Senator Shawn Gumataotao on Wednesday emphasized the need for sustained resources and accountability for conservation officers following an oversight hearing on the Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Officers Division.
The hearing focused on the law enforcement arm of the Guam Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for enforcing policies tied to food security, environmental protection and natural resource management.
“The work of our Conservation Officers directly impacts families and our wider community through the enforcement of policies that support food security, environmental stewardship, and responsible economic development,” Gumataotao said in a statement.
He noted that policymakers decades ago recognized the government’s role in protecting Guam’s natural resources and established measures to balance development with environmental preservation.
“Conservation Officers serve a critical role in our collective efforts, and they must be supported with corresponding resources and strong partnerships with federal, military, and regional counterparts,” he said.
Gumataotao also acknowledged what he described as the administration’s recognition of the division’s often overlooked role within Guam’s broader law enforcement framework.
“Moving forward, this recognition must translate into responsive public policies, sustained resources, and an unwavering expectation of accountability from agency leadership and we the taxpayers who pay every penny needed to fund public services across this Government,” he added.
