The Guam Department of Agriculture’s Forestry & Soil Resources Division will be hosting an informational workshop at the Sinajana Mayor's Office on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The workshop will inform interested community members about how to apply for FSRD’s Fina’maolek Subgrant Program.

Applicants may receive up to $10,000 to fulfill an Urban & Community Forestry tree planting project, professional training, technology development, and/or an education and outreach project.

Planting projects must be completed on public land or other lands that are fully accessible to the public. This grant is available to non-profit organizations, schools, government entities, local businesses, places of worship, other volunteer groups, and individuals.

To register for the workshop, please email finamaolek@smarttreespacific.org. The UCF program is closing out their first round of funding.

Listed below are the 2023 funded projects:

Guahan Sustainable Culture:

Guahan Sustainable Culture plans to unveil “Guahan Grows,” an engaging educational board game. This game will enlighten 3rd to 5th graders about the local fruit trees' ecological and cultural significance.

Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence Inetnon Yo’amte Project:

Partnering with CW Holdings, LLC, GCASAFV is set to blossom a healing haven, the Inetnon Yo’amte (Healing Garden) Project, on a sprawling eight-acre property at the Medical Arts Center (MAC) in Dededo.

Planting 119 trees and shrubs, including endemic varieties, they aim to restore and heal not just the land but also the souls affected by trauma. The project's holistic approach will integrate wellness pathways and educational sessions, promoting unity with nature and overall community well-being.

Guma Yo'amte Volunteer Group:

The House of Traditional Healers, through this grant, strives to preserve traditional healing practices by planting 68 medicinal trees and shrubs. Their initiative, intertwined with cultural importance, not only educates the community about the medicinal properties but also nurtures Guam's biodiversity.

Kurason I Sengsong:

Kurason I Sengsong, since 2014, has stood as a beacon for environmental restoration, dedicated to reverting an invasive shrub forest to a traditional limestone forest. This grant enables them to perpetuate Guam's indigenous plants and animals, fostering education, community, and indigenous pride through their Sagan Tinanom Restoration Project.

Should you have any questions regarding this opportunity, contact Denise Crisostomo, UCF Forestry Project Coordinator at dcrisostomo@smartreespacific.org or call (671) 682-7897.