Mariana Islands Nature Alliance proudly joins in this celebration, marking 20 years of environmental stewardship. Founded by a passionate group of community members, MINA has worked hand in hand with government agencies and local partners to protect the Mariana Islands’ natural resources for generations to come.
MINA — This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, a global call to action for environmental awareness. Launched in 1970, Earth Day sparked the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. What began as a U.S. movement now mobilizes over a billion people across nearly 200 countries.
In the CNMI, Earth Day has been recognized since 1983, and April is designated as Environmental Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Land & Ocean Preservation for the Next Generations.”
Mariana Islands Nature Alliance proudly joins in this celebration, marking 20 years of environmental stewardship. Founded by a passionate group of community members, MINA has worked hand in hand with government agencies and local partners to protect the Mariana Islands’ natural resources for generations to come.
Programs established and maintained throughout the years are the Adopt a Bin Program, Schools for Environmental Conservation, Tasi Watch Rangers, and Community Recycles Plastics.
Through the Adopt-a-Bin Program, over 6,000 pounds of recyclable materials—plastics, glass, and aluminum—have been collected and diverted from the ocean. Meanwhile, a recently completed marine debris removal project cleared 425,770 pounds of debris from coastal and nearshore areas of Saipan and Tinian, with 112,115 pounds sent to metal recycling centers.
The most significant removal event occurred in 2024, when nearly 160,000 pounds of debris was removed from CNMI Public School System campuses, making it the largest land-based cleanup of the entire project.
Beyond cleanup, the project restored 7,106 acres of marine, coastal, terrestrial, and urban habitats—over 90% of which were marine ecosystems.
These efforts have helped rehabilitate habitats for endangered species, boost ecosystem resilience, and protect communities from future storm impacts.
MINA’s Bring Back Our Trees initiative engaged over 1,500 volunteers to plant 4,378 native trees over five years.
The Schools for Environmental Conservation program empowers middle school students to develop and implement campus conservation action plans.
Launched in 2022, Community Recycles Plastics is a pilot upcycling program involving 16 schools, four businesses, and four community organizations working together to keep plastics out of landfills.
The Tasi Watch Community Ranger Program trains recent high school graduates and college students in conservation skills, fostering workforce development. Many graduates go on to pursue degrees or careers in the natural resources field within CNMI.
MINA extends heartfelt thanks to our federal and local partners, project subcontractors, and the many dedicated community volunteers. Your commitment and collaboration keep the Marianas clean and green.
Happy Earth Day 2025!
Students of Saipan Southern High School participate in a campus cleanup in 2024.
