Photo By Chelsey Suarez-Pierce | Ixora triantha seedlings sprout within the installation nursery at Marine Corps Base...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP BLAZ – GUAM – Consistent with our stewardship of the natural environment, Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz’s Natural Resources Team has spearheaded contracts, projects, and outreach efforts to strengthen designated Forest Enhancement Sites (FESs) across the installation while working to minimize impacts to native species throughout the installation’s footprint.
Invasive species, including non-native animals and plants, have severely impacted Guam’s native ecosystems by outcompeting native species for resources and hindering their growth. Storm events, such as Typhoon Mawar in 2023, combined with human activity and the spread of invasive species, have further strained the island’s biodiversity.
To address these challenges, MCB Camp Blaz has integrated habitat restoration and species protection into its operational framework, including the establishment of FESs across the installation. These areas are specifically designed to support native species by minimizing invasive threats and mitigating the impacts of natural disasters.
Initiatives such as the Multi-Species Barrier Fence, MILCON funded, MCIPAC Mawar recovery funding, establishment of Caiguat and Taguac FESs, and various invasive species removal programs, are all central to Camp Blaz’s ecological strategy providing protected habitats for native, threatened, and endangered species.
At the heart of these conservation efforts is the MCB Camp Blaz nursery, a vital resource for propagating native species and supporting the outplanting process. The nursery is divided into four blocks, each dedicated to growing native plants at various stages of development. A significant portion of the nursery’s work involves collecting seeds from native plant species, primarily sourced from areas within the Live Fire Training Range Complex.
Jennifer Abrincia, Natural Resources Specialist at MCB Camp Blaz, explains that a crucial part of the process is securing seeds from native plants to meet outplanting goals. Seed collection is carefully monitored to ensure wild plant populations are not negatively affected by the process. Once collected, seeds are nurtured through their early stages of growth in small vessels. As the plants mature, they are gradually transplanted into larger containers (1-2 gallons), where they continue to grow until they are ready for introduction into a FES.
The nursery focuses on native plant species that have already demonstrated success across the installation. Notable examples include federally listed Cycas micronesica (cycads), Tabernaemontana rotensis, and Heritiera longipetiolata, which have been successfully outplanted into the Caiguat FES. However, this success required significant preparation. Site preparation is critical and involves extensive removal of invasive plant species and control of invasive animals prior to outplanting.
The installation’s Natural Resources Team expects to continue additional outplanting efforts in the coming weeks, with an initial goal of reintroducing over 22,000 native plants into Caiguat FES. To date, more than 9,000 native plants have been successfully outplanted across the Caiguat and Taguac FESs, marking a significant milestone in ongoing conservation efforts.
The nursery and associated conservation projects support the regeneration of native habitats while also reinforcing the installation’s broader mission and commitment to the region by balancing military readiness with environmental stewardship. By restoring native ecosystems and mitigating the impacts of invasive species, Camp Blaz is helping ensure the long-term viability of Guam’s unique biodiversity.
As the Marine Corps service component for Joint Region Marianas, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz (MCBCB) provides power projection capabilities from which operational forces train, deploy, redeploy, and reconstitute; while providing support to tenant organizations, military personnel, and their families. MCBCB operates a training base that promotes the combat readiness of the Fleet Marine Force and supports the missions of other tenant commands. MCBCB provides training venues, facilities, services, and support that meets the Marine Corps’ future combat requirements and is responsive to the needs of Marines, Sailors, and their families.
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2026 21:14 |
| Story ID: | 562300 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Camp Blaz Native Plant Nursery Showcase – Fulfilling Commitments and Strengthening Island Native Ecosystems, by Chelsey Suarez-Pierce, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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