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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Invertebrates have evolved in this unique habitat. These mostly blind invertebrates feed on ‘ōhi‘a as
well as other native plant roots that penetrate the lava tube roof.
Trampling, the release of pest species (such as rats), or human disturbance could destroy the entire
invertebrate community and destroy subfossil and archaeological resources.
Installing fence and implementing the other strategies at the KFU will prevent disturbance and
damage from trampling of these fragile invertebrate communities and archaeological resources.
2.3.2 Hakalau Forest Unit
2.3.2.1 Goal 3: Protect, maintain, and restore subtropical rainforest community on the
windward slope of Mauna Kea as habitat for all life-history needs of endangered species (e.g.,
forest birds, ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, plants, and invertebrates).
Strategy definitions: Reforestation focuses on planting koa specifically as appropriate overstory
species (though other overstory species can be used as well) to bring habitat into a basic forested
condition. Restoration is the planting of koa to restore forested condition, allowing time for
development of a forest canopy, following up with later plantings of native understory shrub species.
Objective 3.1: Protect and maintain native montane wet ‘ōhi‘a/uluhe (Dicranopteris sp.)
forest.
Protect and maintain approximately 7,000 acres of native montane wet ‘ōhi‘a/uluhe forest habitat on
the HFU for endangered plant and animal species, with special emphasis on endangered plant
species, ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, and koloa maoli, with the following attributes:
• Found from 2,500-4,000 ft;
• Upper canopy is composed of scattered mature (100+ years), and medium-stature ‘ōhi‘a
(30 ft);
• Midcanopy zone (10-15 ft) is dominated by hapū‘u (tree fern);
• Ground level, up to 6-10 ft is dominated by dense uluhe (matted ferns);
• Many Carex sp. bogs found scattered throughout the lower elevations;
• Plant diversity is low and dominated by open ‘ōhi‘a canopy and uluhe understory and
ground cover;
• No ungulates (e.g., pigs and sheep);
• No new invertebrate and plant pest species;
•