UOG CIS Island Conservation Lab

“It is a flower that reminds us to be present.”

The puting flower does not last long, which may be part of what makes it so special. As native plants begin recovering, “After Sinlaku: Flowers for our Mothers” reflects on the beauty of noticing and appreciating the little moments around us.

➡️ Head to the link in our bio to read more of Dr. Else’s most recent article.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Else Demeulenaere.

“This is the nature of our work. To dream of what can be. To fear what could be lost. And to keep going, together, somewhere in between.” 🌳

In two recent PDN articles, Dr. Else reflected on the realities of conservation work in the Marianas before, during, and after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

In Dreams of Hope and Fear, she shares the quieter side of conservation at the Island Conservation Lab, the long hikes, seed collection, nursery care, small victories, and the balance between hope and uncertainty while working to protect Guam’s endangered plants.

Just weeks later, those fears became very real as Super Typhoon Sinlaku approached the Marianas. In Preparing Our Rare Plant Nursery for Typhoon Sinlaku, Dr. Else wrote from the middle of storm preparations, as staff worked for days to protect more than 10,000 native and endangered plants growing in our nursery.

Together, these articles reflect what it means to care for species found nowhere else in the world, while also caring for the communities and landscapes that sustain us. Conservation work doesn’t pause during disaster recovery. Instead, the work continues through preparation, resilience, and rebuilding.

As our islands continue recovering from the storm, we’re grateful for the people working to protect both our natural and cultural resources across the Marianas.

➡️ Head to the link in our bio to read more!

Photos courtesy of Dr. Else Demeulenaere (1, 3-8) and Tristan Guile (2).

🪪 What’s your name?
Tatiana Talavera

💼 What is your working job title?
Extension Assistant II

💭 What influenced you to pursue a career in island conservation?  
Being a positive change in the world has influenced me to pursue a career in island conservation. My life revolves around nature above and below sea level.

💗 What is your favorite aspect of the work you do? 
Constantly having opportunities to develop new skills and finding creative solutions. I favor the ability of helping my team accomplish goals through the chaos.

🌱 What’s your favorite native species? 
Coelogyne guamensis

✨ What do you hope to achieve in the coming year as a member of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability Island Conservation Lab?  
In the upcoming year, I hope to achieve giving others a better understanding of the importance of conservation and sustainability all while helping my team achieve their own goals!

“No matter how tiny, looking up close, a magical world unfolds. Let’s have a closer look at one of the fastest plant traps on Earth.”

Learn more about Utricularia bifida, the bifid bladderwort, and tiny plant predators in Dr. Else’s article from last month. 🌱

➡️ Head to the link in our bio to read more!

All photos courtesy of Dr. Else Demeulenaere.

We love to spotlight our members and the amazing work they do, today’s spotlight is Ashley Gim 🌟

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What’s your name?
Ashley Gim

What is your working job title?
NSF EPSCoR E-CORE Intern

What influenced you to pursue a career in island conservation?
As a child, all things life has left an impact that can only be described as inspiring. Everything we see everything we do as humans, changes and grows. Growing up is the biggest ability every living species has, and it’s remarkable. Though I may not be able to change the origins I am given, I am capable of choosing what path I want to end with. Myself and for the land I live on.

What is your favorite aspect of the work you do?
It’s the fondness, attachment of seeing the plants of my labor grow, alongside me.

What’s your favorite native species?
Sihek in CHamoru, their common name: Guam Kingfisher, holds a species place in my heart. Threatened by extinction and resilient efforts by both captive breeding and bird alike, they fought back, laying their first eggs within the wild ever since their documented extinction status.

What do you hope to achieve in the coming year as a member of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability Island Conservation Lab?
Biology has always been my passion; I am grateful to be given this opportunity and experience to work within CIS. I will be pursuing a master’s in marine sciences upon graduation within The University of Guam.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Natural Resources division, alongside the Guam Preservation Trust (GPT) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), hosted an outplanting event at the Atantåno Heritage Preserve in the village of Santa Rita.

The planting event focused on bringing the critically endangered Serianthes nelsonii, an endemic tree species found only on Guam and Rota, back to the wild. Locally, it is known as “håyun lågu” in Guam and “tronkon guåfi” in Rota.

Associate Director for UOG CIS & Sea Grant’s Natural Resources division, Else Demeulenaere, Ph.D., has been working alongside her team in the Island Conservation Lab (ICL) to return the Serianthes nelsonii seedlings back to its natural habitat.

Additionally, Demeulenaere says that although the Serianthes nelsonii in both Guam and Rota are similar, they have unique genotypes that differentiate those found on one island from the other.

Senator Sabina Perez joined the planting of the trees, marking the occasion with personal significance. She shared that she feels a special connection to this species because her mother grew up in the Tarague area and often told her stories about the tree. Planting one herself was a meaningful moment, she said, as it reconnects her to her roots and honors her cultural heritage

“Storm energy concentrates what the ocean has been carrying quietly. In a single night, it delivered a visible reminder of our consumption.”

It seems recent storms have stirred up more than just waves. Dr. Else takes a closer look in her latest article.

➡️ Head to the link in our bio to read more!

All photos courtesy of Dr. Else Demeulenaere.

“This is love. Not only the love of Valentine cards, but the love of mothers, of ninas, of women who form circles of care. Love planted into the ground.”

Valentine’s Day may be over, but the special kind of love Dr. Else describes is always around. ❤️❤️🌳

➡️ Head to the link in our bio to read Dr. Else’s article, “The Achiote Tree That Carries Our Story”.

All photos courtesy of Dr. Else Demeulenaere.

🪪What’s your name?
Beato Manglona

💼What is your working job title?
Accounting Analyst I

💭What influenced you to pursue a career in island conservation?
Got bored and felt like it

💗What is your favorite aspect of the work you do?
When I first started, I enjoyed exploring different parts of the island that I never would be able to see otherwise and seeing what preserved natural environments would look and feel like. Now, I enjoy being around a group of people that all share the same passion to sustain our island’s native ecosystems. I feel that I am in an environment that values and supports my growth and doesn’t want to just get the job done but make a lasting impact on our island.

🌱What’s your favorite native species?
Dendrobium Guamense

✨What do you hope to achieve in the coming year as a member of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability Island Conservation Lab?
I hope to continue helping us grow as an organization and teach the community more about island sustainability.