Fourth and fifth grade students on Saipan have been gathering at the American Memorial Park for the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality\u2019s Environmental Expo.<\/p>\n
The expo is one of BECQ\u2019s main events for the Environmental Awareness Month being observed this April.<\/p>\n
The half-day events held for three days starting Tuesday showcase the CNMI\u2019s environmental and natural resource groups in conducting widespread outreach.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a one-stop shop for them to learn just what our natural resource agencies our doing,\u201dBECQ-Division of Coastal Resource Management\u00a0education and outreach coordinator Jihan S. Buniag said.<\/p>\n
According to Buniag, they chose the fourth and fifth grade classes as these are when students begin learning about taking care of the environment. <\/p>\n
\u201cUsually during fourth and fifth grade they are already learning about coral reef learning systems, they\u2019re learning about pollution, they\u2019re learning about all these different threats and impacts at this age,\u201d Buniag said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe based it on their curriculum and their content standards, we adjust our presentations based on what they\u2019re learning,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n
Both BECQ\u2019s divisions, the CRM and Environmental Quality were present to showcase their various programs such as Waste Water, Earthmoving, Erosion Control Branch, Pesticides and Storage Tanks, Safe Drinking Water Branch, Site Assessment and Remediation, Laboratory, Toxic Waste Management, Water Quality Surveillance & Non-Point Source, Coral Reef Initiative, Permit Section, Enforcement, Education and Outreach, Coastal Resources Planning, and Marine Monitoring Program.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of DEQ\u2019s programs are here communicating the importance of their programs and how the community can help,\u201d Buniag said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe presenters that we have lined up are all from the natural resource agencies as well as our partners,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n
These includes the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Department of Lands and Natural Resources Sea Turtle Program, DLNR-Division of Fish and Wildlife Marine Protected Area Program, and DLNR-DFW enforcement. <\/p>\n
Aside from having fun, the students also learn about how they can take care of the environment that they will inherit. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re having being out of the classroom and just learning hands on what the different programs are and what we are doing to protect the islands for them,\u201d Buniag said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always reinforce the message of the importance of what we\u2019re teaching and then also reinforcing what they can do to help,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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