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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
e. ‘I‘iwi, a nonendangered but recently declining endemic forest bird, shared by Haleakalā
National Park and Hakalau Forest NWR.
2. Assess how predicted climate changes are likely to affect the habitat and population viability of
Haleakalā and Hakalau’s endangered species and other management species.
3. Work with Haleakalā and Hakalau to develop management options for land managers to mitigate
the effects of climate change on their species and habitats.
Expected Products:
• Updated moisture availability base layer for the islands of Maui and Hawai‘i;
• Species distribution maps for all threatened and endangered species, forest dominants, a
common flagship bird species, ‘i‘iwi, and key invasive species threats for Haleakalā National
Park and Hakalau Forest NWR;
• Maps will show three spatially explicit types of habitat:
o Currently unsuitable habitat that becomes suitable by 2100AD;
o Current habitat that remains suitable in 2100 AD; and
o Current habitat that becomes unsuitable by 2100 AD;
• Assessment of each species and its habitat with respect to physical or land use barriers to
migration/colonization;
• Assessment of the potential for endangered species from adjacent properties to move on to
Park and Refuge lands; and
• Comparison of potential management options with respect to their ability to provide for the
recovery of listed species.
Cost Estimate: 3 years @ $273,000 (average cost/yr). Total funding needed: $818,000
F) Conduct endangered and threatened plant survey, HFU
Some of the rarest plants in the world are known from the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea including
Hakalau Forest NWR. Very little of the Refuge has been adequately surveyed for rare plants.
Currently, 18 rare plant species, including endangered, threatened, and species of concern, are known
from the Refuge’s 33,000 acres. Botanists will conduct rare plant surveys in unsurveyed areas of the
Refuge. Rare plant locations will be gleaned from existing data and maps from the Hawai‘i Forest
Bird Surveys. Plants will be plotted using a hand held GPS unit, inputted into ArcView data base and
mapped. Due to the higher plant diversity and greater numbers of rare plant species, the survey will
begin in the Middle and Lower Maulua and the Lower Honohina Units of the Refuge to determine
locations of rare plants on the Refuge and recommend means to protect them from the destructive
forces of feral ungulates and rats. Once found, the plants can be propagated and outplanted to assist
in the recovery of the species. Conduct/contract for a rare plant search/survey, especially for midelevation
portions of the Refuge, focusing initially on the Middle Maulua Unit.
Cost Estimate: $260,000
G) Invasive weed control and monitoring efforts at Hakalau Forest NWR
This proposal requests $150,000 annually for 5 years to continue control efforts for Florida
blackberry and other invasive weed species at Hakalau Forest NWR. A 5-year management plan is
currently in preparation to facilitate multiyear funding for this program. The funds will be used to
Appendix C. Plan Implementation C-19