Save the islands’ trees

Someone needs to be thanked, but I don’t know who. Recently three large flame trees near the old dump have been rid of scarlet gourd vine. This vine was killing these large beautiful trees until someone chopped done the vine. So to whoever did this, thank you.

It seems to me, and I’m no expert, that the growth of the scarlet gourd vine may soon be Saipan and Tinian’s big environmental nightmare, like the brown tree snake is to Guam. It covers a large part of both islands and is growing exponentially. I understand some beetles have been released in an effort to slow the growth rate. But slowing the growth rate just means the islands will soon be completely covered with the vine, soon, just not as soon as it might have been. There is no plan and no effort to reclaim the loss of trees and other plants to this intruder. At least someone has saved three trees. It would be nice for an organization of agency to make an effort to reclaim parts of Saipan. Even in economic hard times, a small crew with machetes and weed killer maybe able to do a lot to protect the future. A vine-covered rock with massive erosion is no tourist destination.

Speaking of the future, just a quick comment on the now comatose, if not dead, underwater federal monument. There was an article in the local paper that basically explains how the CNMI has killed the proposal. Then there was an unrelated article the same week about how Samoa is sending a proposal to the federal government asking the federal government to create a national monument there. It seems a proposal similar to the one the CNMI has rejected is actually being sought by Samoa. Two different island governments with similar desperate economic problems and environmental issues. Both have a similar relationship to the federal government. One seems to be looking for new things to try with the assistance and input from the federal government. The other has a “just say no” approach to the federal government. A person could get the impression that Samoa is looking for new and creative solutions to current and future problems while the CNMI is fighting to maintain its downward spiral. This is just an impression someone could get.

But in any event, either Samoa or the CNMI is making a big mistake. Someone has been misled, misinformed, yes lied to and even duped. A national monument is either good for the people of those islands and the environment or it’s not. Only one island government is doing the right thing for the future of its people and islands. The question now is which one. Time will tell. Anyone want to place a bet?