The University of Guam’s Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant is launching a pioneering initiative that could transform conservation funding on Guam and across Micronesia by seeking Gold Standard Carbon Credit Certification for its tree-planting program.
The certification would allow the university to generate revenue from carbon credits, providing a sustainable funding source for environmental restoration without relying solely on grants and government allocations, according to a recent press release from the university.
In the release, Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of UOG CIS and SG, said, “Through seeking Gold Standard carbon credit certification, we are working to diversify funding sources beyond grants to ensure this important work can always continue.”
The initiative is part of UOG’s Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) program, which has planted more than 16,800 native and culturally significant trees over the past six years on eroding southern Guam hillsides, known as badlands.
On Friday, The Guam Daily Post reached out to Shelton, who explained the environmental challenges driving this effort. “We have several local environmental stressors, like deer poachers burning hillsides to make it easier to catch deer. We have irresponsible off-roading in some areas, and we also have invasive pigs and deer tearing up the landscape,” he said.
These factors leave soil exposed to rain, which washes sediment downstream. “When the rains come, it washes that soil down into our rivers and onto the coral reefs, where it can smother them or block out sunlight, killing a lot of our coral reefs over time,” Shelton said.
The carbon credit certification process, funded by the U.S. Climate Alliance, will establish measurable carbon sequestration benefits that can generate income to support conservation and restoration efforts. Hawai’i-based consulting firm Hā Sustainability is guiding UOG CIS and SG through the certification process.
“It’s a long process,” Shelton said. “There are quite a few steps, including identifying land for planting and ensuring trees are protected long-term. We also need to estimate the amount of carbon our tree species will capture, assess soil conditions and more.”
The initiative draws inspiration from similar programs worldwide. “When you buy a ticket on United Airlines, for example, you can scroll to the bottom and offset your carbon footprint by buying a tree in Costa Rica,” Shelton said. “We’re already doing great tree-planting work here. Why not market our trees to support our conservation efforts in Guam?”
The trees planted through the GROW initiative offer benefits beyond carbon sequestration. “The trees have a great impact themselves,” Shelton said. “They grow over time and help rebuild soil.”
“We plant trees like acacias,” Shelton added. “They’re a pioneer species essential for restoring soil.”
The project also aims to create agroforests by planting fruit-bearing trees such as mangoes and breadfruit. “We want to calculate how much food we’re offsetting through imports,” he said. “If we grow 1,000 pounds of food, we offset the need to import 1,000 pounds, reducing fossil fuel costs and environmental impact.”
This is particularly significant for Guam, which imports about 90% of its food and goods. “Increasing food security and reducing imports keeps more money on the island instead of exporting dollars elsewhere,” Shelton added.
The carbon credits generated would be marketed to companies seeking to offset their carbon footprint. “Multinational corporations like Mars Candy Company have goals to be net zero in the next decade,” Shelton said. “To achieve net zero, they must offset carbon by switching to renewable energy and buying carbon offset credits.”
Guam’s carbon credits would stand out due to their multiple benefits. “What makes ours unique is that it would be one of the very few U.S. territories offering multiple benefits,” he said. “Not only are we sequestering carbon, but we’re also improving coral reef health, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
“We hope to attract investors, as well as local companies or corporations interested in supporting conservation efforts in Guam,” Shelton said.
UOG CIS and SG will hold a community meeting on April 7 at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Guam to share information about the certification process and invite public input. The meeting will serve as a pre-event for the 16th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability, according to the release.
“From this first stakeholder meeting and future ones, we need community input on this project and how it can best benefit all residents,” Shelton said.
If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for other islands facing similar challenges. “Many other islands in Micronesia, except perhaps our atoll neighbors, have similar watershed issues,” Shelton noted. “If we can calculate these values for tree species in our region and set up the process, we can share that with local partners in Micronesia.”
For Shelton, this approach represents an innovative way to sustain conservation efforts. “We’re moving beyond the old model of applying for grants and instead using available resources to generate revenue and keep this important work going.”
The community meeting is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged at https://bit.ly/UgumCarbon, as space is limited.
