RESEARCH PROJECT

Natural resource management (NRM) has grown increasingly important around the world. With the effects of climate change, it is important to recognize the various ecosystem services provided to human communities by the natural world, especially in the Pacific Islands. Human communities’ needs and values are important to include in NRM approaches to improve the long-term success of NRM measures, to identify potential ways for communities to benefit/reduce negative impacts from NRM efforts, and to grow broader support for NRM.

This study will collect community input from user groups of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge’s Ritidian Unit, more commonly known as Ritidian or Litekyan. Ritidian is a respected, sacred place with immense cultural, historical, educational, and environmental value to the people of Guam. Collected qualitative data will be used to draft a visitor services plan as a starting point for incorporating community input into the process of producing a final Ritidian Visitor Services Plan.