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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Chapter 2. Refuge Management Direction
2.1 Considerations in the Design of the CCP
The Refuge reviewed and considered a variety of resource, social, economic, and organizational
aspects important for managing the Refuge. These background conditions are described more fully in
Chapters 3, 4, and 5. In addition, past and current management actions were also considered (a
summary of which can be found in Appendix L). As is appropriate for a national wildlife refuge,
resource considerations were fundamental in designing alternatives. House Report 105-106
accompanying the Improvement Act states “…the fundamental mission of our System is wildlife
conservation: wildlife and wildlife conservation must come first.” The CCP team reviewed scientific
reports and studies to better understand ecosystem trends and the latest scientific recommendations
for species and habitats. Refuge staff met with elected officials and staff from local, State, and
Federal agencies to ascertain priorities and problems as perceived by others. Refuge staff also met
with Refuge users, nonprofit or nongovernmental groups (NGOs), university/academic members, and
community organizations to ensure that their comments and ideas were considered during CCP
development.
Refuge staff developed tables of focal species, conservation targets, and supporting habitats for
Refuge management (Appendix F) based upon the Refuge purposes for Hakalau Forest NWR, a
variety of national, regional, and State plans, and discussion with Service biologists, managers, and
outside researchers. These conservation targets provide the basis for our habitat management goals,
objectives, and strategies.
2.2 General Guidelines
General guidelines for implementing the CCP follow, as do maps that summarize the CCP actions by
the Refuge. To reduce the length and redundancy of the descriptions for each unit, common features
are presented below.
Ungulate-proof Boundary Fencing and Sequence of Management Actions (HFU and KFU):
The perimeter (ownership) boundary of Hakalau Forest NWR will be enclosed by fencing, with
internal fencing to divide into management units following. Establishing perimeter boundary fencing
is a critical first step in habitat protection and restoration to deter major threats to the ecosystem and
their impacts to wildlife population and species recovery. Once fences are established, the standard
management strategy sequence would be to remove ungulates, then concentrate on invasive species
control (e.g., invasive plants, predators such as rats, mongooses, cats, and dogs) while simultaneously
restoring habitat through native plant outplantings. Surveys and monitoring for threats (e.g., invasive
weeds, ungulates, predators, etc.) would be ongoing as well as species and habitat monitoring. If
threats are found, they will be eradicated or controlled. Protection of special habitats (e.g., Carex sp.
bogs) and endangered plant outplantings would occur once habitats are stabilized and threats
managed and include actions such as site-specific fencing.
Maintaining/Upgrading Existing Facilities and Fences: Periodic maintenance and upgrading of
Refuge buildings, fences, and facilities will be necessary for safety and accessibility and to support
Chapter 2. Refuge Management Direction 2-1