permit ES42195A-3 and funded by the Department of Navy on behalf of Joint Region Marianas. (Sea turtle monitoring, protection, and educational outreach on AAFB; cooperative agreement #N40192-23-2-8000)
The Guam Green Growth (G3) Conservation Corps spent a week in the field immersed in vital conservation work alongside the University of Guam (UOG) Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant’s dedicated Sea Turtle Monitoring team. Corps members received invaluable hands-on training and education focused on the preservation of Guam’s native sea turtle populations and their crucial nesting habitats.
Throughout the week, the G3 Conservation Corps actively participated in various aspects of the sea turtle monitoring program. This included spotting turtle tracks, marking nests, conducting nest inventories, and learning how the project protects endangered green turtles.
In addition to nesting surveys, G3CC also cleared survey trails and removed marine debris from nesting beaches, aiding in long-term monitoring efforts and the safety of both nesting turtles and hatchlings.
“This partnership with the G3 Conservation Corps is incredibly valuable,” said Addie Ferguson, biologist for the Sea Turtle Monitoring Project. “Their enthusiasm and willingness to learn, coupled with the manpower they provide, significantly boosts our conservation efforts. It’s inspiring to see young individuals so dedicated to protecting Guam’s haggan.”
This collaborative effort underscores the importance of community involvement in safeguarding Guam’s unique biodiversity.
By providing hands-on training and fostering a deeper understanding of local ecosystems, the partnership between the G3 Conservation Corps and the UOG Sea Grant program is cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards dedicated to the long-term health of Guam’s natural environment.
The data collected during this week will contribute to the ongoing efforts to monitor and protect Guam’s precious sea turtle populations for years to come.
This work was done in connection with research authorized under the ESA Recovery Permit ES42195A-3 and funded by the Department of Navy on behalf of Joint Region Marianas (Sea turtle monitoring, protection, and educational outreach on AAFB; cooperative agreement #N40192-23-2-8000).
Members of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps recently spent a week with the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Sea Turtle Monitoring Program to learn about sea turtle monitoring and conservation. This photo was taken in connection with research authorized under the ESA Recovery Permit ES42195A-3 and funded by the Department of Navy on behalf of Joint Region Marianas (Sea turtle monitoring, protection, and educational outreach on AAFB; cooperative agreement #N40192-23-2-8000)
