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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
backpack sprayer, wiper) would be used to treat target pests. Other target-specific equipment to
apply pesticides would include soaked wicks or paint brushes for wiping vegetation and lances,
hatchets, or syringes for direct injection into stems. Granular pesticides may be applied using
seeders or other specialized dispensers. In contrast, aerial spraying (e.g., fixed wing or
helicopter) would only be used where access is difficult (remoteness) and/or the size/distribution
of infestations precludes practical use of ground-based methods.
Because repeated use of one pesticide may allow resistant organisms to survive and reproduce,
multiple pesticides with variable modes of action would be considered for treatments on refuge
lands and waters. This is especially important if multiple applications within years and/or over a
growing season likely would be necessary for habitat maintenance and restoration activities to
achieve resource objectives. Integrated chemical and non-chemical controls also are highly
effective, where practical, because pesticide resistant organisms can be removed from the site.
Cost may not be the primary factor in selecting a pesticide for use on a refuge. If the least
expensive pesticide would potentially harm natural resources or people, then a different product
would be selected, if available. The most efficacious pesticide available with the least potential
to degrade environment quality (soils, surface water, and groundwater) as well as least potential
effect to native species and communities of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats would be
acceptable for use on refuge lands in the context of an IPM approach.
• Habitat restoration/maintenance. Restoration and/or proper maintenance of refuge habitats
associated with achieving wildlife and habitat objectives would be essential for long-term
prevention, eradication, or control (at or below threshold levels) of pests. Promoting desirable
plant communities through the manipulation of species composition, plant density, and growth
rate is an essential component of invasive plant management (Masters et al. 1996, Masters and
Shelly 2001, Brooks et al. 2004). The following three components of succession could be
manipulated through habitat maintenance and restoration: site availability, species availability,
and species performance (Cox and Anderson 2004). Although a single method (e.g., herbicide
treatment) may eliminate or suppress pest species in the short term, the resulting gaps and bare
soil create niches that are conducive to further invasion by the species and/or other invasive
plants. On degraded sites where desirable species are absent or in low abundance, revegetation
with native/desirable grasses, forbs, and legumes may be necessary to direct and accelerate plant
community recovery, and achieve site-specific objectives in a reasonable time frame. The
selection of appropriate species for revegetation would be dependent on a number of factors
including resource objectives and site-specific, abiotic factors (e.g., soil texture,
precipitation/temperature regimes, and shade conditions). Seed availability and cost, ease of
establishment, seed production, and competitive ability also would be important considerations.
4.0 Priorities for Treatments
For many refuges, the magnitude (number, distribution, and sizes of infestations) for pest problems is
too extensive and beyond the available capital resources to effectively address during any single field
season. To manage pests in the refuge, it would be essential to prioritize treatment of infestations.
Highest priority treatments would be focused on early detection and rapid response to eliminate
infestations of new pests, if possible. This would be especially important for aggressive pests
potentially impacting species, species groups, communities, and/or habitats associated refuge
Appendix G. Integrated Pest Management G-9