Guam Green Growth Kupu Corps fellow completes Forestry internship

Guam Green Growth (G3) Kupu Corps fellow Elisa Padilla has wrapped up her term working alongside the Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry Division. Padilla continued her work in sustainability following a term in the G3 Conservation Corps.

As a G3 Kupu Corps fellow, Padilla played a vital role in supporting the Forestry Division’s mission to protect and manage Guam’s forests and natural resources. In her final report Padilla explained that she expected to learn about bush cutting and plant identification but gained so much more.

“I ended up being exposed to so much more than (those activities) including fire prevention education training, a glimpse into wildfire suppression, taking soil samples, a lot of community engagement and outreach, working with volunteers, and testing my physical limits with the amount of fieldwork I performed in Guam’s humid weather,” explained Padilla.

Padilla’s passion for environmental conservation and her commitment to sustainable practices aligned perfectly with the goals of the Guam Green Growth Kupu Corps program.

Christine Fejeran is the chief of the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture and was excited to work with Padilla in this capacity explaining that she has worked with them before both as a Department of Youth Affairs Youth Summer Intern and a member of the G3 Conservation Corps.

“We knew she was going to be someone we were going to look out for. We trusted that she was going to do great things, and any agency was going to be better for having her,” said Fejeran. “We are proud of her and are excited for what’s to come.”

For Padilla, the next steps are surely going to be green.

“In the years to come, I aspire to pursue a degree related to forestry concentrating on restoration and preservation when I am financially stable enough to do so, while overall moving forward in life intending to remain as hands-on as possible in my career,” she explained.

The Guam Green Growth Kupu Corps program is a partnership between the University of Guam, the Guam Department of Agriculture, and other local organizations. The program provides opportunities for young professionals to gain valuable experience in environmental conservation and sustainability while contributing to the island’s well-being.