“Drones and off-roading! Who says science isn’t fun?” shared Dr. Austin Shelton, the Executive Director for the UOG Center for Island Sustainability. “We’re excited to innovate environmental solutions for our island through this new partnership with USDA.” 

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and the UOG Sea Grant Program were awarded a $75,000 Conservation Innovation Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The competitive grant will support the Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Initiative which aims to improve the health of Guam's watershed and coastal ecosystems.

The GROW Initiative takes an interdisciplinary approach to testing and developing novel tools to restore degraded watersheds, coral reefs, and fisheries. The Conservation Innovation Grant will support innovative strategies such as using drones to disperse seeds and soil in hard-to-reach eroding hillsides. The initiative will also engage with the local off-roading community to assist with planting efforts by transporting supplies and volunteers to remote watershed sites.  

Partners in this project include the Southern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District, the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Guam Waterworks Authority, Guam Coastal Management Program, Let's Ride Guam, and the Guam Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

Learn more about the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and the UOG Sea Grant Program.