Photo by Dave Burdick

About Us

The Guam Coral Reef Initiative was established in 1997 by Executive Order 97-10 to address threats to local reefs. We were formerly a subdivision of the Government of Guam’s Bureau of Statistics and Plans and are now part of the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR).

Guam Coral Reef Initiative logo

Meet the Team

  • Staff member woman smiling while standing in the water and holding snorkel gear

    Ashton Williams

    Program Manager

  • Staff member woman standing in the ocean smiling with snorkel gear

    Cara Lin

    Seagrass & Mangrove Conservation Coordinator

  • Staff member woman smiling with green trees in the background

    Olivia Bañez

    Coral Reef Policy & Communications Coordinator

  • Staff member woman smiling with the blue ocean in the background

    Remedy Rule

    Reef Restoration Coordinator

  • Staff member woman smiling with the blue ocean in the background

    Natalie Scott

    Reef Restoration Biologist

  • Staff member woman smiling in front of a table with outreach materials

    Reilly Kleven

    Coral Reef Disturbance Response Coordinator

  • GCRI staff member smiling at the camera with greenery and the ocean in the background

    Brittany Usoff

    Reef Restoration Biologist

  • GCRI staff member smiles with greenery and the ocean in the background

    Chloe Spring

    Reef Restoration Biologist

Our Vision

To develop a comprehensive program for the conservation and effective management of Guam’s coral reef ecosystems through sustainable use and wise preservation.

Photo by Dave Burdick

A group of individuals standing on the beach and striking a pose

Our Strategies

  • GCRI helps support activities organized by our amazing collaborators and partners. Some of the ways we help to build local capacity include:

    • Providing supplies and educational resources to local high school teachers

    • Supporting in-water coral restoration and algae control work conducted by the University of Guam Marine Lab

    • Organizing training opportunities for local personnel to better respond to coral reef damage from storms and boat strikes

    Photo by Ashley Castro

Two individuals hiking along a grassy path with a view of the ocean

  • GCRI protects coral reefs by also protecting Guam’s watersheds, forests, mangroves, and seagrasses.

    All of our island’s ecosystems are connected so we integrate this into our work in many ways, including:

    • Fieldwork to replant trees and mangroves

    • Developing coral restoration plans

    • Conducting scientific research on seagrasses

    • Creating educational resources that show the connection between watershed health and reef health

Two men and two women smile posing with a Guam Coral Reef Initiative t-shirt

  • GCRI utilizes federal funding and works in partnership with many different organizations to achieve local and federal coral reef management goals. Some of these working partnerships include:

    • Coordinating closely with the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) and other local agencies to best serve our community and tackle coral reef-related issues.

    • Working with the private sector on promoting reef-friendly tourism practices.

    • Collaborating with private landowners, students, and other community members to reach mutual goals.

Our Partners

Want to learn more about what we do?

Our Work
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