In a moving ceremony, the community of Guåhan came together to mourn the loss of the last adult håyun lågu tree on the island, a powerful symbol of the native plant species decimated by invasive species. The event, organized by the Climate Change Alliance, featured readings from the children’s book “Mother Tree” by Olympia Terral, which tells the story of the plight of native species on the island.
Traditional healer Lourdes Manglona and Dr. Else Demeulenaere were among the speakers who honored the passing of the mother tree, a species introduced to botanists in 1919 by Peter Nelson. The event took place at the Litekyan overlook, near the remaining seedlings of the tree, where Dr. Else spoke about her genetic research on the håyun lågu and its relatives in Micronesia.
The ceremony highlighted the community’s commitment to protecting the biocultural diversity of Guåhan and the interconnectedness with the forest. This commitment was further demonstrated at the National Park Service’s Asan Beach Restoration kickoff event, where volunteers searched for and dispatched invasive brown tree snakes.
With funding from the National Audubon Society, the Friends of Islan Dånó will resume snake searches on Dånó, showing the community’s dedication to preserving the natural treasures of Guåhan. As the holiday season approaches, the message is clear: start small, start now, in protecting the island’s unique plant and animal species.
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Photo credit www.guampdn.com