Events at AMP this Thursday and Friday

On Thursday, May 2nd at 4:15pm, the Mariana Avifauna Conservation Project will be conducting a presentation on their bird conservation efforts in the CNMI. The public is invited to attend, see details below.

And of course, May's First Friday Film will be May 3rd at 6:30pm. Please join us for Planeat, a film about nutrition and diets that are good for your health and may be good for the environment. More details to come.

Upcoming Presentation on Mariana Islands Birdlife:

The mid-1980s saw the brown tree-snake either extirpate or drive to extinction nine of 12 species of forest bird on Guam.  Almost 20 years later the U.S. Department of the Interior determined that Saipan may support an “incipient” population of this serious invasive predator.  In 2005 the CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) determined that preemptive action was necessary for the CNMI’s birdlife to avoid the fate that befell Guam – thus, the Mariana Avifauna Conservation (MAC) Project became a reality.

The MAC Project’s endeavors are two-fold; 1) the maintenance of captive populations (which serve as genetic reserves) of the CNMI’s native and endemic forest bird species at AZA affiliated institutions on the U.S. Mainland, and 2) the establishment of satellite populations of these bird species on islands in the Mariana archipelago deemed safe from brown tree-snakes.  Captive breeding programs at participating zoos on the U.S. mainland have thus far experienced success with the Mariana Fruit Dove, the White-throated Ground Dove, and the Golden White-eye.  Likewise, satellite populations of Bridled White-eyes, Golden White-eyes, and Mariana Fruit Doves have successfully been established on Sarigan via a program of conservation introduction.  In both endeavors, however, there is more work ahead of the MAC Project.

In April and May of this year 16 staff members from 10 AZA affiliated zoos and conservation organizations will join DFW on Saipan to execute the eighth year of the MAC Project’s annual field efforts.  This year’s focus will be the translocation of Mariana Fruit Doves and Rufous Fantails from Saipan to Sarigan, and the addition of fantails and Bridled White-eyes to captive programs at zoos in the States.  

Presenting on this topic will be CNMI Ornithologist Mr. Paul Radley, together with visiting scientists Mr. Herb Roberts of the Memphis Zoo, and Ms. Ellen Gorrell of the Toledo Zoo. Additional program information is available by visiting the Facebook page Ms. Gorrell maintains via https://www.facebook.com/MarianaAvifaunaConservation. For more information about APASEEM, please visit our website at http://www.apaseem.org.

Three short films about marine protected areas

In celebration of Environmental Awareness Month, we wanted to pass along these three short films about marine protected areas in the Pacific region from the Ocean Health Index Film Festival. Check them out!

http://www.oceanhealthindex.org/News/OHI_Film_Festival_MPAs

Don't forget to check deq.gov.mp for information on upcoming activities, including:

April 13, 8am -- Bird Hike and Invasive Species Removal at Bonzai Trail

April 19, 6pm -- Deadline for the OurLaolao Photo Contest (on facebook)

April 20, 9am -- Coral Watch Dive at Laolao Bay

April 20, 12pm -- Recycled Boat Race at Kilili Beach

We hope to see you at some of these events!

Gasland this Friday and EAM kickoff!

Happy April! Many of you know that April is Environmental Awareness Month, an excellent time to consider how you use and how you affect our environment, and also a great time to give back! Check out http://deq.gov.mp/ for a list of EAM events taking place all month. 

To kick things off, First Friday Films will be showing the documentary “Gasland” this Friday, April 5^th at 6:30pm in American Memorial Park’s theatre. 

The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudia Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. 

Fracking has been an important subject in the mainland environmental movement, but how does it relate to Saipan? Andrew Ashburn from the CNMI Energy Office will give a brief presentation before the film about where our energy comes from and what the costs and benefits of energy use are for our island. 

First Friday Films is a partnership between American Memorial Park, the Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resources Management and the Humanities Council with support from other organizations. This particular film is sponsored by CRM. As always, our film events are free and open to the public. For planning purposes, this event will run about 90 minutes.

Stay tuned for more information and short videos to check out this month to celebrate Earth!

Student research presentations Friday (22nd) at AMP

A group of mainland college students from Northern Arizona University have been on Saipan for a semester-long field experience in conservation biology. As they wrap up their visit, they are presenting on their research projects at American Memorial Park on Friday, March 22nd from 1-5pm. The public is welcome to attend!

Northern Arizona University Field Experience in Conservation Biology

Conservation Research Symposium

American Memorial Park

Saipan, CNMI

March 22, 2013

1:00-1:15              Opening remarks.

1:15-1:30              Factors affecting the species abundance and richness of fish in sea grass beds in the Saipan lagoon. Alling, R.

1:30-1:45              Contemporary medicinal trees: Diversity and use across the island of Saipan. Marshall, M.

1:45-2:00              Variation in luminescence and insect abundance on bioluminescent fungi. Pletzer, J.

2:00-2:15              Factors affecting green sea turtle nesting preference in Saipan. Brown, M.

2:15-2:30              Erythrina gall wasps on gaogao trees, and their effect on birds in Saipan. Watson, Z.

2:30-2:45              Intermission break.

2:45-3:00              The effect of enrichment strategies and environmental factors on the behavior of captive Mariana fruit bats (Pteropus mariannus). Eilers, J.

2:45-3:00              Effects of sewage effluence on coral reef diversity, richness, and recruitment. Senini, N.

3:15-3:30              Demographics, distribution, and public perceptions of free-ranging dogs on Saipan. Nimer, A.

3:30-3:45              Predation of the small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) in Saipan. Roof, K.

3:45-4:00              Evidence of selective breeding and habitat use in Lambis lambis. Raber, S.

4:00-4:15              Factors influencing metallic blue ladybird beetle abundance. Hottel, E.

4:15-4:30              Shell use and abandonment in hermit crabs (Coenobita spp.). Bulger, B.

4:30-4:45              Closing remarks.

We are grateful to our generous sponsors, collaborators, and supporters: CNMI Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife; Asia Pacific Academy of Science, Education and Environmental Management; Northern Marianas College; Saipan Zoo; Mayors of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota; CNMI Department of Environmental Quality; CNMI Coastal Resource Management; National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association; Commonwealth Utility Corporation; CNMI Historical Preservation Office; American Memorial Park.

Two short ocean films this Friday!

Please join us this Friday (March 1st) at 6:30pm at American Memorial Park for our monthly film event! In honor of World Water Day which takes place in March, we're paying tribute to that big blue body of water that surrounds us. We'll start off with a 18-minute film about the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and continue with a 45-minute episode of the One Ocean series, entitled Footprints in the Sand.

First Voyage to the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument is a documentary produced by APASEEM (apaseem.org) which covers the scope and beauty of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument as well as the unique scientific discoveries in the area. The story centers around voyager Dennis Chan, a Saipan high school student who traveled to the trench on a research expedition. The film will be introduced by Ken Kramer, an APASEEM member who has been involved in the production of the film.

 

Footprints in the Sand is an episode of CBC’s One Ocean series. Humans have always lived along Earth’s varied coastlines. For tens of thousands of years the ocean has nurtured and inspired us, and we lived in balance with its seemingly endless bounty. Footprints in the Sand explores how that has changed as our growing demands are changing the ocean and the places of recovery that can give us hope for a healthy future ocean.

First Friday Films is a partnership between American Memorial Park, the Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resources Management and the Humanities Council with support from other organizations. This particular film is sponsored by the Humanities Council. As always, our film events are free and open to the public. For planning purposes, this event will run about 80 minutes.

"Homeland" this Friday

Come join us for our February First Friday Film this Friday, February 1st at 6:30pm at American Memorial Park. This month's film is called Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action.

Nearly all Indian lands in the U.S. face grave environmental threats – toxic waste, strip mining, oil drilling and nuclear contamination. But a handful of activists are fighting back. Filmed against some of America’s most spectacular backdrops, from Alaska to Maine and Montana to New Mexico, Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action profiles the against-all-odds struggles of Native American leaders who are taking on powerful energy companies and government agencies to protect the environment for all Americans. A moving tribute to the power of grassroots organizing, Homeland is also a call-to-action against the current dismantling of thirty years of environmental laws.

 

Before the film, we will hear about grassroots efforts taking place on Saipan from members of the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance. MINA has been an environmental presence on Saipan for years, engaging young local community members and building support for initiatives that protect and preserve our island’s resources.

First Friday Films is a partnership between American Memorial Park, the Division of Environmental Quality, the Coastal Resources Management Office and the Humanities Council, with support from other organizations. This particular film is sponsored by the Humanities Council. As always, our film events are free and open to the public. For planning purposes, this event will run about 90 minutes.

Plus, we'll be sharing some new information about what FFF has in store for the next several months. We hope to see you there!

"Plan B" tomorrow!

Happy New Year everyone!

We hope you can join us this Friday, January 4th at 6:30pm for "Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization" at the American Memorial Park theatre. The film is part of the public television series Journey to Planet Earth.

Hosted by Matt Damon and produced by Emmy-Award winning filmmakers Marilyn and Hal Weiner,"Plan B: Mobilizing To Save Civilization" is a PBS documentary based on the book by environmental visionary Lester Brown. Featuring some of the world's most original and influential thinkers, Lester Brown's message is clear and unflinching — either confront the realities of climate change or suffer the consequences of lost civilizations and failed states. Ultimately "Plan B" provides audiences with a glimpse into a new and emerging economy based upon renewable sources plus realistic strategies to avoid the growing threat of global warming. The film presents what will happen if we choose plan A -- "business as usual", and recommends plan B, confronting global environmental problems, as an alternative.

First Friday Films is a partnership between DEQ and American Memorial Park with support from other public and private organizations. This particular film is sponsored by the Humanities Council. As always, our film events are free and open to the public. For planning purposes, this film runs for approximately 80 minutes.

We'd like to encourage you to consider the environment in your New Year's Resolution this year! Commit to making a small environmental change in your life during 2013 -- recycling your aluminum, walking or biking instead of driving once a week, turning off your aircon, or participating in monthly beach clean-ups. It's not to late to make a commitment for 2013!