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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Control pest animals using appropriate IPM techniques including, but not limited to, trapping, snares,
shooting (ground and aerial), and rodenticide (aerial and bait stations).
Conduct hazardous fuels treatments (e.g., prescribed fire, mechanical removals, herbicides) to reduce
the threat from wildland fires, giving special attention to invasive species that increase fire risk (e.g.,
gorse).
Maintain a system of fuels breaks by mowing roadways and areas around buildings.
Establish a fire prevention program that includes signage, education, and area fire closure criteria.
Rationale:
This habitat type contains a mixed-age class of koa-dominated forest and occurs from 6,000-6,600 ft.
The midcanopy is dominated by a mix of flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs (e.g., ‘ōlapa, ‘ākala,
pilo, pūkiawe, ‘ōhelo, kōlea, kāwa‘u), mixed ferns, and epiphytes. Ground cover is dominated by
mixed ferns, nonnative and native grasses, and herbs.
A diverse native bird community occurs in this habitat type, primarily above the mosquito zone and
in a more diverse forest plant community. Other species of conservation and management concern
include the koloa maoli, ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, and endangered plants.
The windward east-facing HFU receives northeasterly tradewind-dominated rainfall throughout the
year. This habitat type receives approximately 23 ft of rainfall annually. More rainfall occurs
between the months of October-March.
Mountain slopes are moderate. Soils are aged, eroded, volcanic in origin, and typically poorly
drained. The ground surface is bisected by numerous streams (surface flow). These streams create
and maintain stream channels that are highly eroded and steep sided, providing protection to native
and endangered plants from grazing ungulates.
Limiting factors include a lack of native pollinators and several pest species (e.g., ungulates, rats,
mice, slugs, mosquitoes, invasive plants, and diseases). Native pollinators on the Refuge include
native birds and native insects. The habitat improvements outlined in each of the objectives and
strategies are designed to provide suitable habitat that should help increase populations of native
pollinators.
A total of 3,500 acres of high-value montane mesic koa forest habitat exists at this elevation. Refuge
lands at this elevation are former ranch lands dominated by nonnative grasses, which have been
partially reforested over the past 25 years. Varying amounts of the approximately 2,500 acres of
nonnative grassland-dominated habitat remaining are scheduled for reforestation and/or restoration
in Objective 3.5.
Objective 3.5: Restore/reforest native montane mesic koa forest.
Restore/reforest, and then maintain and protect 2,500 acres of native montane mesic koa forest for
endangered plant and animal species, with special emphasis on the endangered and native forest
birds (e.g., ‘akiapōlā‘au, Hawai‘i ‘ākepa, Hawai‘i creeper), and endangered plants (e.g., Clermontia
sp. Phyllostegia sp.), with the following attributes:
• Occurs from 6,000-6,600 ft;
• Mixed age koa canopy (1-30 years);
Chapter 2. Refuge Management Direction 2-25