This year’s theme highlights the importance of shared community environments and the collective stewardship of Guam’s urban forest.

Our 2026 Focus Areas:

• Green Infrastructure – Green infrastructure uses nature-based solutions like tree planting, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces to support healthier communities. By integrating native trees and vegetation into developed areas, we help manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and improve air and water quality. This supports Guam’s goal to build climate-resilient infrastructure that works with our natural systems, not against them.

• Heat Island Reduction – Urban areas can trap heat, creating “heat islands” that raise local temperatures and impact public health. Projects that increase tree canopy and shaded walkways directly cool our neighborhoods. These efforts align with Guam’s Forest System Plan strategy to prioritize tree planting in high-risk heat zones and reduce energy use in built environments.

• Stormwater Management (GSI) – Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) slows down, filters, and absorbs rain where it falls — using vegetation and soil to manage runoff naturally. Planting trees and native plants in public areas, schools, and parks helps reduce pollution in our water systems and supports healthy soil. This directly supports our Forest Action Plan’s call for nature-based flood prevention and better watershed protection.

• Native Tree and Plant Education – Guam’s native trees and plants are uniquely adapted to our environment, offering ecological, cultural, and historical value. Educational projects help residents understand why these species matter and how to care for them. By teaching people to identify and plant native species, we preserve Guam’s biodiversity and deepen cultural connection to the land — a core goal of the Forest System Plan.

• Citizen Science & Forest Monitoring – Community-led data collection is a powerful way to support long-term forest health. Projects that use tools like tree inventories, photo-monitoring, or climate sensors empower residents to help track changes in Guam’s forests and urban tree cover. This kind of citizen science supports data-driven decision-making and fosters public stewardship — both priorities in the Forest Action Plan. Use Guam’s Citizen Forester Program to collect valuable data and promote community ownership of tree health and climate resilience.

• Beautification & Shared Public Spaces – Well-designed green spaces make our villages more livable, welcoming, and safe. Projects that beautify public areas with native trees, benches, shade, or artwork bring people together and improve mental well-being. These efforts reflect Guam’s vision of “green spaces, shared places,” and support urban forestry goals around public engagement and community health.