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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
determination is confined to the field station; individual research projects taking place at the Refuge
are covered under a separate compatibility determination titled “Research, Scientific Collecting, and
Surveys.” A separate CD is required because some research activity at Hakalau Forest NWR is
independent of and accommodated without the use of the UH facility. All operations at the field
station, including expected dates of overnight stays and the purpose for each visit must be
coordinated with the Refuge Manager in advance. UH bears all operational and maintenance costs
related to the station and thus does not require routine involvement by Refuge staff working at the
Administration Site. Access to the Refuge requires guests to be given secure combination lock
numbers that are strictly confidential. UH activities not directly pertaining to activities conducted on
the Refuge are not covered in this determination and are thus subject to separate review and
appropriate use considerations if the station is used for offsite projects.
Research is a specialized use (603 FW1) and, therefore, it is not considered a priority public use by
Refuge System policy. Refuge plans and actions based on research and monitoring provide an
informed approach to habitat, wildlife, and public use management programs. Forest bird
conservation and management at the Refuge are based upon best available scientific information
from research combined with long-term monitoring. Some research is used to address specific
wildlife conservation questions, such as understanding the causes of reduced or declining forest bird
populations and development of tools and techniques to aid recovery of threatened or endangered
species. Other research has broader applicability, such as using a suite of forest birds as indicators of
native forest health conditions, and to document change in the larger island environment and
associated impacts related to climate change and global warming.
The Service’s Appropriate Refuge Uses policies (603 FW1.10D (4)) indicate priority for research
that contributes to the enhancement, protection, use, preservation, and management of native wildlife
populations and their habitat as well as their natural diversity. Projects that contribute to refugespecific
and/or wilderness management, where applicable, would be given a higher priority over
other requests. Research applicants must submit a detailed proposal that would outline:
1) Objectives of the study;
2) Justification for the study;
3) Detailed methodology and schedule;
4) Potential impacts on Refuge wildlife or habitat, including disturbance (short and long term),
injury and/or mortality. This includes a description of measures the researcher will take to
reduce disturbance or impacts;
5) Personnel required;
6) Costs to the Refuge, if any, including staff time and equipment;
7) Expected outcomes or results; and
8) A time line for submitting progress reports and final products (e.g., reports, theses,
dissertations, publications).
UH research proposed to be conducted on the Refuge would be reviewed by Refuge staff and others
as appropriate, to weigh the anticipated impacts versus the benefits of the research activity to Refuge
management and understanding of natural systems. This would form the basis for allowing the
project to proceed or be denied. If the proposal is approved, the Refuge Manager would issue a
SUP(s) which would set the terms and conditions of the study to avoid and/or minimize the impacts
on Refuge resources, public use activities, and Refuge field operations. All research projects would
be assessed during implementation to ensure that impacts remain within acceptable levels.
B-72 Appendix B: Appropriate Uses and Compatibility Determinations