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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
strategies. The local version of these Landscape Conservation Cooperatives is the Pacific Islands
Climate Change Cooperative (PICCC), headquartered in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, but working across the
Pacific. By working with PICCC, the Refuge will identify additional mitigation measures for climate
change.
Refuge Capacity
Several commenters either expressed concern that the Service has not had the funding and staffing
necessary to manage the Refuge at the current level or expressed support for expanding Refuge
staffing to implement the CCP. Some particularly supported filling the positions for a park
ranger/volunteer coordinator, fire fuels specialist, and office assistant.
Response: As indicated in Appendix C. Plan Implementation, Hakalau Forest NWR recognizes the
need for additional staffing for current management operations as well as to implement the final
CCP. Position priorities will be determined as funding becomes available and based on skills needed
at that time.
Adequacy of Document
One commenter stated there is little explanation of how the various management target areas were
determined for the different forest objectives and asked that we clarify how they are currently
managed and what needs to be done for each of the targeted areas.
Response: Management targets were established based on evaluation of the vegetation type maps
found in the Draft CCP/EA. A new appendix (L) was created to summarize past and current
management actions. We recognize that more detailed planning would be beneficial in carrying out
management actions identified in the CCP. The Service planning process provides for the
development of “stepdown plans” to facilitate this additional planning need (see Appendix C). We
will be preparing an Inventory and Monitoring Plan which will assist managers in implementing
habitat protection, maintenance, and restoration strategies. Additionally, as the Service implements
its new Inventory and Monitoring approach, we will be fine tuning our habitat related management
targets and actions annually through the new habitat database system.
One commenter felt availability of the draft plan for public review was not adequately publicized
within the other 49 States.
Response: Our efforts to seek public involvement in the planning process are outlined earlier in this
Appendix. Although we recognize each national wildlife refuge belongs to all Americans, typically
those nearest to the site are most interested in commenting on its management. We published a notice
of availability in the Federal Register, mailed numerous planning updates to nonlocal entities such
as national organizations, and distributed a news release throughout the Pacific Region. Information
also has been available on various Service websites.
One commenter supported development of an environmental impact statement rather than an
environmental assessment.
Response: As indicated in the Finding of No Significant Impact, the Service believes that
implementing Alternative B as the CCP for management of Hakalau Forest NWR is not a major
K-14 Appendix K. Public Involvement