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Tasi Watch Rangers, volunteers get enforcement training
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Posted on Jun 22 2012
On Friday, June 15, the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance’s Tasi Watch Rangers and volunteers completed their first community enforcement workshop at the new MINA office in Gualo Rai.
The purpose of MINA’s community enforcement workshop is to improve the Tasi Watch Rangers’ and volunteers’ capacity in managing our near shore marine resources and how MINA can best assist government agencies such as Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resource Management Office, and the Division of Fish and Wildlife in improving and expanding enforcement efforts along the Commonwealth’s coastal areas.
Friday’s workshop was focused on local applicable laws and regulations that protect the environment in both marine and terrestrial. Presenters of the workshop were CNMI government lawyers Kate Fuller and Teresita Sablan. The workshop was focused on littering, open burning, earth moving, and other enforcement issues such as community members reporting violations.
Jim Hinds, an attendee, says that the training was professional. “I learned basically that we have to be really nice and gentle when we go there to talk to people or violators.” Hinds said that this training would be useful in the future because it motivated him to help keep the island cleaner.
“This workshop taught me how to keep it safe and clean,” said Anthony Pua, a MINA Tasi Watch Ranger.
MINA is a nonprofit organization that was formed by people whose dedication for the environment felt the need to promote protection and restoration of the islands’ natural resources. Tasi Watch is a collaborative effort between the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, DEQ, CRM, DFW, and other government agencies and private organizations by providing the Laolao Bay communities the opportunity to manage its near shore marine resources.
For more information, contact MINA at 233-7333 or visit their website at www.minapacific.org. (MINA)
