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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and/or experimentation in order to minimize long-term or cumulative impacts;
• Proper cleaning of investigator equipment and clothing as well as quarantine methods,
where necessary, would minimize the potential spread or introduction of invasive species;
and
• Projects will adhere to scientifically defensible protocols for data collection, where
available and applicable.
The following is an initial list of survey activities to support resource management decisions
on the Refuge. Please note this list will continue to evolve during the 15 year life span of the
CCP:
Continue annual Hawai‘i Forest Bird Surveys.
Monitor nesting density and success of nēnē.
Monitor species and habitat response to management actions (Goals 1-5) by conducting annual
transect surveys.
Develop an updated vegetation cover map of HFU and KFU (for use in GIS and monitoring).
Inventory endemic species in all forest habitats (Goals 1 and 3).
Inventory plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates occurring at HFU and KFU.
Institute early detection and rapid response monitoring to identify new or spreading invasive plant
problems on the Refuge.
Monitor plant and animal diseases (e.g., ‘ōhi‘a rust, koa wilt, avian malaria, avian pox).
Inventory endemic species, subfossil remains, and cultural resources associated with lava tube and
skylight systems (Goal 2).
Inventory endemic species in all aquatic habitat types (Goal 4).
Monitor global climate change parameters (e.g., temp, CO2, etc.).
Survey water quality for reduced levels of disease, sediments, contaminants (e.g., fecal coliform).
Monitor public uses (e.g., disturbance).
Rationale:
The Administration Act requires each refuge to “… monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife,
and plants in each refuge.” Surveys would be used primarily to evaluate resource response to assess
progress toward achieving refuge management objectives derived from the Refuge System mission,
refuge purpose(s), and maintenance of biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health (601
FW 3). Determining resource status and evaluating progress toward achieving objectives is essential
to implementing adaptive management on Department of the Interior lands as required by policy
522 DM 1. Specifically, results of surveys would be used to refine management strategies, where
necessary, over time in order to achieve resource objectives. Surveys would provide the best
available scientific information to promote transparent decisionmaking processes for resource
management on refuge lands.
Chapter 2. Refuge Management Direction 2-34