The Guam and CNMI teams have been working independently to revise their SWAPs, but in a historic step toward regional collaboration, these teams gathered for the first time to discuss shared Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Through this unified effort, the teams identified priority species from both SWAPs and produced key conservation and management goals for the species on a landscape scale across the Marianas.

“Coming together with CNMI to discuss natural resources that we share is a tremendous step in aligning the Mariana Islands. Land, water, plants, various animal & fish species, all have significant cultural and environmental significance to our people,” said director of the Guam Department of Agriculture Chelsa Muña, who is hopeful that the partnership will strengthen the support for the islands’ conservation efforts.

UOG CIS & Sea Grant Associate Director for Natural Resources Else Demeulenaere, Ph.D., added to the SWAP discussion during the event, drawing parallels to the biogeography shared between Guam and the CNMI. “As a biogeographer and ethnobotanist, I see the Mariana Islands as a single biogeographic region, a chain of interdependent landscapes, species, and cultural histories,” she remarked. “Conservation cannot happen in isolation. We are recognizing that what affects one island affects us all, and that protecting biodiversity means thinking and acting at the scale of the whole archipelago.”

UOG CIS & Sea Grant project associate Caley Jay Chargualaf, who works with the Island Conservation Lab on the project, sees a lot of common ground between the two islands and the species that call them home.

"Our plants and animals do not recognize geographic or political borders. The land and sea belong to them as much as they do to us,” said Chargualaf. “It is our responsibility to work together, guided by passion and experience, to ensure these species have the opportunity to thrive in our shared environment."

According to wildlife biologist and conservation planner Dacia Wiitala from the CNMI Division of Fish & Wildlife, the meeting served as an opportunity to start a partnership that will have a lasting impact.

“The purpose of the workshop was to identify opportunities for collaboration between Guam and CNMI natural resource managers that would result in cost-saving opportunities, regional capacity building, data sharing, and overall improvements to conservation practices for our shared Species of Greatest Conservation Need,” said Wiitala.

Wiitala also stressed the big role community feedback plays in conservation.

“Stakeholder engagement is the most important aspect of conservation planning. Talking with people who have different perspectives and experiences brings up new ideas and considerations that might be missed if you don't seek out diverse input,” added Witala.

More community meetings will be held in the coming months as updates to the SWAP are ongoing.  For more information follow @UOGCIS and @uog.islandconservationlab on Instagram or visit uog.edu/cis today.