BECQ lines up events for Environmental Awareness Month

April is the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s annual Environmental Awareness Month! EAM is all about protecting and caring for our islands, and this year’s theme is “Keep it Clean, Keep it Green.” To celebrate BECQ is hosting a number of activities throughout the month of April. There will be contests with prizes, and fun educational activities. So bring the whole family to and help us make EAM 2014 a success!
Kicking it all off is the Environmental Awareness Month declaration signing at the Governor’s office on March 31 at 10:30am.

EVENTS AND CONTESTS 

Tree Planting

BECQ and Forestry will be working together again this year to host several tree planting events around the island. Participants will learn about the different native plants species found in the CNMI, and how to add them to their own backyards! The events will be held on every Monday in April. To schedule a tree planting event, contact loyatalig@deq.gov.mp.

Pala Pala Painting

Coastal Resources Management will be hosting a beach and pavilion cleanup at Sugar Dock on April 12, from 9am to noon. Help us make Saipan beautiful by cleaning up the beach of all trash and debris as well as repainting and decorating the pavilions we love to enjoy. See you there! Please contact Nicole Schafer, nicole.schafer@crmsaipan.com or Avra Heller, avrahellerdeq@gmail.com, for more details.

Storm Drain Painting Contest

In March artists submitted eye-catching designs to decorate the storm drains in Garapan to remind and inform the public that all of our storm drains lead to our ocean,  so we all need to work together to make sure we keep our streets and yards clean so the water in our ocean is clean as well. On April 17 at noon the public is invited to meet in front of Kinpachi Restaurant for a tour of the winning drains, and to meet the artists! Contact Olivia Tenorio at 664-8504 for details.

Turtle Tagging

Join staff from DFW’s Turtle Team at Fishing Base at 11 am on April 15 and again on April 17, to learn more about these amazing creatures, and how the folks at DFW work to protect them. For more information contact Tammy Summers at tammymaesummers@yahoo.com.

Islandwide Cleanup

This year’s 2014 Islandwide Cleanup event will take place on April 25, 2013, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. For more information about this event, please contact Ben Somol at 664-8500 and sign up today! This Islandwide Cleanup is extra special because it is the start of a partnership with the Let’s Move Marianas Alliance to start a quarterly Islandwide Cleanup

Recycled Boat Race

Build your own boat out of recycled materials, and race to the finish! Your boat has to be man powered and cannot sink, or lose parts. There will be two races, for 18 and under, and one for 18+, with cash prizes. This event will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10.30am at Kilili Beach, across from Ada gym. Contact Cal Westergard at calwestergard@deq.gov.mp for details.

First Friday Film

First Friday Films is showing a free documentary Drawing the Line on April 4 at 6:30pm at American Memorial Park visitor’s center. Drawing the Line is a revealing tale about Australia’s oceans and the men and women who depend upon it for their livelihood. For more information, visit firstfridayfilmssaipan.blogspot.com.

Environmental Expo

This year’s EXPO will be held from 8am to 2pm on April 23-25. Over the course of the three days all of Saipan’s 4th and 5th grade students will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of environmental management agencies and organizations about their work. Please contact Avra Heller at avrahellerdeq@gmail.com for more information.

Invasive Vine Control

Join the Micronesica Bird Conservation vine control program to help protect our native plants and animals. For more information contact MBC at micronesicabirdconservation@gmail.com.

Lab Tours

The DEQ Laboratory will be open for annual EAM Lab Tours with schools. To schedule a tour contact Vinson Sablan at vinsablan@deq.gov.mp. (BECQ)