{"id":359625,"date":"2022-01-13T06:02:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T20:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=359625"},"modified":"2022-01-13T06:02:36","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T20:02:36","slug":"1500-trees-planted-to-prevent-erosion-into-ugum-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/1500-trees-planted-to-prevent-erosion-into-ugum-river\/","title":{"rendered":"1,500 trees planted to prevent erosion into Ugum River"},"content":{"rendered":"
Volunteers plant an\u00a0Acacia auriculiformis\u00a0(acacia) tree during a tree planting event on Dec. 18 at the Ugum watershed in Inal\u00e5han. (UOG)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approximately 1,500 new trees will help to combat erosion and contribute to a healthier watershed from the Ugum River in Inal\u00e5han following a tree-planting event last month. Volunteers assisted the effort, led by the Guam Restoration of Watersheds initiative from the University of Guam Sea Grant program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Without trees, loose sediment flows downstream through watersheds, resulting in the destruction of vegetation, depletion of land mass, an accumulation of sediment in nearby rivers and reefs, and loss of wildlife over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The areas upstream of the Ugum River are examples of this, having become badlands over time due to a combination of negligent off-roading, arson, and feral ungulates feeding on vegetation, according to Teddy Concepcion, GROW team lead and a UOG Sea Grant extension assistant. To restore a healthy Ugum ecosystem and watershed and for the badlands to thrive and potentially be cultivatable in the future, it will need increased plant biodiversity and rehabilitated soil.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ultimate goal is to reforest our lands to prevent any more sedimentation getting into our waters and to eliminate erosion of our lands,\u201d Concepcion said, adding that the Ugum River supplies two million gallons of water to southern residents daily. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to see now, but this area we\u2019re in was a lot higher, had a lot more soil, and a lot more organic matter. If we continue to let it be, there will no longer be an area here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Volunteers planted native tree species, including\u00a0Morinda citrifolia\u00a0(ladda, or noni fruit),\u00a0Calophyllum inophyllum\u00a0(da\u2019ok, or mastwood), and\u00a0Glochidion marianum\u00a0(\u00e5bas,\u00a0duendes, or\u00a0chosga) in areas with existing healthy soil. They also planted\u00a0Acacia auriculiformis\u00a0(acacia) in the badlands. Though acacia trees are not native to Guam, they benefit badlands by quickly fixating nitrogen and providing organic matter to rebuild the soil, Concepcion said, retaining ground moisture with their shade, and serving as windbreaks to keep other trees sturdy and protected from spreading fires. \u00a0<\/p>\n