PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:29 PM by Tevita

Guam National Wildlife Refuge developing conservation strategy

From : Kuam News

The Guam National Wildlife Refuge is planning for the future, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a comprehensive conservation plan. "The staff here, people that have previously worked here, some of the other local agencies have helped us to identify issues and questions that have come up. We've taken those and have put them into the planning update, explained Guam Wildlife Refuge project manager Chris Bandy.

He added that concerns raised and information being gathered from residents regarding the comprehensive conservation plan, will give fish and wildlife a clearer picture of what the people want in the CCP. Bandy adds that there are several projects to restore Guam's refuge's to their natural habitat. "We have a project where we're working with Guam forestry, where we're trying to grow through their office, seranthies nelsonia, which is an endangered tree. There's only actually one of them left that actually blooms and produces seeds on Guam," he said.

Another study project Fish and Wildlife is looking at are our coral reefs. Bandy says this weekend teams from the University of Guam, as well as fishery folks from Honolulu, will devise ideas of ways to monitor Guam's coral reefs and species inhabiting them. For Bandy, his main concerns are being able to work directly with the public to determine what they want out of the CCP. "We know that there are a number of fishermen for example who would like the refuge to be open earlier in the morning and stay open later at night," Bandy continued. "Those are information that we'll get from the public or have gotten from the public that we have to balance out. When might the green sea turtles come ashore and nest and if we have people here too late, will it dissuade some of the turtles from coming ashore in areas that they want to nest."

Another item also to be considered is allowing residents or suruhano's and surahana's to pick fruit and medicinal plants. Bandy says there are quite a few residents who come to the refuge for that reason. Despite his thoughts of wanting to allow people to pick native fruits and medicinal plants, it's a question that will possibly be up for debate because he's not sure whether the act is considered economic use. For those residents who say, give the land back and let islander's use it freely, Bandy says the refuge is a benefit to our island and providing testimony on the comprehensive conservation plan might help the feds and local residents find some common ground.

Said Bandy, "Those who wish to submit written testimony on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Comprehensive Conservation Plan, have until the end of August to submit their written testimony. You can also get the documents by checking out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's web site.



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DIVA-GIS	Monday, July 23, 2007 Posted 1:29 PM by Tevita Guam National Wildlife Refuge developing conservation strategy From : Kuam News The Guam National Wildlife Refuge is planning for the future, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a comprehensive conservation plan. "The staff here, people that have previously worked here, some of the other local agencies have helped us to identify issues and questions that have come up. We've taken those and have put them into the planning update, explained Guam Wildlife Refuge project manager Chris Bandy. He added that concerns raised and information being gathered from residents regarding the comprehensive conservation plan, will give fish and wildlife a clearer picture of what the people want in the CCP. Bandy adds that there are several projects to restore Guam's refuge's to their natural habitat. "We have a project where we're working with Guam forestry, where we're trying to grow through their office, seranthies nelsonia, which is an endangered tree. There's only actually one of them left that actually blooms and produces seeds on Guam," he said. Another study project Fish and Wildlife is looking at are our coral reefs. Bandy says this weekend teams from the University of Guam, as well as fishery folks from Honolulu, will devise ideas of ways to monitor Guam's coral reefs and species inhabiting them. For Bandy, his main concerns are being able to work directly with the public to determine what they want out of the CCP. "We know that there are a number of fishermen for example who would like the refuge to be open earlier in the morning and stay open later at night," Bandy continued. "Those are information that we'll get from the public or have gotten from the public that we have to balance out. When might the green sea turtles come ashore and nest and if we have people here too late, will it dissuade some of the turtles from coming ashore in areas that they want to nest." Another item also to be considered is allowing residents or suruhano's and surahana's to pick fruit and medicinal plants. Bandy says there are quite a few residents who come to the refuge for that reason. Despite his thoughts of wanting to allow people to pick native fruits and medicinal plants, it's a question that will possibly be up for debate because he's not sure whether the act is considered economic use. For those residents who say, give the land back and let islander's use it freely, Bandy says the refuge is a benefit to our island and providing testimony on the comprehensive conservation plan might help the feds and local residents find some common ground. Said Bandy, "Those who wish to submit written testimony on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Comprehensive Conservation Plan, have until the end of August to submit their written testimony. You can also get the documents by checking out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's web site. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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