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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
conducting a review of available information on the Hawai‘i ‘ākepa, and this workshop was an
extension of the review.
The agenda was focused on the endangered Hawaiian forest birds found at the Refuge. It was
anticipated that although the workshop focused specifically on the Refuge, much of the information
shared would be applicable to these species throughout their ranges and to the broader Mauna Kea
and Hawai‘i Island ecosystems or forest bird survey methodology in general.
The workshop purposes and objectives were:
1. Identify and prioritize management needs and activities, including research, at Hakalau Forest
NWR to recover endangered Hawaiian forest birds;
2. Incorporate identified needs and activities in the Hakalau Forest 15-year CCP; and
3. Extrapolate Hakalau-specific information to the broader Mauna Kea area and other geographic
areas and bird species and suites of birds as appropriate.
A number of suggestions came out of the workshop, as listed below. The rankings for each of the
lists are based upon voting by workshop participants. The complete forest bird workshop summary is
included as Appendix E.
Immediate Threats to Hawaiian Forest Birds at Hakalau Forest NWR
1. Ungulates;
2. Lack of Habitat;
3. Invasive Plants;
4. Predation;
5. Data Insufficient to Meet Management Needs;
6. Parasites; and
7. Interspecific Competition.
Management Actions (Priority Ranking by Workshop Participants)
1. *Grazers/browsers (Habitat destruction/relative to mosquito production) (High)
� Fence construction, maintenance, and removal of animals;
� See Research Priorities;
2. Habitat Restoration (High)
� Revegetation of pasture land;
� Improve ‘ōhi‘a densities;
3. Invasive plants (High)
� Continue invasive species control (e.g., blackberry, banana poka, gorse);
� Prevent and eliminate incipient weeds;
� See Research Priorities;
4. Monitoring and Data Needs (High)
� See Research priorities;
� Delivery of technical information;
5. Predation (Medium)
� See Research priorities;
6. Parasites (Low)
Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1-31