University of Hawaii Launches $2.8M Pacific Forest Initiative
The program will fund five new forestry extension agents to assist American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.
By Evelyn Adeyemi ·
The University of Hawaii at Manoa and the U.S. Forest Service have secured 2.8 million dollars for a new joint initiative designed to shield Pacific Island forests from wildfires, drought, and severe storms.
Known as the Pacific Forest Resilience Program, the effort will finance five new forestry extension agent positions within UH Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.
These agents will serve communities in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.
Applications for the roles opened on Monday, November 9. Officials expect the new agents to begin their work in local communities by May 2027.
Ashley McGuigan, the program lead and CTAHR extension specialist, noted that many Pacific Islands face shared challenges ranging from wildfires and drought to severe storms.
The program will coordinate forestry agencies, local communities, and extension personnel to deliver training and resources. These resources focus on reforestation, agroforestry, and pest management. Officials stated the initiative will also support local forest management plans and help communities strengthen their resilience to environmental threats. An informational webinar regarding the program and open positions is scheduled for November 18 at 2 p.m. Hawaii time.
