(MINA) — Mariana Islands Nature Alliance launched its Schools for Environmental Education Program that provides opportunities for students and community members to learn directly from local natural resource managers about environmental threats and steps that can be taken to mitigate damage to terrestrial and marine resources.
With this year’s theme of “Learning About, Interacting With, and Actively Addressing Changing Environmental Conditions and Extreme Weather Events,” orientation workshops brought together students, educators, and community groups to learn about pressing environmental issues affecting the CNMI.
Participating schools and community groups include Francisco Mendiola Sablan Middle School, Green Meadow School, Saipan Community School, Mount Carmel School, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School, Tanapag Middle School, Northern Marianas College’s Environmental and Natural Resources Organization Club, Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, and the Rotaract Club of Saipan.
To kick off the program, MINA hosted the main orientation workshop at the Marianas Beach Resort on March 7, 2026, welcoming 57 student and community participants, as well as a workshop hosted by MINA on Rota on March 9, with the opening messages of encouraging youth to become environmental stewards for the future of the islands’ land and ocean.
Guest speakers from the CNMI Bureau of Coastal Quality, Division of Coastal Resources Management, and Tasi Watch Rangers shared their expertise related to this year’s theme. highlighting the impacts of flooding, environmental changes on how extreme weather can worsen nonpoint source pollution and marine debris, as well as ongoing plastics recycling efforts. They also shared information on habitat restoration efforts and responsible coastal development. Rota’s Department of Public Works, Division of Solid Waste Management, also presented to the students there on future plans for the first small community landfill for the island.
To help participants turn knowledge into action, MINA Program Manager Mary Fem Urena and Outreach and Project Support Andrea Roberto led the Environmental Action Plan Workshop, guiding the participants on developing projects designed to address environmental issues within their schools’ campuses and communities.
Chelsy Ann Reyes, a Safeguarding Traditional Ocean Wisdom and Education intern from Northern Marianas College’s Natural Resource Management Program who assisted in implementing the Schools for Environmental Education Program, reflected on the experience:
“Seeing our students and teachers engage with the presentations and their surprise at the new information made me realize how much more environmental awareness needs to be shared with our community. The room was filled with conservation leaders of all ages working together to find solutions for our island, which made my experience as an intern even more meaningful. I’m excited to connect with the groups during upcoming field experiences and to see their environmental action plans come to life.”
The SFEE program is made possible through financial assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and builds upon MINA’s long-standing Schools for Environmental Conservation Program, which provides students with opportunities to engage in learning about, interacting with, and actively addressing local environmental issues.
Mariana Islands Nature Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) environmental organization that has served the Marianas since 2005. MINA works to empower environmental stewardship within communities through science and island wisdom.
To learn more about MINA’s programs and initiatives, visit minapacific.org, follow MINA on Facebook and Instagram (@minaoutreach), email [email protected], or call (670) 233-7333 (REEF).
