The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the selection of the University of Maine and Learning Endeavors to receive competitive grants for environmental education projects in the Pacific Islands. These organizations have been chosen for their work in promoting youth ecological stewardship and environmental education, focusing on environmental justice, water resource challenges, and watershed health.
“This year’s grant recipients are bringing to life the most innovative and effective ideas to engage Pacific Island youth in addressing today’s urgent environmental challenges,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA is so proud to support these organizations’ efforts to make progress toward a future with clean air, clean water, and land for all.”
The University of Maine and Learning Endeavors projects are among 38 grants nationwide announced by the EPA. The supported projects aim to increase public awareness of environmental issues and provide skills so participants can make informed decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment.
Learning Endeavors will receive an $80,000 grant for its Champions of Coastal Resilience Project. This initiative focuses on wetland education and restoration in Hawaii, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Palau. The project aims to increase environmental literacy in these communities facing coastal impacts due to climate change.
“Learning Endeavors is thrilled to have this opportunity to expand its Champions of Coastal Resilience initiative,” said Executive Director Diana Papini Warren. “We look forward to growing our partnerships and helping build capacity through a sub-award competition that will result in innovative wetland education and restoration.”
The University of Maine will receive $69,814 for its Conflict Contamination in Palau project. This effort supports youth-led community action by integrating Indigenous and Western science to address World War II contamination in Palau.
“We are honored and humbled to be working with our Palauan colleagues,” said Caroline Ferguson Irlanda, Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. “This project builds on six years of partnership with Ebiil Society.”
Since 1992, the EPA has distributed between $2 million and $3.7 million annually in Environmental Education (EE) grant funding for over $95.1 million total, supporting over 3,960 projects. This year’s grantees will conduct activities across 28 states as well as territories including Palau, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
For more information about current or past award winners or future EE grant competitions visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants.
