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Editor's Notes

• #1: *"Hello everyone! It’s great to be here in Utah—it's so beautiful here. Ofc I had to travel by plane since I live so far away. it took over 18 hours just to get here. So my plane Route started out in Guam, flew to Japan, Japan to Lax and then here. So the last leg LAX to here I opted for a window seat. But since I was so tired I kept my window down most of the time. We had about 15 or so minutes left and I was sleeping but then something told her open your window and I was greeted with this. the most beautiful view, Now, I come from an island in the Pacific, and let me tell you—conservation in Utah looks way different than it does in Guam. But at the heart of it, our challenges are the same: protecting land, water, for the people who depend on them. The transformation—turning challenges into solutions—doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen alone. That’s the power of what we do as conservation districts. I’m Erica Pangelinan from the Southern Guam SWCD, and today, we’re diving into how we’ve taken lessons from the Pacific SWCD Capacity-Building Training and forged future ready conservation districts. This isn’t just a presentation—it’s a story about growth, resilience, and what’s possible when we work together. Before getting started, I want to introduce the team from Guam who are here with me today."* (Introduce Guam SWCD team members) *"Let’s get to know the room a little. Where are you from? (Ask a few attendees to share their locations.) Now, picture conservation in your district. What’s one of the biggest challenges you’re facing right now? (Allow a few responses.) Interesting, right? No matter where we come from—whether it’s an island in the Pacific, the mountains of Utah, the farmland of the Midwest, —we all have something in common. We face similar challenges, and more importantly, we’re all looking for solutions that work. That’s exactly why we’re here today—to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and bring home realistic practical strategies that make a difference."* *"Here’s what we’ll be unpacking: Introducing Guam – Our home, our location, and why conservation looks different in the Pacific. We'll talk about the recent Pacific SWCD Training that our district hosted and the successes Three Major Takeaways from the training and How We're applying Them today providing examples in our operations. We will close out with a Short Interactive Activity – and call it. Everything we discuss today is something you can take home and apply, no matter where you’re from. Let’s get jump in!"*
• #3: *"Hello everyone! It’s great to be here in Utah—it's so beautiful here. Ofc I had to travel by plane since I live so far away. it took over 18 hours just to get here. So my plane Route started out in Guam, flew to Japan, Japan to Lax and then here. So the last leg LAX to here I opted for a window seat. But since I was so tired I kept my window down most of the time. We had about 15 or so minutes left and I was sleeping but then something told her open your window and I was greeted with this. the most beautiful view, Now, I come from an island in the Pacific, and let me tell you—conservation in Utah looks way different than it does in Guam. But at the heart of it, our challenges are the same: protecting land, water, for the people who depend on them. The transformation—turning challenges into solutions—doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen alone. That’s the power of what we do as conservation districts. I’m Erica Pangelinan from the Southern Guam SWCD, and today, we’re diving into how we’ve taken lessons from the Pacific SWCD Capacity-Building Training and forged future ready conservation districts. This isn’t just a presentation—it’s a story about growth, resilience, and what’s possible when we work together. Before getting started, I want to introduce the team from Guam who are here with me today."* (Introduce Guam SWCD team members) *"Let’s get to know the room a little. Where are you from? (Ask a few attendees to share their locations.) Now, picture conservation in your district. What’s one of the biggest challenges you’re facing right now? (Allow a few responses.) Interesting, right? No matter where we come from—whether it’s an island in the Pacific, the mountains of Utah, the farmland of the Midwest, —we all have something in common. We face similar challenges, and more importantly, we’re all looking for solutions that work. That’s exactly why we’re here today—to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and bring home realistic practical strategies that make a difference."* *"Here’s what we’ll be unpacking: Introducing Guam – Our home, our location, and why conservation looks different in the Pacific. We'll talk about the recent Pacific SWCD Training that our district hosted and the successes Three Major Takeaways from the training and How We're applying Them today providing examples in our operations. We will close out with a Short Interactive Activity – and call it. Everything we discuss today is something you can take home and apply, no matter where you’re from. Let’s get jump in!"*
• #4: at this time id like to tap on my Director Martha Tenorio to give some fun facts about Guam
• #8: Guam is more than just an island; it’s a living, breathing ecosystem, rich in biodiversity, culture, and history. We’re the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Archipelago, surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean. We have lush tropical forests, limestone plateaus, and vibrant coastal ecosystems. But with that beauty comes some serious conservation challenges: From there, leadership traveled to CNMI, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Palau, working to reconnect with districts that once participated but had become inactive. The response was powerful—CNMI became fully committed, American Samoa and FSM re-engaged, and there was a shared agreement that these SWCDs needed support. But here’s the other challenge: How do you equip new emerging conservation districts, spread across thousands of miles of ocean, with the support they need to succeed?
• #9: We have lush tropical forests,
• #10: limestone plateaus
• #11: vibrant coastal ecosystems
• #12: Soil erosion—Our steep terrain and heavy rainfall strip away valuable topsoil.
• #13: Invasive species—Introduced plants and animals threaten our native ecosystems.
• #14: Limited freshwater—We depend on a single aquifer, and protecting water resources is critical.
• #15: For decades, Guam has been active in conservation efforts. But about six years ago, we made a conscious decision: We wanted to do more. and with that leveling We had a strong board, dedicated directors, and a vision to grow— We wanted to grow but we also wanted to our neighboring islands. We wanted all of us to be just as successful as the districts we see here today.
• #28: That’s where the idea for the SWCD Capacity Training for Pacific Islands was born. With the support of NACD and NRCS, we created a training program for the Pacific, by the Pacific—one that acknowledged our distance, our unique ecosystems, and our specific challenges. And what we learned from that training has shaped everything we do today."*
• #35: Now lets take a look into ur current programs
• #36: As part of our mandate, the Southern District maintains an active registry of members, and we’ve recently streamlined this process. Here’s how it works: eligible individuals complete and submit a registration form, followed by a site visit conducted by our technical team. Once eligibility is vetted, the Board approves the membership, and a certificate is issued—valid for three years. As an added benefit, members receive a free soil test, with recommendations provided by UOG CES. This initiative encourages producers to explore soil health management plans with NRCS. Membership with District offers access to workshops, training events, program opportunities, and technical assistance
• #41: Our technical assitance program We provide staff support to NRCS to assist with conservation planning and contracting. Our goal is to increase the number of conservation plans developed and adopted by ag producers and forest landowners. We’ve been fortunate to receive a TA grant from NACD, which allows us not only to provide staff support but also to host workshops and training events for producers and landowners to learn more about the programs and different conservation best management practices. Recently, we secured additional funding to support our 'I Tungo' I Tano' initiative, a collaborative effort with UOG focused on building conservation knowledge and capacity. Be on the look out for a series of workshops.
• #47: This time last Last year, we were subawarded the REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) grant, The REPI program in general focuses on protecting working and natural lands while ensuring military readiness. The primary goal of this program initiative is to build and strengthen partnerships that enhance conservation, to ultimately reduce land-use conflicts, and improve landscape resilience. its been a year . Through this grant, we’ve made significant strides in advancing Guam’s conservation goals. Key achievements include supporting Guam’s application for Sentinel Landscape designation and support of a comprehensive implementation plan, We've established a producer network, and enhanced the district’s capacity to address resource challenges. These efforts have brought stakeholders, landowners, and agencies together under a shared vision for sustainable land management. Looking forward, we plan to expand the program even further. A primary focus will be addressing compliance barriers that often hinder conservation implementation, streamlining processes to make it easier for landowners and partners to implement conservation practices and initiatives. Additionally, we will continue to support the Guam Sentinel Landscape Partnership and its initiatives. Shout out to Patrick Keeler the GSLP Coordinator very important player in GSLP efforts. Their input and direction into the SWCD's REPI initiatives are aligned. If youre interested in learning more about the Guahan Sentinel Landscapes Partnership please get with Patrick for opportunities for collaboration.
• #55: Group Presentations & Prioritization "Now, let’s hear from each group! Each team will have a few minutes to present their initiative—what the focus is, why it’s important, and what steps are needed to move forward." "As we listen, think about which initiatives align with current opportunities and have the most potential for impact. After all groups present, we’ll discuss next steps and opportunities for funding and collaboration." 10 mins