Information last updated: 1/28/2016 6:58 PM
Report prepared: 2/2/2016 9:31 AM
State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet
Guam 2016
Investment in State's Cooperative Programs
Program
Community Forestry and Open Space
Cooperative Lands - Forest Health Management
Forest Legacy
Forest Stewardship
Landscape Scale Restoration
State Fire Assistance
Urban and Community Forestry
Volunteer Fire Assistance
Total
FY 2015 Final
$0
$208,000
$0
$50,000
$0
$60,000
$54,000
$0
$372,000
NOTE: This funding is for all entities within the state, not just the State Forester's office.
Six priority issues were identified in Guam's Forest action plan: 1. Wildfire and public safety 2. Water
quality and water supply 3. Population growth and urbanization 4. Deforestation of native species 5.
Urban forest sustainability 6. Degraded lands These six key issues remain our top priority in our effort to
protect and enhance our natural resources. Seeking partnerships with NGO's and other Government
agencies to leverage local resources will aid us in addressing these priority areas.
Program Goals
• 1. Implement highest priority planting meeting multiple objectives
2. Protect, conserve and restore forest on state, private and other non military lands
3. Work with military to avoid deforestation and develop tree ordinace laws for new and old
development zones
4. Improve fire prevention, control, suppression and prescribed fire activities
5. Implement tree planting and monitoring projects in developed areas, open spaces and parks and
communities
6. Implement a forest health program.
Key Issues
• 1. Wildfire and public safety
2. Water quality and water supply
3. Population growth and urbanization
4. Deforestation of native species
5. Urban forest sustainability
6. Degraded lands.
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Information last updated: 1/28/2016 6:58 PM
Report prepared: 2/2/2016 9:31 AM
Guam FY 2016
Forest Facts and Accomplishments
Selected Facts
Population
Acres of Forest Land
Acres of Nonindustrial Private Forest Land
Number of NIPF Landowners
Acres of Federal Land Under State Fire
Protection
Acres of Private Land Under State Fire
Protection
Number of Rural Fire Departments
Cities and Towns
Forest Based Employment
Economic Impact of Forestry (by rank)
State Forestry Budget (All Sources)
Value
154,805
69,851
28,771
30,000
1,000
81,000
4
19
0
0
0
FY 2015 Accomplishments
Value
Landowners Receiving Educational or
225
Technical Assistance
Acres Covered by New or Revised Forest
19
Stewardship Plans
Acres in Important Forest Resource Areas
19
Covered by New or Revised Stewardship
Plans
Volunteer Fire Departments Assisted
0
State Fire Communities Assisted
29
Coop Forest Health Acres Protected
6
Forest Legacy Project Acquisitions
0
Communities Provided Urban Forestry
31
Program Assistance
Population Living in Communities
121,369
Provided Urban Forestry Program
Assistance
Urban Forestry Volunteer Assistance
1,408
Program Highlights
Cooperative Fire Protection
* Guam Forestry Attended the 2014 Fire Prevention Proclamation signing by the Governor of Guam.
* Fire Prevention Week outreach event at Kmart. Guam Forestry displayed our fire vehciles, tools and
equipment as well as demonstrated progressive hose lay for visitors and onlookers. A static display was
setup inside Kmart accompanied with outreach publications and materials.
*Participated in the Annual Liberation Parade: Forestry Fire Truck escorted by Smokey Bear and Forestry
Wildland Firefighters in uniform. "Munga masongge Guahan, Don't Burn Guam" stickers were passed out
to parade goers.
*Participated in the 3rd Annual Educators Symposium for teachers.
*Coordinated 'Guam's 5th Pig Hunting Derby and Pork in the Park Cook-Off'.
*Training with Guam International Airport Authority Police for 'Basic and Advanced ATV/UTV Operator
Training for Guam Forestry staff.
*Program Coordinator held a meeting with partners (Guam Fire Department, Department of Defense
[Navy & Air Force], The National Weather Service's Fire Weather Program Leader, and natural resource
partners) to introduce the new Coordinator and discuss the goals and outlook for the Cooperative Fire
Protection Program. Partners were eager to move forward and support Guam Forestry efforts.
* 7 elementary schools received Smokey Bear presentations and the importance of our natural resources
and the affects of forest fires to our environment. 'Smokey Bear' was present at all 7 school
presentations.
* Guam Forestry met with Clay Trauernicht from Pacific Fire Exchange to discuss related issues, needs
and assessments. Also discussed possibility of working together in future years.
* Guam Forestry responded to 28 wildland fires which burned a total of 435 acres. These numbers do not
depict the inaccessible or non reported fires.
* Fire Protection Program Coordinator position was filled in May 2015.
* 7 Forestry Aides were hired under Limited Term Appointment
Forest Health Protection
•October 14, 2014 – Guam Forestry celebrates Arbor Day with a ceremony at Ypao Beach Park.
•October 18, 2014 – Reforestation with Acacia and various native trees at COTAL Conservation with
volunteers from 2 local High Schools.
•November 14, 2014 – Guam Forestry staff assist GPEPP in out planting 15 saplings of the endangered
tree, Serianthes nelsonii, at the USFW refuge. In addition to planting, staff helped erect insect barriers
and ungulate fencing around the saplings.
•November 17-20, 2014 and December 1, 3 & 4 – Forestry staff conduct tree stand improvement and
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Information last updated: 1/28/2016 6:58 PM
Report prepared: 2/2/2016 9:31 AM
Guam FY 2016
maintenance on existing trees and previous plantings at Cocos Island. Affected area encompassed 5
acres. This work supports enhancing habitat for the endangered Guam Rail.
•March 18 & 19, 2015 – Attended two day Ungulate workshop. 1st day presenters at Pacific Star Hotel.
2nd day Field trip to COTAL Conservation.
•June 15-20, 2015 – Attended the Arborist Certification Training & Exam at University of Guam. Guam
CFHP program manager attains Arborist certification.
•June – August, 2014 – Assist with the Department of Agriculture's Typhoon Debris Task Force. Goal of
the task force was to mitigate the spread of the invasive Little Fire Ant by treating the 3 main staging
areas for green waste debris that was generated from Typhoon Dolphin in May 2014. Staff assisted in the
treatment of the staging sites through the application of pesticides.
*
Attended monthly meetings and reported on Forest Health program activities to the Guam Invasive
Species Advisory Council.
•Hiring of 7new Forestry Aides.
Forest Stewardship
Forest Stewardship Program provided technical assistance and 3,734 saplings to 5 cooperators to
minimize the occurrences of wildfires in the grassland area, protect soil and water resources as well as to
create habitat for native fauna.
Participated four outreach events such as: 12/27/14 "Pork in the Park" 3/10/15 "UOG Charter Day" 5/6/15
"Farmer's Festivity" 8/11/15 "Teacher's Symposium". Attendees were provided information on how to
qualify in the State and Private forestry programs.
Projects at Masso Reservoir, Layon and Cotal Conservation Reserve.
Participated school presentations where students learned the importance of trees and how they can help
improve the environment.
Personnel collected assorted seeds, propagated and did nursery maintenance.
Preserving Disappearing Biodiversity of Guam and Hawaii Island Ecosystems, Phase II
(Multi-state proposal with Hawaii)
Forest Stewardship Program Multi-State
Competitive Grant #13-DG1052021-202
This grant supported developing the Guam PEP program utilizing the Hawaii PEP program as a model.
Five ex situ field activities including: (1) plant survey, (2) collection of propagules, (3) outplanting, (4)
monitoring outplanted plants, and (5) mitigation of threats as pest management of outplanted plants and
three in-situ activities (1) short and long-term seed storage, (2) propagation of rare plant species and, (3)
growing rare plants at the nursery to ready-to-plant size at the field were developed. Facilities to support
the in situ activities were constructed and include a Tissue Culture lab, a Seed Storage lab and a Rare
Plant Nursery on the UOG campus. Nine employees work for the program with the majority being
University of Guam graduates. With a functioning program, partnerships were established with the US
Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the US National Park Service and continue with the Guam Department of
Agriculture Forestry and Soil Resources. GPEPP has also obtained additional funding through US Fish
and Wildlife, the US Forest Service and Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) to help establish a
sustainable PEP program. A database to store data produced from all of these activities is under
development. The current version manages the plant survey data. The modules for the nursery and
propagation inventories are being added.
Urban and Community Forestry
10/2014 *Celebrated 2014 Guam Arbor Day Event at Ipao Beach, Tumon. Site selected to mitigate
coconut trees removed due to Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle damage. 29 native beach tree species were
planted with over 60 volunteers. *Tree Planting at J.M. Guerrero Elementary School, Harmon with 40
students with the afterschool program. 8 native trees were planted within their playground area. 1/2015
*Guam Forestry Attended OMB Training. 3/2015 *Tree Ordinance Meeting at the Guam Legislature to
inform the Senators of the intent and importance of a Guam Tree Ordinance. 4/2015 *75 assorted native
beach tree species were planted along Tumon Bay in celebration of the Rotary Club's 75th Anniversary.
85 volunteers from the local Rotary Club assisted in the planting of these trees. *Attended the University
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Information last updated: 1/28/2016 6:58 PM
Report prepared: 2/2/2016 9:31 AM
Guam FY 2016
of Guam's, 2015 Center of Island Sustainability Conference at Hyatt Hotel, Tumon. *Tree Planting at
Untalan Middle School, Mangilao with 60 students who planted 15 native tree species within the parking
lot and main entrance way. 5/2015 *Participated in the Department of Agriculture's Annual May Harvest
event by providing Guam Forestry outreach publications and materials. *Provided Committee Chair of
Natural Resources action item information regarding the Guam Tree Ordinance. * Post Typhoon Dolphin
U&CF site tree assessments. 6/2015 *Coordinate/Attend the Certified Arborist Training & Examination.
*Tree Planting at Tumon Bay with University of Guam, Environmental Biology students 36 native beach
tree species were replanted. 8/2015 *Presented at the Educator Symposium on Guam Forestry. *Planted
183 Red Hibiscus at the Governors Complex, Adelup with assistance from the Department of Parks and
Recreation. 9/2015 *Tree planting in celebration of 2015 National Public Lands Day at National Park
Service's Ga'an Point, Hagat with 60 volunteers from the Girl Scouts of America planted 29 native beach
tree species. ** 7 Forestry Aides were hired under Limited Term Appointment.
Contact Information
Guam Forestry & Soil Resources Division
US Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Joseph S Mafnas
Chief Forester
192 Dairy Road
Mangilao, GU 96923
671-300-7975
[email protected]
Kathleen Stearns Friday
Forest Legacy/Stewardship Program Manager
USDA Forest Service
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592
808-854-2620
[email protected]
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