Serianthes Nelsonii – Fire Tree

In a time when it feels like Mother Nature is taking hit after hit — from wildfires to typhoons to rising sea levels — it’s honestly kind of amazing that we’re still out here trying to fight the good fight for the planet. And sometimes, that fight happens in quiet, powerful ways.

A big shoutout goes to the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron for their efforts to preserve a rare and truly beautiful species: the Serianthes nelsonii, more commonly known as the Fire Tree. These majestic giants are among the tallest trees on Guam — that is, if they manage to survive the wrath of typhoons and other environmental threats.

Here’s the heartbreaking part: there are only about 30 known Fire Trees left in the wild, spread between Guam and the neighboring island of Rota. That’s it. Thirty. And that number is what’s sparked real action from people who care.

The squadron has teamed up with the Guam Plant Extinction Prevention Program (GPEPP) to plant 41 saplings across various locations on Andersen Air Force Base. These aren’t just symbolic gestures — these are carefully grown and monitored young trees, placed in areas where they have a real chance of thriving.

This kind of initiative gives a flicker of hope in a world where extinction stories often feel like foregone conclusions. Instead of writing off these incredible trees as doomed, people are getting their hands dirty — literally — to turn the tide. And that matters.

It’s also a reminder that conservation isn’t always about sweeping, global movements. Sometimes, it’s hyper-local. Sometimes it’s about planting a single sapling and hoping for the best — 41 times.

So here’s to the folks on the ground, working with nature instead of against it. The Fire Trees are lucky to have you. And maybe, just maybe, the rest of us can take a cue from your quiet, persistent kind of hope.

According to Dr. Jim McConnell at the University of Guam and the 36 CES environmental flight, the cause of the original decline of the trees is still unknown. Many trees on Rota were lost during the 2015 typhoon season, as well as to damage done by insects and animals. Team Andersen continues to work to ensure that any infrastructure has a low impact on wildlife and cultural sites on Guam.

Rock on!

References: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/249198/andersen-making-strides-protect-endangered-wildlife-guam