Rota takes pride in Talakhaya watershed revegetation project

Twenty-five Luta Livelihoods volunteers take pride in their successful planting of 20,000 seedlings in the As Onan and Alesna areas of the Talakhaya watershed at an appreciation lunch on Aug. 14, 2008, on Rota. The project was facilitated by DEQ Saipan and Rota, and DLNR Rota. This planting marks the second largest planting event on Rota.

The Talakhaya Watershed Revegetation project aims to reduce the nonpoint source pollution from running off steep slopes of the Talakhaya Watershed into the adjacent coral reef ecosystem. Identified as a priority watershed in 2005 in the CNMI Local Action Strategy, revegetation of the badlands began in 2006 to address deforestation and soil loss caused by illegal burning activities.

Talakhaya has low nutrient soil, steep terrain and arid conditions, and therefore requires the careful selection of tolerant plant species along with addition of nutrient matter (via a slow release fertilizer tablet) to the soil prior to attempting to establish plants. Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum), is one of the seedlings that has been successful in stabilizing the soil, and this year, 15,503 seedlings were planted.

Trees planted include 2,250 da’ok trees (Calophyllum inophyllum), 70 pahong (Pandanus dubius), 956 puting (Barringtonia asiatica) and 659 sosugi (Acacia confusa).

A total of 19,438 tree and grass seedlings were planted this year.

In addition, a pilot project was conducted where Bahia grass seeds were broadcast and secured using coconut fiber to create a fire break. The success of this pilot project will be monitored to determine its effectiveness.

To prepare for the yearly planting, DLNR-Rota propagates seedlings in their nursery providing the plants needed for revegetation. DEQ-Rota coordinates volunteer efforts and other logistics.

Prior to the planting, the Office of the Mayor of Rota hosted the Luta Livelihoods Orientation. The volunteers were trained by NRCS-Saipan staff to use GPS units and in soil science and management techniques to reduce the erosion and sedimentation of Rota’s coral reefs. The GPS units were provided by CRM-Rota and NCRS-Saipan, and were used to record the seedling locations.

Rota’s Channel 5 broadcast the training session for all of Rota to view. Mariana Islands Nature Alliance facilitated the volunteer logistics this year.

Last year, 35 community volunteers planted over 22,000 grass and tree seedlings in the As Onan area. In 2006, student and adult volunteers from the Public School System planted 2,500 seedlings.

For more information about how you can ayuda Luta, save our soil save our reef, contact Kathleen Herrmann, Talakhaya Project Coordinator, at 670-664-8513 or kathleenherrmann@deq.gov.mp [B][I](DEQ)[/I][/B]