Rota’s ‘Fire Tree’ Guardian Battles Loss & Change

James Manglona, the chief forester of Rota Island in the Northern Mariana Islands, is working to conserve native species, particularly the rare Serianthes nelsonii tree, known locally as the “tree of fire”, and achieve food self-sufficiency for the island’s inhabitants. Manglona identifies trees planted by his grandfather amidst a jungle shaped by centuries of human arrival and departure.

Only around 30 of the Serianthes nelsonii trees remain, threatened by storms and invasive species like the Mariana rusa deer which eat new growth. Manglona and his team are propagating seedlings in a nursery and replanting them, alongside efforts to educate the public about protecting the vulnerable trees.

He also leads initiatives like the Luta Livelihood project, employing locals in conservation work. However, the island faces significant challenges including devastating typhoons, invasive species, and a dwindling population as young people leave for opportunities elsewhere, including his own daughter who is serving in the Air Force. The future of Rota’s unique ecosystem hangs in the balance, dependent on both ecological restoration and the engagement of a shrinking local population.