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Environmental Expo starts Tuesday
The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality will host its three-day 2015 Environmental Expo starting tomorrow, Tuesday, and continuing on Wednesday, and Thursday at the American Memorial Park.
The expo brings in fourth and fifth graders from all over the island to learn from environmental and natural resource groups.
These groups have conducted environmental outreach to over 1,500 students in previous years at the expo. This year the number could go up to 2,000 with more private schools expected to join.
Tehane Kirby-Joab, BECQ’s Division of Coastal and Resources Management enforcement officer and “Environmental Awareness Month” co-chair, told Saipan Tribune that an event like this raises awareness in younger people.
She said the youth could help spread the word on environmental awareness in their homes.
Her own kids even help her, she said. “Targeting younger generations is a great way to go,” she said.
Tom Pangelinan, Division of Environmental Quality specialist and Environmental Awareness month co-chair, hopes to teach students of the “islands’ treasures.”
These “treasures” reflect the Grotto, native forest, the ocean, and land, he said.
“We need to be aware of the environment,” he said. “It’s very small, limited—once we lose it, we can’t bring it back.”
BECQ invites all interested public and private agencies to participate in the expo. Over 30 organizations have participated in past expos.
BECQ thanks the Public School System for providing busing for students.
Also this week is BECQ’s Islandwide Cleanup on Friday. Community groups are invited to join together to clean the island of trash and debris.
To register your agency or group for the event, contact BECQ’s Robert Deleon Guerrero or Aileen Benavente at 664-8500.
