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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Can we maintain public access to the historic Kaunene Trail?
We have reviewed options for access to the trail. At this time access, safety, and resource
management needs preclude maintenance and public access to the trail. Over time, we could revisit
opportunities to reopen the Kaunene Trail.
Do the Refuge units meet the minimum requirements for a wilderness designation nomination?
A wilderness review, as required by Service policy, has been conducted as part of the CCP planning
process and is included as Appendix D.
Is there the potential to protect habitat for endangered forest birds through additional land
acquisition or conservation easements?
At each unit we will consider opportunities for Refuge boundary expansion on a case-by-case basis,
and in accordance with Service policy. The Refuge is working with nongovernment conservation
organizations (NGOs) that are familiar with private lands in the vicinity of existing Refuge units in
evaluating any feasible acquisition opportunities that may arise. Currently, two tracts of land with
high-quality habitat within the HFU’s approved acquisition boundary have not been acquired and are
being managed by an agency partner. All of the land within the acquisition boundary for the KFU has
been acquired. We encourage landowners with high-quality habitat for forest birds to manage their
lands for conservation. In addition, Refuge staff will work with Regional staff to develop a land
conservation plan as outlined in objectives 1e and 3e in Chapter 2.
How can we better manage the Kona Forest Unit’s ungulate populations?
Refuge staff are in the process of administering a contract to build a perimeter fence around the unit
and two interior fences that would create three management areas within the unit. Options and
opportunities for ungulate management, including removal, are included as part of the management
of the KFU in the preferred alternative.
How will climate change impact the Refuge?
The Refuge’s two units are unique in the Hawaiian Islands because of the range of elevations that
occur on Refuge lands. Through the CCP planning process we will evaluate the effectiveness,
impacts, and benefits of providing wildlife habitats at a variety of elevations, temperatures, and
rainfall regimes, so that wildlife can move between as conditions are altered through climate change
processes.
1.8.2 Interagency Scoping
On July 1, 2009, Refuge and Hawaiian and Pacific Islands staff members met with some of our
agency partners to discuss planning for Hakalau Forest NWR. Individuals from the DLNR, DHHL,
USGS-BRD, and USFS attended the meeting. Refuge staff provided an overview of the planning
process and current management of the Refuge. The following list of issues was developed based
upon feedback received from these individuals.
Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1-29