Marianas Trench Sanctuary

There is a story in the Marianas Variety today regarding the Marianas Trench.  I've noticed that over the years the archives of the local Saipan newspapers tend to get deleted, so I'm posting it here in its entirety, both for your reading pleasure and posterity's sake:

Rota lawmakers ask US to designate marine sanctuary process for Marianas Trench monument

MEMBERS of the Rota Legislative Delegation have introduced a resolution asking the U.S. to develop a marine sanctuary process that will strengthen protections for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.

Signed by Rep. Glenn Maratita, Sens. Teresita Santos, Paul Manglona, Steve Mesngon, Rota Legislative Delegation Commemorative Resolution 19-10 states that the monument, which was created by President George Bush in Jan. 2009, provides permanent protection for approximately 95,216 square miles of submerged lands, waters and deep sea in the Pacific Ocean.

The Marianas waters have been scientifically determined to be the single greatest marine priority for conservation in U.S. waters, the resolution says, adding that the threat of climate change makes protection of the monument a priority for the CNMI.

According to the resolution, the monument’s protection would benefit Northern Marianas residents who rely upon an intact and preserved marine ecosystem for cultural uses such as ocean voyaging.

“The president of the United States has been asked to initiate a marine sanctuary designation by Gov. Ralph Torres and Delegate Gregorio Camacho Kilili Sablan. [But] the existing management structure of the Mariana Trench Marine Monument does not prioritize educational programs and a visitor center….

“The Rota Legislative Delegation respectfully requests that sanctuary management plans include and highlight research, education, enforcement and visitor center elements particularly on the island of Rota.”

As this story develops, I encourage you to watch and share this video of the 20 minute poster session for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument from the IUCN Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii back in September.  It features several speakers from the federal management of the monument and Angelo Villagomez from The Pew Charitable Trusts talking about the culture of the monument:

 

A visitors’ center worthy of the marine monument

As one of the framers of our Constitution, my father knew the value of our natural resources to our culture and argued for permanent protections for Mañagaha, and the three northernmost islands of Asuncion, Maug, and Uracas. He taught me that it is the responsibility of every indigenous person to ensure that these islands are passed down to the next generation in the same condition in which they were passed down to us.

That’s why I worked so hard alongside The Friends of the Monument and The Pew Charitable Trusts to help create the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.

It is an indisputable fact that the people of the Northern Marianas support environmental protection and it is no wonder that there was such a tidal wave of support for the creation of the Marianas Trench Monument.

When the monument was declared on Jan. 6, 2009, then governor Benigno R. Fitial, then Senate president Pete P. Reyes, and then House speaker Arnold Palacios led in celebration 6,000 local residents, 500 students, and 206 businesses. As I recall, Governor Fitial was so elated he hugged President George W. Bush right after the signing.

In a letter to the editor, former representative Cinta M. Kaipat wrote that the goals of the monument were to “create federally funded local jobs, give a needed boost to our struggling tourism industry, bring positive worldwide attention to our shores, and most importantly, protect three of our islands and their surrounding waters for generations to come.” (Saipan Tribune, May 1, 2008)

Much has been accomplished toward achieving these goals. In the last five years there has been positive media attention for the islands, renewed interest in scientific exploration of the area, and a federally funded office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration opened in Garapan. But work still needs to be done. Everyone must come together to move ahead with creating the visitor center and bringing to fruition the economic promise of this impressive marine reserve.

In 2009, the same year the monument was declared, Delegate Gregorio Sablan earmarked $220,000 in the fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriation Act (HR 3288) for the design of our visitor center. It was a proud moment. Our first representative in the U.S. Congress passed one of his first bills.

The Friends and Pew worked with the delegate’s office and with NOAA, the recipient of the funding, to draft a grant to the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources to “develop a process for engaging input from the public to create a visitor and education center that will incorporate our existing marine protected areas and the new Marianas Trench National Monument.” (Delegate Sablan, letter to DLNR Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz, Dec. 30, 2009)

The plan was to develop an architectural blueprint so that Delegate Sablan, along with the Friends and Pew, could ask Congress to fund the construction. Although progress stalled at the local level, today we have a new governor, a new DLNR secretary, and from what I understand from media reports, soon we’ll have a new architectural plan for a monument visitor center. This is excellent news, and everyone who had a hand in its completion deserves congratulations.

Soon it will be time to take the plan to Washington, and I know the Friends, Pew and our elected officials will do all they can to help. But there is no guarantee that federal funding will be available. In the meantime, the Friends continue to work with the community on outreach and education. Pew has supported these efforts and continues to engage with CNMI leaders at the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, Micronesian Chief Executive Summit, and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

The people of the Northern Mariana Islands should be proud of what we have accomplished. From the Micronesia Challenge, to the Marianas Trench Monument, and most recently our leadership in global shark conservation, the world is taking notice. Let’s welcome them with a visitor center worthy of these efforts.

Angelo Villagomez is with The Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C.

One Week in Washington, DC

Under the Pala Pala XII – One Week in Washington, DC

Island Decisions and Island Opinions are made Under the Pala Pala

Last month I traveled to Washington, DC to assist Agnes McPhetres in testifying before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife on behalf of the Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument. I also helped set up and participated in several meetings with federal officials, including Subcommittee staff, the staff of Representative Gregorio Kilili, and officials with NOAA Office of Marine National Sanctuaries, and others. We were unable to meet with anyone in Interior; they were busy with the Coral Reef Task Force meetings and were dealing with the passing of their Director.

Our week in our nation’s Capital was well spent. We traveled there to express our support for Representative Sablan’s H.R. 3511 and our opposition to Representative Madeleine Bordallo’s H.R. 4493. While we were there we picked up a lot of useful information and I would like to pass this along to the people living in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and those who are concerned with the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and other related marine issues.

But first I would like to reiterate why I, along with the Friends of the Monument, support Sablan’s bill and oppose Bordallo’s bill. We are opposed to Bordallo’s bill for three reasons:

1. H.R. 4493 violates the promises made by the United States Government.
2. H.R. 4493 includes the Government Guam in the management of marine resources fully contained within the CNMI’s jurisdiction.
3. H.R. 4493 ties the management of the Mariana Trench Monument to the Guam National Wildlife Refuge, which according to Guam Public Law 23-24 is not recognized by the people of Guam.

When the Mariana Trench Monument was declared, the Government of the United States of America promised the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that the monument would lead to the construction of a visitors center in the CNMI and the funding of vessels to access the area. H.R. 4493 would transfer these social and economic benefits from CNMI to Guam.

H.R. 4493 would also give Guam a seat on the Monument Advisory Panel and a role in the monument management plan. Bordallo argues that Guam should have a seat at the table because the monument includes their marine resources and because Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the ocean, is near Guam. That is untrue. There are no marine resources within 400 miles of Guam’s shore protected by the monument. The Islands Unit, the federal waters surrounding the CNMI islands of Uracas, Maug, and Asunction, is the only unit of the larger monument that includes marine protections. The Trench Unit and the Volcanic Unit, the units that come within 60 miles of Guam, are not marine protected areas. They do not protect marine resources; they simply recognize unique geological features at the bottom of the ocean. And Challenger Deep lies outside the borders of the monument. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Federated States of Micronesia and is not owned by the United States.

Finally, H.R. 4493 would tie the management of the Mariana Trench Monument in with the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. Doing so would create chaos and would inhibit the development of a monument management plan. Guam P.L. was passed “to prohibit the Government of Guam from entering into cooperative agreements with respect to the so-called Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.S. Department of Interior at the property in the northern area of Guam that was formerly the U.S. Naval Facility and to prohibit the use of Government of Guam resources and personnel in any manner that could be construed as supporting continuous federal holding of such properties.” To put it bluntly, H.R 4493 is in direct conflict with the laws of Guam.

This is just a quick summary of our testimony. If you are interested you can read the more detailed Testimony of the Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument and Testimony of Agnes McPhetres.

Then before I get into what we learned during our week in Washington, DC, I would just like to point out that from an environmentalist’s point of view, this whole process is a good thing. It is exciting that there is so much interest in the Marianas Trench Monument that the CNMI and Guam are working out which jurisdiction should have the larger role in its management. Imagine if the opposite were true; imagine if there was no interest in marine conservation. I prefer the current situation.

Representative Bordallo also deserves thanks for allowing this discussion and the Subcommittee hearing to take place. As the Chair she could easily push her bill through to the Committee level. She should be commended for taking the time to listen to the people of the CNMI and for allowing the 150+ letters written by our people to be introduced into the record.

By the way, how many people living on Guam submitted letters?

As this moves forward, it will be important to keep in mind that Bordallo is the Subcommittee Chair. She’s going to use her position to make sure she gets something. I’m just hopeful that a fair compromise can be worked out.

Placing the visitors center and headquarters in the CNMI must be non-negotiable, however. Promises were made by the United States Government and those promises have to be kept, but there must be a way to include Guam in the management plan of the geological resources of the monument as long as they agree that they should have no role in the management of the marine resources seeing as they are entirely within the jurisdiction of the CNMI.

Should Bordallo push ahead with including Guam in the management plan of the marine resources of the monument by changing the Antiquities Act declaration, one compromise could be legislating the Trench Unit into a no-take marine protected area. There is no commercial, recreational, subsistence, or sustenance fishing in that area today, so this would be a non-controversial, win-win move. CNMI would then no longer have an argument for not including Guam in the management plan and it would also turn the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument into the second largest marine protected area on the planet, another win-win. Another compromise would be to expand the Islands Unit to include Stingray Shoals, an area identified by NOAA as having the highest remaining shark densities in the Pacific, and the boiling pools of sulfur west of Maug, the universe’s only known sulfur pools outside Jupiter’s moon Io.

Also, if Bordallo is going to attempt to tie the monument to the Guam National Wildlife Refuge in an attempt to secure funds to manage and expand their existing Nature Center, she should start by pushing the Guam Senate to change Public Law 23-24 to officially recognize the Wildlife Refuge.

Now with all that out of the way, what exactly did we learn during our trip?

We learned from Eileen Sobeck, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks that there was no funding request made for the monument for 2011. The 2012 fiscal year does not begin until October 1, 2011; that is the earliest date funding to develop a management plan will be available. It is 9 months after the deadline imposed by the monument declaration.

We learned that 90% of the National Wildlife Refuges do NOT have visitors centers. That is a sobering thought and invalidates the argument that Guam and CNMI can each have a Marianas Trench Visitors Center. In all likelihood there will be no visitors center as long as United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the manager of the monument; and if there is one, there will only be one, not two.

There will also someday likely be a headquarters for this monument. USFWS officials have already expressed to us how easy it would be to house this headquarters on Guam. There is already an USFWS office on Guam and staff on Guam. All they’d have to do is add a few desks and allowing Guam on the Monument Advisory Panel makes this even more likely. If Governor Fitial wants to see those federal jobs come to the CNMI, he needs to change his position and oppose including Guam in the management scheme.

We learned that USFWS is always under-funded; their budget for the entire Pacific was under $1 million last year. Sobeck said that a visitors center typically costs about $7 million to build. You do the math.

We also learned that any monument educational programs as administered by USFWS would likely be volunteer driven, not paid, otherwise they would have to be initiated by the Friends of the Monument.

Clearly, the monument as is, the monument the leaders of the CNMI said they “negotiated,” is not the monument requested by any of the Friends of the Monument.

In our testimony we made the suggestion to transfer management authority from USFWS to NOAA Sanctuaries. We learned from different sources that this would be very difficult, that Congress tries not to amend Antiquities Act declarations. Another option would be for National Parks to take over from USFWS. We learned that this also has political ramifications and would be difficult, if not impossible.

Not all was bad; we also learned some good things. We learned that NOAA Sanctuaries could still build a visitors center in the CNMI although USFWS is the monument’s manager. They told us about the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West, Florida. The Eco-Discovery Center features numerous exhibits that interpret the resources and management efforts of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, two national parks, and four national wildlife refuges. Exhibits include aspects of history, geography, and culture, as well as nature.

Something similar could exist in the CNMI, in fact, funding is already available that could design such a facility. On December 16, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the “FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriation Act (HR 3288)” which included an $220,000 earmark for the CNMI Department of Lands & Natural Resources.

In a letter to DLNR Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz dated December 30, 2009, Representative Gregorio Camacho “Kilili” Sablan stated that the funds could be used to “develop a process for engaging input from the public to create a visitor and education center that will incorporate our existing marine protected areas and the new Marianas Trench National Monument.”

All Governor Fitial would have to do to move this forward is to write to NOAA Sanctuaries requesting their support and expertise in designing and implementing a plan for the “Angelo O’Connor Villagomez Eco-Discovery Center.”

We can work out the name later if somebody takes issue with it.

I know there is a lot of information contained in this letter and that I jump around a bit, but I hope it helps you wrap your brain around the many issues and players surrounding the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.

It is never too late to have your voice heard. You can write a letter to Governor Fitial, Representaive Sablan, Representative Bordallo, President Obama, or any other elected official to share with them your hopes for this monument. I am always available to assist in any way possible.



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Under the Pala Pala is the regular commentary of environmentalist and erstwhile politician Angelo O’Connor Villagomez. Pala pala is the Chamorro word for an outdoor shelter traditionally made of wood and thatch used for staying out of the sun, cooking, eating, drinking, singing, and talking. Sign up to subscribe via email at www.AngeloVillagomez.com.

Skype: saipanblogger

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Bonitan Tasi, Mariana Trench discussed in Under the Pala Pala

The delegate to the United States Congress from Guam, Madeleine Bordallo, has introduced legislation that would affect the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.

Angelo Villagomez discusses it in his regular online commentary, Under the Pala Pala:

Under the Pala Pala VIII - Adjusting to Life in America

Island Decisions and Island Opinions are made Under the Pala Pala

My arrival in America was very similar to my departure from America. I sold or gave away almost everything I owned, mailed a few boxes, and boarded a plane with only a vague idea of what I was going to do when I got off.

Who would have thought when I got off that plane in Japan in 2005 that I was starting down a path that would lead me to run for Mayor of Saipan? Certainly not me.

I guess that’s how life works: Plan to teach English to Japanese school children and end up planting trees, picking cigarette butts off of beaches, and fighting to protect the natural heritage of the Chamorro people.

So even though I find myself with no car, no phone, and no job, I have faith in what the future holds. And the future is brighter on this side of the pond.

One of my reasons for leaving Saipan was so that I could continue my education. I’m taking the first step towards reaching that goal by taking the GRE on Tuesday. Even if I don’t manage to get a grad school application out this spring, I’ll know I’ve at least got that test out of the way for when I apply to schools in the fall.

Wish me luck.

And on the employment front I have a few pokers in the fire. I will let you know as soon as I know where I end up.

Again, wish me luck.

Yet even as relearn how to participate in conversations focused on the stuff I own, I find myself telescoping back to Saipan.

Like you, I have been following every twist and turn in the saga of Governor Fitial’s late night massage. I’ve read the newspapers and the blogs and I’ve watched the local news and I have just one question. Can someone explain to me why he hasn’t resigned yet?

I have also been tracking the international newspapers as they commemorate the 50th anniversary of the only manned expedition to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. I was pleased to see Representative Greg Sablan’s plans for commemorating this feat in Washington, DC and Saipan, but was extremely disappointed to see news of Representative Madeleine Bordallo’s plan to change the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument’s management framework to include the Government of Guam, including benefits for the University of Guam and other institutions on Guam.

While I have no problem with Guam asking the federal government to help them manage their natural resources, I see this as a ploy to have all benefits of the marine monument be received by Guam, to the detriment of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Bordallo’s Bonitan Tasi bill fails to recognize that Guam’s waters are not included in the monument. The only marine environment protected by the monument lies hundreds of miles to the north of Guam in the Marianas and the portion of the monument that extends into the federal submerged lands around Guam does not protect a single drop of water. The monument does not affect Guam’s natural resources and Guam should have no say in how the monument in the Marianas is managed, nor should educational and management dollars be transferred away from the Marianas to Guam.

I am further disappointed that Bordallo would not have the Marianas co-sponsor this bill, seeing as our people are the ones to be negatively affected by it should it pass.

She managed to find other co-sponsors, so why not us? The bill is co-sponsored by Representative Sam Farr of California, Representative Lois Capps of California, Representative Mike Honda of California, Representative Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, Representative Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa and Representative Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

So much for having a seat at the table.

I hope that Representative Sablan can educate the rest of the Congress on the history of the monument and how it came to be. This monument is something that the people of the Commonwealth asked President George W. Bush to create. We had hopes for educational opportunities, increased scientific research, and benefits to our local tourism economy. It would be a travesty to transfer all those benefits from the people of the Marianas to the people of Guam without even giving us the courtesy of asking first.


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Under the Pala Pala is the regular commentary of environmentalist and erstwhile politician Angelo O’Connor Villagomez. Pala pala is the Chamorro word for an outdoor shelter traditionally made of wood and thatch used for staying out of the sun, cooking, eating, drinking, singing, and talking. Sign up to subscribe via email at www.AngeloVillagomez.com.

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The Final Tally

We're done tallying up the final numbers for the Island Wide Cleanup. It is funny to think that several weeks worth of work are going to boil down to a sentence like, "27,070 lbs of trash were picked up by 4,140 volunteers from 61 volunteer groups at 54 adopted sites." I guess that's what this kind of stuff comes down to in the end.

So those are our official numbers. Here they are again:

Number of volunteers participating: 4,140
Weight of trash removed: 27,070 lbs (13.5 tons)
Volunteer groups participating: 61
Number of adopted sites: 54

There are too many people to thank for our success, but my Thank You letter is a start.

2009 EPA Environmental Award

Ike and I accepted the 2009 EPA Environmental Award today on behalf of the Friends of the Monument.

U.S. EPA Honors 4 Environmental Heroes from Hawaii, Pacific Islands
Release date: 04/16/2009

Contact Information: Wendy Chavez, 415 947 4248

40 groups and individuals recognized for outstanding achievement in protecting the environment

SAN FRANCISCO -- During the agency's 11th annual Environmental Awards Ceremony in San Francisco today, U.S. EPA acting Regional Administrator Laura Yoshii recognized four organizations and individuals from Hawaii and the Pacific Islands in recognition of their efforts to protect and preserve the environment in 2008.

“It is a great pleasure and honor that we can recognize the innovative and important environmental work achieved by this year’s impressive group of organizations and individuals, and the example they set for all of us to follow,” Yoshii said. “This year's winners and nominees have made superb efforts to protect and preserve our air, water and land, and increased awareness of the environmental challenges we all face.”

The Pacific Southwest’s Environmental Awards program acknowledges commitment and significant contributions to the environment in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. Forty groups and individuals were selected from over 200 nominees received this year from businesses, local, government officials, tribes, media, environmental organizations and community activists.

The Hawaiian and Pacific Islands winners are:

Laura Andersen
West Hawaii Youth Fisheries Council
Hualalai Academy
Kailua-Kona, HI
In an effort to clean up local beaches, smoking was banned at all Hawaii County Parks in 2008. This was a result of several years of efforts by middle and high school students of the West Hawaii Youth Fisheries Council at Hualalai Academy. The council first initiated a law to ban smoking at Kahalu'u Beach Park. As part of a beach clean-up, they collected over 2,000 cigarette butts in 30 minutes at the beach to demonstrate the magnitude of the problem. They spent months doing research, gathering petition signatures and testifying more than six times before the Hawaii County Council. The students helped write the bill to ban smoking at the beach park, which was approved unanimously at every step. Kahalu'u Beach Park was the first smoke and tobacco-free beach on the Big Island of Hawaii, and Hawaii was the first county in the state to ban smoking at all county parks.

David "Buddy" Nobriga
West Maui Soil & Water Conservation District
Kahului, HI
Born and raised on his family farm in Maui, Buddy Nobriga has dedicated over 50 years to the conservation of Hawaii’s natural resources. In 1956, he founded the West Maui Soil and Water Conservation District, the first in the county. His passion for protecting the environment of West Maui has had lasting benefits for the watershed. In recognition of his strong leadership skills and commitment to the community and the environment, Nobriga was appointed to many state boards and commissions. Nobriga, now retired, provided the needed leadership on the importance of controlling polluted runoff. The EPA is deeply grateful for his leadership, zeal, guidance and solid support for advancing the polluted runoff program and his devotion to environmental stewardship.

Friends of the Monument
Saipan, MP
Friends of the Monument was formed to help promote the idea of creating a national marine monument in the waters around the three northernmost islands of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Friends of the Monument engaged in activities to help educate the community --distributing leaflets, conducting meetings, and coordinating with teachers for classroom presentations. The organization gathered more than 6,000 signatures on petitions in support of the designation of a Monument. The Friends sent representatives to Washington, D.C. to meet with White House officials, and participated in television and radio public service announcements and advertising. Ultimately, they were instrumental in the process that resulted in former President George W. Bush designating the Marianas Trench Marine Monument, along with three larger national marine monuments.

Betwin Alokoa, Karl Olson and Mercy Muña
Guam EPA Pesticides Program
Barrigada, GU
The Guam EPA Pesticides Program, led by Betwin Alokoa, Karl Olson, and Mercy Muña, often goes above and beyond what is required. They’ve been instrumental in preventing unlawful pesticides from entering Guam ports, being sold on the island, and applied to crops. Their notable achievements include completing revisions to the 25 year-old Guam Pesticides Act, and getting quick approval by the legislature and governor. They followed up with 14 stakeholder meetings to explain the new requirements, and their experiences in the field are reflected in the new, more protective laws. They’ve also increased the number of pesticide inspections at farms, resulting in improved compliance and better protection for consumers. In addition, they’ve trained Guam’s customs and quarantine officers to detect illegal pesticides to prevent them from coming ashore, have provided similar training for customs, quarantine, and health officers in the Northern Mariana Islands.

For the complete list of winners, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/awards. Beginning today and throughout the coming weeks, a series of blogs will feature several of the winners at: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2009/04/16/pacific-southwest-environmental-awards-we-are-inspired/
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Nearly 4000 Ready to Beautify CNMI

The largest island-wide cleanup in Micronesian history is set to begin in a few short hours. From the Marianas Variety:

4,000 volunteers are set to hit the streets and beaches of Saipan in what is expected to be the largest islandwide cleanup in Micronesian history, a media release stated.

“The support the community is showing us has been tremendous,” explained co-organizer Angelo Villagomez of Pew Environment Group. “We have businesses, government agencies, schools, and even families registered to participate.”

As of Thursday afternoon, 51 volunteer groups had adopted 48 sites around Saipan. According to Beautify CNMI volunteer Ken Kramer, “The cleanup we organized in 2006 had 32 volunteer groups. This one is nearly double the size.”

Deputy Secretary of Labor and Beautify CNMI founder Cinta Kaipat had a reminder for all participants: “Don’t forget to take before, during, and after pictures of your cleanups. We will post these on the Beautify CNMI blog and the two groups with the largest number of volunteers and most trash collected will win $100 each. We’ll use the photos submitted to determine the winners.”

The Division of Environmental Quality, the Rotary Club of Saipan, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Marianas Tourism Education Council are the co-organizers of the islandwide cleanup. Supplies were donated by MVA and McDonald’s.

For more information on the how to participate in the cleanup, contact Joe Kaipat at 664-8500 or Angelo Villagomez via email at angelovillagomez@gmail.com .

A list of all participants can be found by visiting http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com.

Former First Lady Thanks Friends of the Monument

Monumental moment: Friends of the Monument's Agnes McPhetres presented then-First Lady Laura Bush with Mariana Trench t-shirts on the day the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument was created by then-President George W. Bush.

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands – Former First Lady Laura Bush recently wrote to the Friends of the Monument thanking them for their role in supporting the creation of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.

The letter, embossed with the official White House seal reads, “We are pleased that you joined us at the White House for the signing of the proclamation to create the Pacific Marine National Monuments. Your gifts will always remind us of your support throughout the process that led this special occasion.”

Friends of the Monument’s Agnes M. McPhetres presented then-first lady Bush with two orange Mariana Trench Monument t-shirts after the monument declaration signing in Washington, DC on January 6, 2009.

The former first lady added, “Conservation and protection of our ocean resources is vitally important to our nation and the world. I am proud of the accomplishments of my husband’s Administration to protect America’s oceans. He joins me in sending best wishes to your organization for future success in advancing marine conservation.”

The letter from the former first lady included an autographed photo of her and former President George W. Bush.
Friends of the Monument’s Angelo O. Villagomez said of the letter, “I am really proud of our people. We are showing the world how local actions can have global consequences. Even the former President of the United States and his first lady know about our work here.”

The Friends of the Monument were the main proponents for a marine monument in the Marianas. When local elected leaders were not receptive to the idea of a marine monument, the Friends started a petition drive and collected over 6000 signatures from local residents. They also gained endorsements from the business community and prominent community leaders.

The islands’ political establishment ultimately supported the monument. According to a statement issued by Governor Benigno R Fitial on the day of the designation, “I welcome President Bush's historic announcement establishing the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument…Over the past few months, I have been actively engaged in discussions with the White House Council on Environmental Quality regarding the objectives and scope of the proposed monument. I have been joined in these discussions by President Pete Reyes of the Commonwealth Senate and Speaker Arnold Palacios of the Commonwealth House of Representatives.”

When asked about what he was going to do with the letter, Friends of the Monument’s Ignacio V. Cabrera said, “I’m going to hang it on my wall at home so that I can remember all we have accomplished.”

Silly grin: Friends of the Monument's Angelo Villagomez and the letter from Laura Bush.

Friends of the Monument officers Agnes M. McPhetres, Ignacio V. Cabrera, and Angelo O. Villagomez were on hand to witness the historic monument declaration this past January.

The Friends of the Monument formed in the Spring of 2008 to express the voice of the local community and consists of a cross-section of indigenous and resident people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands who are dedicated to the conservation, preservation and protection of marine flora, fauna and geological features of the oceans; and the creation and proper management of a Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.

More information on the Friends of the Monument and the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument can be found at http://marianamonument.blogspot.com.

Angelo Villagomez thanks supporters

Thank you

One year ago I introduced the concept of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument to the people of the Marianas with the following words:

“It is the responsibility of every indigenous person to ensure that these islands are passed down to the next generation in the same condition in which they were passed down to us. I take that promise seriously. This is how I practice my culture.” (Practicing My Culture, Saipan Tribune, March 20, 2008)

The monument as proposed to the public had several months worth of input from government and environmental leaders in the Marianas. Prior to the announcement I had set up a meeting between Secretary of Department of Lands and Natural Resources Ignacio Dela Cruz, Senior Policy Advisor Ramon Mafnas, then-Representative Cinta M. Kaipat, and Jay Nelson of Pew Environment Group (August 2007). I also arranged a presentation by Pew Environment Group to the Mariana Island Nature Alliance at one of their public meetings (November 2007) and personally briefed the three heads of the local government’s natural resource agencies, Sylvan Igisomar of Division of Fish & Wildlife, Frank Rabauliman of Division of Environmental Quality, and John Joyner of Coastal Resource Management (December 2007). The monument was also discussed in several Beautify CNMI meetings, which are open to the public and announced ahead of time. Additionally, a letter outlining the concept of a monument was also sent to Governor Fitial in December 2007.

Additionally, one week before the public announcement I helped set up meetings with other government officials, including a presentation to a joint session of the Legislature and a meeting of the Governor’s Military Task Force, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Commission, and Strategic Economic Development Council in which over 40 government, business, and community leaders attended (March 2008).

Input was taken at every meeting and led to the following proposal, which was eloquently captured in a letter to the editor by Cinta Kaipat on May 1, 2008. The proposal was to “create federally funded local jobs, give a needed boost to our struggling tourism industry, bring positive worldwide attention to our shores, and most importantly, protect three of our islands and their surrounding waters for generations to come.” (Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, Saipan Tribune, May 1)

The announcement was made in a letter to the editor and was followed by a series of 115 public meetings in conference rooms, meeting halls, pala palas, bars, classrooms, restaurants, people’s homes, and offices on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

During this process 6000 local residents exercised their First Amendment rights and petitioned President Bush to create the monument. 500 students wrote hand written letters containing their concerns and hopes for the monument. Over 400 people participated in a public meeting hosted by the White House to gather comments, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth. 206 Business owners and managers signed a petition in support of the monument and about 100 local people wrote letters and emails to the President.

Many of our local private institutions supported the designation of the monument, including the Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, Tan Holdings, Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, Beautify CNMI and Marianas Dive. The Saipan Tribune also endorsed the monument in an editorial.

Finally, Governor Fitial, Senate President Reyes, and House Speaker Palacios in an eleventh hour turn around came to support the monument. The monument would not have been designated had they not come on board. This was repeated at every meeting and despite claims by Wespac officials to the contrary, ultimately proved true.

Early on there was some confusion as to the role of a private institution and government. The process to create a monument was always something that would occur between governments. Although the Pew Environment Group and Friends of the Monument would have loved to have been at the so-called negotiating table, this process was always going to take place between the duly elected leaders of the Commonwealth and the United States and their appointed representatives. The role of the private institution was to provide information and public education, with a little political pressure for good measure.

It has been nearly three months since the Marianas became home to one of the world’s largest marine protected areas, the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, yet the process to draft a management plan has just begun.

By April 6 the Secretary of Commerce will select a five person Marine Monument Advisory Council. Three of the council members will be government officials of the Northern Mariana Islands. They will be chosen in consultation with Governor Fitial.

Following the selection of the Advisory Council, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service will begin a scoping period where the public will have more opportunity for input.

With that said, everyone who was involved in getting us to where we are right now deserves a hearty pat on the back and a well-deserved thank you. I cannot think of any other issue that has engaged and inspired so many people and brought so many people together in recent memory. People who can usually not agree on anything came together to support this project. I admit that there were some people out on the fringes, but the vast majority of our people were behind the monument on the day it was designated.

Our community should be proud of what we have accomplished. Thank you to everyone who was involved.

Angelo Villagomez
Gualo Rai