Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
e. Is the use consistent with goals and objectives in an approved management plan or other
document?
Requests to film or photograph in the Refuge are approved in instances where the expected products
may contribute to public appreciation and support for Refuge resources and appreciation of natural
resources in support of the Refuge System mission. Special Use Permit special conditions have been
crafted to assure minimal to no impacts to Refuge resources.
f. Has an earlier documented analysis not denied the use or is this the first time the use has
been proposed?
This use has been requested and approved in the past and a documented analysis was conducted
during the Compatibility Determination process.
g. Is the use manageable within available budget and staff?
The Refuge permits only a few visits per year for this activity and it is currently manageable with
available budget and staff.
h. Will this be manageable in the future within existing resources?
The proposed activity at current threshold levels for use would be manageable in the future with
existing staff resources (see above).
i. Does the use contribute to the public’s understanding and appreciation of the refuge’s
natural or cultural resources, or is the use beneficial to the refuge’s natural or cultural
resources?
The proposed use is beneficial to the Refuge’s natural and cultural resources because exposure of the
general public to professionally produced images and film footage depicting resident wildlife and
plant life in their natural protected environment should result in greater appreciation for Refuge
purposes and our agency mission. Because most of the Refuge has not been opened to the public,
dissemination of information by professional photographers and videographers is a positive outcome
for the Refuge, and an acceptable trade off for limited access to a small number of commercial
entities.
j. Can the use be accommodated without impairing existing wildlife-dependent recreational
uses or reducing the potential to provide quality, compatible, wildlife-dependent recreation into
the future?
The Refuge will ensure that the commercial filming and photography activities will not impair
existing or future wildlife-dependent recreational use of the Refuge through proper monitoring and
oversight of permittees and review of their products.
Appendix B: Appropriate Uses and Compatibility Determinations B-5