The Guam Plant Extinction Prevention (GPEP) Program for Saving Rare Plants in Guam

The US Forest Service supported the planning development of the Guam Plant Extinction Prevention (GPEP) program with two grants awarded in 2011 and 2013. This Program is being developed jointly with the Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry & Soil Resources Division and the University of Guam with collaboration of the Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources and Hawaii Plant Extinction Prevention program.  The main objective of the program is to protect and restore rare plants in Guam’s natural forests. The Guam Rare Plant Restoration Group (GRPR), the advisory body of the program was formed to support the program. The members consist of botanists, environmentalists and conservationists from the private sector, US and local agencies, and military bases.  A poster and a brochure on GPEP were created for public education and outreach program to support Guam’s forest biodiversity protection. The program has established: propagation and nursery facilities; a seed storage facility; a tissue culture lab to propagate and grow prioritized plants, which will be out-planted to protected sites on Guam.