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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Outplant koa seedlings, understory plants, and T&E plants.
Develop partnerships to assist with administration of propagation program.
Rationale:
Endangered plants have become extremely limited in their population and range because of more
than 100 years of cattle grazing, pig rooting, loss of pollinators, and limited gene pool. The Refuge
can play a vital role in the recovery of more than 10 federally listed threatened and endangered plant
species by providing ungulate-free fenced areas. Many of these plants are important food resources
for native forest birds and invertebrates.
Plant stock is available from the Refuge greenhouse facility at HFU from seeds and propagules
collected on or near Refuge lands. The Refuge volunteer program helps to support plant rearing and
planting activities. These efforts support Objectives 3.1-3.5.
Plant stock may also be available from the Volcano Rare Plant Facility from seeds and propagules
collected on or near Refuge lands. In addition, the Refuge partners with the Plant Extinction Plant
Prevention Program. Through these collaborative partnerships, the Refuge also institutes best
management practices, which include incorporating science based genetic information into its
outplanting and propagation programs.
Number of outplantings is used as a measure of annual capability rather than “acres planted” due to
terrain, soil, competition with invasive grasses, and habitat quality variables, as well as elevationrelated
factors such as extreme differences in precipitation and frost mortality.
2.3.2.2 Goal 4: Protect and maintain wetland and aquatic habitats (e.g., streams and their
associated riparian corridors, ponds, and bogs) on the Hakalau Forest Unit.
Objective 4.1: Protect and maintain streams and stream corridors at HFU.
Protect and maintain existing streams and stream corridors that support native plant communities,
and endangered plant and animal species, with special emphasis on common and endangered native
forest bird species, koloa maoli, and ‘ōpe‘ape‘a with the following attributes:
• Stable banks with native fern and native sedge with less than 50 percent occurrence of
nonnative grasses;
• No ungulates;
• Reduced invasive plant cover;
• Water with reduced levels of disease, sediments, contaminants (e.g., fecal coliform);
• No nonnative mammalian predators (e.g., mongooses, rats); and
• No dogs and cats.
Strategies to achieve objective:
Maintain ungulate-proof fence.
Use IPM techniques including physical/mechanical, biological, and chemical to eradicate or control
invasive plants (see Appendix G).
Conduct annual invasive plant species presence/absence surveys and percent cover monitoring using
established survey transects.
Chapter 2. Refuge Management Direction 2-28