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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
wild. This will require construction and appropriate staffing of the captive propagation
infrastructure necessary to accommodate the increasing size of the captive population.
2. Identify suitable habitat and manage threats by selecting and managing at least one site within
historical habitat so that threats, including disease and predator numbers, are minimized to the
extent the site is suitable for the release of captive reared ‘alalā.
3. Establish new populations in suitable habitat by selecting and preparing captive-reared ‘alalā for
release, and planning release protocols to maximize survival and obtain crucial information for
improvement of subsequent releases.
4. Garner public support using professionally designed strategies to develop nongovernmental
funding sources to support expanded captive propagation, habitat management and ‘alalā
reintroduction. Also, achieve stakeholder support for predator and ungulate management and
post-release ‘alalā monitoring.
5. Conduct research and adaptively manage the recovery program by establishing a recovery
implementation working group involving key stakeholders and by assigning overall recovery
coordination to a single individual with performance milestones to be reviewed annually by the
recovery team.
The KFU was originally acquired and set aside specifically for protection of the ‘alalā. Native forest
restoration at KFU is a key component of recovery actions 2 and 3.
The Hawaiian Hawk Recovery Plan (USFWS 1984): The ‘io (Buteo solitarius, Hawaiian hawk)
was listed as endangered on March 11, 1967, based on its restricted range (found only on the Island
of Hawai‘i), its small population size, and the loss of native forest habitat from agriculture, logging,
and commercial development.
However, at the time of listing there had been no systematic surveys or ecological studies of the
species, and the only information available was from anecdotal accounts that gave differing reports
on its abundance and population trend in various parts of the island.
Due to implementation of recovery actions and other conservation efforts, the species is now found
throughout the Island of Hawai‘i and has had a stable population for at least 20 years. It is nesting
and foraging successfully in both native and altered habitats and has large areas of protected habitat.
The ‘io is not currently believed to be threatened by overutilization, disease, predation, contaminants,
lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms, or other factors.
On August 6, 2008, the Service proposed to remove the ‘io from its current listing as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act. On February 11, 2009, the Service formally announced the
availability of the draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the ‘io and reopened a 60-day public
comment period that closed on April 13, 2009 (74 FR 6853). The Service is considering public
comments received during the public review periods and has not yet published a final rule.
The recovery plan for ‘io has not been updated since 1984. The recovery objectives listed here are
relevant; however, review and update will help to obtain current data and refine or adjust recovery
objectives and/or actions.
Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1-25