EVENTS

Webinar Details:

Title:

Strengthening Island Resilience through Invasive Species Removal in Guam’s Limestone Forests

Webinar Description:

Guam’s limestone forests and its biodiversity are increasingly threatened by invasive trees, vines, and ungulates which alter forest structure and reduce resilience to typhoons and climate change. Our team has been testing practical restoration strategies that combine targeted herbicidal removal of invasive woody species (Vitex parviflora), vine management, ungulate exclusion, and outplanting. Over three years, we observed how these interventions open the canopy, support native regeneration, and improve forest stability after major storms. This webinar will share key lessons learned, including effective methods for removing large invasive trees in tropical island conditions and which native species perform best during restoration. We will also discuss the role of community involvement and how restoring native vegetation strengthens both ecological and cultural resilience. Participants are invited to share their own experiences with invasive tree removal, especially large-diameter species, and strategies for managing aggressive vines in tropical or island ecosystems.

Speaker details:

Dr. Else Demeulenaere is the Associate Director for Natural Resources at the University of Guam’s Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, where she leads the Island Conservation Lab. The lab consists of a team of a program manager, project associates, biologists, conservation technicians, and students conduct research on endangered species, ethnobotany, and forest and watershed restoration, while also contributing to policies that protect endangered species and promote sustainable practices. Originally from Belgium, Else holds a Master’s in Botany (Ecology) from the University of Ghent and an PhD in Biogeography, Ethnobotany, and Policy from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in partnership with the University of Guam. Her interdisciplinary research centers on the biogeography and traditional ecological knowledge of native plant species, social activism, and the development of policies that protect Guam’s ecosystems and cultural heritage. A Guam resident for over 20 years, Else is a passionate advocate for biocultural conservation, community engagement, and mentoring the next generation of environmental stewards.

Vince Fabian is a Philippine-born, Guåhan-raised settler immigrant biologist focusing on conservation and restoration research in Micronesia. He earned his B.S. in Biology from the University of Guam in 2020. Since then, he has gained experience in phylogenetics, ecology, and restoration management on coral reefs, reef fish, manta rays, turtles, snails, butterflies, bats, and tropical insular forest ecosystems. He presented at international conferences and taught island ecology courses on Guam and Yap. He currently works as a Program Manager for Natural Resources at the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Island Conservation Lab. There, he leads research on reforestation tactics and managing threatened and endangered terrestrial species populations. He aims to improve inclusivity and representation of queer and indigenous people, voices, and lifestyles in conservation. He hopes to specialize in plant ecophysiology and plant-soil-microbe feedback in the future and teach the next generation of conservationists in the Pacific.