Christopher Concepcion
A FEW years ago, the Marianas Visitors Authority conducted an exit survey of visitors leaving the islands. One of the important questions we asked them was, what was the #1 activity they had expected to undertake during their visit to the Marianas? Overwhelming, the answer was, Enjoy Nature.
If enjoying nature is the top expectation of visitors to the Marianas, we have to ask ourselves, What are we doing to prioritize, plan, and ensure the preservation and enhancement of nature, especially our old growth trees? Certainly, there are steps that have been taken in the right direction. These include the establishment of the Marpi Commonwealth Forest, Managaha Marine Conservation Area, Bird Island Marine Sanctuary, Sabana Protected Area, Tinian Marine Reserve, Forbidden Island Marine Sanctuary, and other protected areas. Another good model is the prioritization of Environmental Sustainability — alongside Economic Sustainability and Social Equity — as part of the CNMI’s Comprehensive Sustainable Development Plan.
Yet, we must admit, that in most cases, the preservation of nature is often not considered when it comes to public and private land development. In the heart of our villages and along our roadways, mature and old growth trees are routinely cut down with no thought for incorporating them into construction design, transplanting them, or even planting new trees if existing ones must be removed. Slowly, many of our more populated areas are becoming more like concrete jungles, separating people from the soil and shade that have sustained us for thousands of years. But just imagine the destination we could create if nature preservation was a key element in all our construction design and not a mere afterthought.
The American Planning Association cites three ways to preserve and protect trees: (1) planning to include and encourage trees in the community; (2) active promotion of tree planting and preservation by business and civic groups and community officials; and (3) regulations to ensure provision of public trees and to prevent excessive cutting of trees on private property.
For an excellent example of the second point, we can look to the ongoing work of Mayor Aubry Hocog and the community of Rota, on a mission to plant multitudes of trees — especially fruit trees — across the island for both residents and visitors to enjoy. What an experience it will be for visitors to freely pick and enjoy fresh fruit from trees in parks and roadsides when visiting Rota. MVA was able to incorporate this forward-thinking community initiative into our first ever Rota Marathon in January 2024, inviting racers to participate in a tree-planting ceremony at the Rota Roundhouse in Songsong village as part of the formal race events. Activities such as this tie back to the #1 activity visitors anticipate when visiting — enjoying nature. More so, with today’s trend toward travelling more mindfully and enabling sustainable travel, visitors are looking for ways to give back to the communities they travel to in meaningful, environmentally conscious ways. Tree-planting is an excellent way to build that relationship and a connection to community that today’s traveler is desiring.
Each year, MVA and the Marianas Tourism Education Council visit public schools across the islands to teach schoolchildren about the tourism industry and how they can engage with it, even at a young age. Under this year’s theme “Green Spaces, Memorable Places,” we invite students to close their eyes and imagine their favorite place in nature. What do you see? Hear? Feel? And most importantly, how does that place make you feel? Whether it be the lapping of waves on the shore or the sound of birds in the trees, the peaceful feeling that comes from being close to nature is what we want every visitor to walk away with after their visit to our islands.
Historian, activist, and explorer Robert Swan once said, ”The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” For the sake of visitors and residents today and in future generations, we will collectively gain by prioritizing the preservation and development of “green spaces” in our populated areas of the Marianas.
