Speaker: Dr. Austin Shelton
Abstract:
The Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Initiative aims to revive island landscapes and downstream coral reefs. GROW advances U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and Goal 15 (Life on Land) in alignment with the Guam Green Growth Action Framework. Coordinated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, GROW partners use an interdisciplinary approach to test and develop novel tools to restore degraded watersheds, coral reefs, and fisheries. This presentation will feature a toolkit of watershed restoration strategies, including sediment filter socks, seed balls, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Student capacity building efforts in marine and environmental sciences through the NSF Guam EPSCoR and NSF INCLUDES projects will also be discussed.