His trip included field investigations, atolls soils training, orientations for NRCS staff and training for students from the College of Micronesia’s Yap campus.
He also briefed U.S. Ambassador Peter Prahar on NRCS activities in Yap and in the greater FSM. The briefing included a discussion of soil distribution and conditions and NRCS capacity building efforts.
While on Yap, Gavenda oriented Paul Lake, NRCS resource conservationist for the FSM and Dan Bloedel, NRCS resource conservationist for Palau, during what was their inaugural trip to the island state.
Gavenda introduced them to NRCS’ “conservation partners‟ on Yap: Margie Falanruw of USDA Forest Service, Dr. Muru Krishnapillai and Stan Fal’Mngar of COM-FSM Yap campus, Chief Tamdad Sulog of Yap Department of Agriculture, and Tina Fillmed of Yap State Environmental Protection Agency.
The meeting discussions focused on traditional Yap agricultural practices, container vegetable gardening, insect control, agriculture and reforestation in savannah areas, and other topics of interest. NRCS provided its conservation partners with soils and conservational promotional materials, as well as an explanation of the latest Yap soil survey and interpretation.
On Feb. 24, Gavenda delivered a two-hour presentation on soil properties and mapping soils, and soils distribution in Yap to more than fifty science and agriculture students and faculty at COM-FSM Yap campus.
Gavenda also presented on soil properties, mapping soils, and soils distribution to U.S. partner USDA Rural Development.
His presentation to USDA-RD staff emphasized understanding soil survey building site development interpretations
At the conclusion of his visit, Gavenda provided NRCS conservation partners in Yap with a list of recommended actions, which focused on soil remediation, continued technical training, capacity building and continued collaboration with the COM-FSM Yap campus and Yap Department of Agriculture.
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