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NMC students help remove invasive vines
NMC students, from left to right, Jake Santos, Daniel Kaipat, Ohmar Nawaz, and Keoni Tudela, with Shelly Kremer of the Micronesica Bird Conservation. (MATTHEW CRAN)
Students from Northern Marianas College’s Environmental Conservation course spent some time with Shelly Kremer from the local nonprofit organization Micronesica Bird Conservation to remove invasive vines just down the hill from the college.
Students from the course focusing on pest management and invasive species joined Kremer to learn about the different invasive vines here on Saipan. It was a hands-on learning experience where students spent time in the jungle to control the spread of vines and rescue some trees.
Micronesica Bird Conservation is driven by their mission statement to preserve the integrity and diversity of the island’s avifauna. The agency does this through outreach and conservation; the latter is achieved via their Vine Busters group. Vine Busters is a mix of MBC staff and volunteers wanting to make a difference in their environment. The invasive vines smother trees, killing them, and changing the landscape and ecosystem.
The partnership between NMC and MBC has been going on for over a year now and is one NMC is very excited to be taking part in.
“It would be great for NMC to have its ‘own patch’ that it takes care of and this spot just down Chalan Monsignor Guerrero from the college very well may be the spot,” said Matt Crane, NMC instructor. “Keep an eye out as you drive by this section of road on your way to or from campus and you will slowly see the efforts of these students paying off.”
Those who want to get involved can visit http://www.micronesicabirdconservation.org/ to learn more. (NMC)
