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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
� Endangered plants are an important piece of the habitats that are being restored. We should
specify actions and species;
� There should be more exploration into carbon sequestration. Previous efforts did not get off the
ground, but there is an emerging market for “boutique” carbon that could serve Hakalau well;
� Research
o There is a need for research into habitat and species responses to adaptive management to
help make adjustments over time;
o There is a greater need for monitoring than for pure research;
o Consider developing a Research Management Plan with a formal subcommittee;
o Need a way to filter research requests;
� Additional enforcement should be present at both units;
� Education/Outreach
o Consider expanding the open house to twice per year;
o Develop an airport kiosk;
o Host an annual “low-budget” research symposium: potential ideas include poster sessions,
keynote speakers, in conjunction with other events that may be occurring on island;
� Hakalau nēnē appear to be a migratory subpopulation that could provide an additional avenue for
education about management at Hakalau;
� Develop a bibliography of Hakalau research; and
� Review and use the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park ungulate control Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
Forest Bird Workshop
The Service held a workshop with partner agencies, renowned forest bird researchers, and
statisticians in Hilo October 8-10, 2008, to expand a review of the current status of the Hawai‘i
‘ākepa and other endangered Hawaiian forest birds at the Refuge for development of options for
management alternatives for the CCP.
The Service has received contradictory information over the population status of the endangered
Hawai‘i ‘ākepa in a portion of the Refuge, a major stronghold of the species, over the last several
years. The Regional Director obtained the assistance of the USGS’ Dr. J. Michael Scott in
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.
K-4 Appendix K. Public Involvement