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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
9. Validate recovery actions, which calls for formalizing the Nēnē Recovery Action Group and
evaluating management and research projects to determine if recovery objectives have been met.
The CCP identifies specific management actions that will benefit the nēnē population on the Hakalau
Forest Unit. Strategies include nonnative predator control and maintenance of firebreaks and access
roads for nēnē foraging.
1.8 Planning and Issue Identification
In February 2009, we mailed approximately 150 copies of Planning Update 1 to interested
individuals, local conservation and interest groups, research organizations, Native Hawaiian
organizations, and local, State, and Federal government agencies.. Planning Update 1 was available
at two public open house meetings we held in Hilo and Captain Cook, Hawai‘i, in March 2009. It
was also posted on the Refuge’s website (http://www.fws.gov/hakalauforest/planning.html) and the
Service’s Pacific Region refuge planning website
(http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/HI-PI/docshakalau.htm).
In Planning Update 1, we described the CCP planning process; Refuge purposes; draft wildlife,
habitat, and public use goals; and preliminary issues to be considered in the CCP. In Planning
Update 2 (made available in October 2009 and similarly circulated as the first update), we
summarized the comments we received and listed primary management issues we used to draft
alternatives and refine draft goals and objectives. We also included draft vision statements for both
units. A full summary of public involvement is in Appendix K.
1.8.1 Public Scoping Sessions
The public scoping period for this CCP opened February 25, 2009, and ended March 27, 2009. Two
public meetings were held, in Hilo and Captain Cook, Hawai‘i, on March 3, 2009, and March 4,
2009, respectively. At the meetings, Refuge staff explained the CCP planning process; the Refuge
purposes, vision, and management; and preliminary management issues, concerns, and opportunities.
Refuge staff also answered questions from attendees and received written comments. Twelve private
citizens and representatives from various organizations attended the meetings and commented on the
issues and opportunities we presented. Six written responses were received from individuals or
organizations during scoping. The comments we received addressed broad or long-range issues and
very specific or detailed strategies that could be used to achieve biological or public use objectives.
Summaries of the issues identified and Service responses are provided follow.
How can we best protect endangered forest birds and the nēnē?
The primary purpose of the Refuge is protection of endangered species. We manage Refuge
resources to ensure high-quality habitat is available for endangered species, especially forest birds.
Drawing on 20 years of Refuge management experience at the HFU, we have included objectives
and strategies in this Draft CCP/EA for maintaining and enhancing native habitat communities to
provide the life-history needs of Hakalau Forest NWR’s endangered species.
Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1-27