Every September, Guam highlights environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and green innovation during Sustainable September. This month-long movement connects island community action to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the world works toward the 2030 global benchmark.

At the core of this effort are the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant), Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative, and Guam NSF EPSCoR programs. Together, their initiatives turn ambitious global goals into practical local solutions that reflect and include the diverse, multicultural communities that call Guam home. Here are just some of their efforts:

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant has named journalist and media professional Thomas Mangloña II as the first UOG CIS & Sea Grant Marianas Science Communications Fellow, launching a new effort to strengthen the way science and environmental research are shared with communities across the region.

The Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative leveraged approximately $1 million in annual local funding to attract over $30 million in external support, showing that local sustainability investments can deliver significant socioeconomic benefits. At the 2026 Virtual Island Summit, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero shared these results and highlighted Guam’s ongoing sustainability initiatives during a panel with policymakers and practitioners.

True science communication also honors the human stories behind the programs, behind research. Serving as a mentor for the Navigating Home program this year gave me a renewed appreciation for this truth. While I have guided reporters and community educators in the past, mentoring Kira Reklai—a fellow with a background in early childhood education—for Navigating Home was a uniquely rewarding journey.

Local fishers are reporting an increase in both the size and overall abundance of several fish species across Guam’s reef waters following the 2020 ban on SCUBA spearfishing, according to observations shared during a recent Fisher Forum hosted by community science initiative Guihan for Guåhan.

Conservation leaders from across the Pacific and Southwest gathered on Guam recently to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and explore solutions to some of the region’s most pressing soil, water, and natural resource challenges.

A plate filled with food grown on Guam represents more than a good meal. It represents an island becoming morae capable of feeding itself.

Traveling through Alaska as part of the National Science Foundation-funded Energy Leadership Accelerator (ELA) fellowship through the UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant, I found myself out in the Alaskan wilderness—cold, caffeinated, yet running on fumes.

Registration is now open for the fourth cohort of the Community Backyard Aquaponics Systems program (CBAS). Check out the rules, schedule and register today for your chance to get a system for your family for absolutely free!

Guam’s vibrant culinary scene takes center stage once again as Maila’ Ta Fan Chesa returns on Thursday, August 27, 2026, bringing together some of the island’s most talented chefs for an unforgettable evening celebrating Guam’s local flavors, agriculture, and culinary creativity.

Over 130 Guam residents have graduated from the Guam Green Growth (G3) Conservation Corps in hopes of pursuing green careers or continuing their education in sustainability-related fields, underscoring the program’s impact in developing Guam’s sustainability workforce.

The graduates of the 2026 Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps piled into a room at the UOG School of Business and Public Administration on their final day, knowing only one thing: they were going to a Green Job Fair.

My name is Kira Reklai. As a Navigating Home Fellow, I had the unexpectedly fun experience of joining the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Ambassador Program (STEMAP). This program helps STEM professionals connect with the community through different engagement activities.

As Guam continues to strengthen its disaster preparedness efforts, Guam Green Growth (G3) and GTA are inviting the community to learn how to safely maintain generators and stay connected during emergencies through a Storm Smart Workshop on Saturday, Aug. 1.

As Guam continues to strengthen its disaster preparedness efforts, Guam Green Growth (G3) and GTA are inviting the community to learn how to safely maintain generators and stay connected during emergencies through a Storm Smart Workshop on Saturday, Aug. 1.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant has opened recruitment for a special short-term Guam Green Growth Guam Restoration of Watersheds Conservation Corps, offering community members an opportunity to gain paid, hands-on experience in forestry, watershed restoration and other green-industry careers.

Members of the first Guam Green Growth (G3) Youth Conservation Corps and the 2026 cohort of the G3 Conservation Corps responded to post-typhoon recovery efforts, removing debris and clearing storm-damaged areas at the University of Guam (UOG) and partner sites after Super Typhoon Bavi passed through the Marianas.

The Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) has extended the public comment period for the draft Guam Coastal Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) through July 21, 2026, providing additional time for fishers, community members, businesses, and stakeholders to review the draft plan and submit feedback.

Engineering met island tradition during this year’s Piti Sea Festival as students put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test in the Mini Regatta Competition, an event supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Navigating Home STEM Ambassador Program (STEMAP).

Guam Green Growth (G3) and the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS and Sea Grant) launched the first G3 Youth Conservation Corps this week, a new initiative that introduces high school students to careers in sustainability and the green economy.

Small islands do not mean small impact.  Three undergraduate students born and raised on Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands stood before a room of researchers, renowned scientists, and administrators and presented their work, which they hope will have a significant impact on the Mariana Islands and beyond. 

True leadership isn’t defined by the strategies we write on paper; it is proven by the work we are willing to do when our community needs us most. 🌍✨
Looking at these moments from our recent Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps Village Beautification, we are reminded that sustainable progress requires a profound willingness to get our hands dirty. True resilience isn’t passive. It’s an active, daily choice to show up, clear the debris, and build back stronger.

As communities across Micronesia recover from the impacts of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, members of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC) are proving that sustainability work goes far beyond environmental projects—it is also about showing up in times of crisis.

(Tumon, Guam) – Today, the Guam Visitors Bureau announced the signing of its memorandum of understanding with the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (UOG CIS), Sea Grant, and Guam Green Growth (G3) at Hyatt Regency Guam in Tumon during UOG CIS’s weeklong Conference on Sustainability.

“Because for us in the Pacific, resilience is not a trend,” said Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, Ph.D., founder and executive director of Finafinau, one of two educators at the forefront of Pacific scholarship and advocacy who served as featured speakers, framing the emotional and political weight of island resilience in the face of ongoing environmental and social challenges.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, and Blue Planet Alliance Executive Director Francois Rogers sign a document reaffirming Guam’s commitment to the 100×100 renewable energy campaign during the 17th Conference on Island Sustainability on Thursday.

Stories—not just systems and statistics—defined the CIS2026 SEED Talks, where voices from across the island community transformed personal journeys into powerful calls for change. Framed as “ideas worth cultivating,” the speaker series invited participants to move beyond data and into lived experience, weaving together narratives of loss, identity, resilience, and hope. In an intimate, TED-style setting, each speaker offered a glimpse into how their own paths, shaped by culture, community, and connection to land and sea—continue to inform their work.

At the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026), leaders and representatives from across Micronesia and Hawaiʻi gathered for a Green Growth session sharing the progress, partnerships, and shared vision driving sustainability efforts across island communities. The discussion illustrated how these initiatives are advancing solutions rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern innovation.

“As I speak to you tonight, the entire island virtually of Saipan and Tinian will still sleep in darkness.”

The annual “Conversations with the Conference Co-Chairs” at the formal opening of the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026) focused on a timely discussion on island resilience and recovery following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

The University of Guam has announced three dynamic voices set to take the stage as this year’s Seed Talk presenters at the Conference on Island Sustainability, spotlighting emerging community leaders whose work reflects the conference’s theme, “Illuminating the Path to Prosperity.”

The University of Guam will move forward with its flagship Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026) this year following the passing of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, underscoring the event’s regional importance and resilience in the face of severe weather.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) is inviting the public and partners to share their support and experiences through a new initiative highlighting the value the program brings to Guam and the broader Micronesian region.

From ancient fishing traditions and modern marine science to a fish kelaguen competition, the second annual Fish Fest —organized by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant —returned this month, continuing its mission to promote sustainable fishing and food security.

The Guam Green Growth (G3) Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Corps, facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, has been named to 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs, a national showcase highlighting transformative public service initiatives across the United States and its territories. 

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant’s Guihan for Guåhan (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) program are inviting the community to celebrate Guam’s rich fishing traditions and local seafood at Fish Fest 2026, set for Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the CHamoru Village in Hagåtña.

The University of Guam (UOG) has announced an extension of the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026), expanding the event through April 26 with the addition of two days of programming in Saipan, further strengthening its partnership with Northern Marianas College (NMC).

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) are happy to announce that applications are now open for the sixth season of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC), continuing their robust workforce development plan that has graduated nearly 100 local workers who have developed skills for the emerging green economy.

Dozens of residents, students, scientists, and community leaders gathered at the Guam Museum in Hagåtña for Our Ocean, Our Voice: A Community Workshop for Comments on Deep Sea Mining, a collaborative event hosted by the Office of the Governor of Guam and Lt. Governor, and facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant and Guam Green Growth aimed to support public engagement in a critical federal decision affecting the region’s marine environment.

The Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor will host a free public workshop on January 7, 2026, to provide assistance to submit comments on the federal government’s deep-sea mining proposal for waters near the Marianas Trench, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The University of Guam is now accepting presentation proposals for its 17th Conference on Island Sustainability, scheduled to take place April 20-24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Guam.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) revealed the cover of its highly anticipated 2026 Tide Chart Calendar at a special event held at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub at CHamoru Village, marking another year of the publication that has become essential for island fishers and coastal enthusiasts.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) wrapped up its 2025 tree-planting season with the final GROW in Malojloj event, bringing together community volunteers for a morning of environmental restoration at the Ugum Watershed project site.