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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
between years will show changes in reproductive success once an exclusionary fence is installed. The
objective of this project is to minimize predation of nēnē goslings at the Refuge.
Cost Estimate: $75,000
I) Fence Middle Maulua Unit at Hakalau Forest NWR
Construct a fence to exclude cattle and pigs from the 1,800 acre Middle Maulua Feral Ungulate
Management Unit (Unit 9). Approximately 32,000 ft of fence is required. The Middle Maulua Unit is
considered by Refuge staff to be the highest priority for additional fencing on the Refuge and is
consistent with trying to remove ungulates from the next lowest elevation gradient on the Refuge as a
priority for limiting forest bird exposure to mosquitos and thus avian malaria. Cattle and pigs will be
removed from the exclosure to enable recovery of native vegetation as habitat for six species of
endangered plants and provide optimal habitat for eight species of endangered birds and the
endangered ‘ōpe‘ape‘a.
Cost Estimate: $334,000
J) Expand greenhouse capacity at Hakalau Forest NWR
Additional greenhouse space is needed to provide room for propagation and outplanting of rare
plants. A simple expansion of the existing greenhouse space is possible on an area already graded
and previously used for equipment and vehicle storage but now available for use due to completion
of a maintenance storage building project in 2010. Expanding the greenhouse program will increase
carrying capacity for rare plants prior to outplanting on the Refuge.
Cost Estimate: $14,000
K) Install rare plant exclosures on the Kona Forest Unit
The Kona Forest Unit is expected to be fenced in the immediate future with funding previously
obtained for the purpose. On the ground management in this area has thus far been minimal, but with
access issues resolved and an approved fencing plan, immediate conservation gains may be realized.
Within the three management units that will have permanent fencing, smaller temporary exclosures
(1-5 acre) specifically set up for outplanting appropriate rare plant species indigenous to the area can
be achieved by Refuge and partner organizations staff. As ungulate control efforts succeed in the
area, the need for these subexclosures will diminish over time and plantings can extend to the rest of
the Refuge unit.
Outplanting of propagules of geographically isolated individual(s) and/or population(s) found on
similar habitats, and consolidating these relics at protected sites, preserves genetic diversity
(maximize founder representation) within the species and ensures demographic persistence and
stability for each species. The mixing of as many relic founders as possible can potentially
reintroduce genetic vigor (viability) back into a population that suffers from the effects of genetic
bottleneck (genetic drift).
The construction of several exclosure fences to exclude destructive nonnative animals is the
necessary first step in the protection and recovery of the proposed federally listed as well as the rare
to uncommon native Hawaiian plant species outplantings. The goal of these exclosure fences is to
preclude nonnative animal ingress, thereby allowing the establishment of these outplantings enabling
Appendix C. Plan Implementation C-21