$2.8M UH partnership aims to protect Pacific Island forests
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A $2.8 million partnership between the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the U.S. Forest Service will help Pacific Island communities protect forests and prepare for wildfires, drought and severe storms.
The Pacific Forest Resilience Program will fund five new Forest Service-affiliated junior extension agents through the university’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. The positions will serve American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
Applications open Nov. 9, with agents expected to begin working in their respective locations by May 2027.
"Many Pacific Islands face shared challenges, from wildfires and drought to severe storms," said Ashley McGuigan, program lead and CTAHR extension specialist. "A regional approach brings forestry programs, agencies and communities together to learn from one another, share knowledge and resources, and support locally driven efforts to sustain forests and the communities that depend on them."
Funded by the U.S. Forest Service and administered through CTAHR, the program will support the implementation of Forest Action Plans in the five participating jurisdictions.
The partnership will bring together forestry agencies, extension personnel and communities to develop workshops, educational resources and opportunities to share knowledge about land stewardship practices, including agroforestry, reforestation and pest management.
An informational webinar about the program and available positions is scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 18.
For more information, visit pacificforest.ctahr.hawaii.edu or contact McGuigan at aamcguig@hawaii.edu or Christian Colo at colo@hawaii.edu.