Pacific Islands Project Highlights Kona Dryland Forest Project Ninety percent of the dry forests in the Hawaiian Islands have been eliminated, and the remaining ten percent have been heavily degraded by introduced plants and ungulates on the two largest islands, Maui and Hawai`i. One of the largest remaining areas of dry forest in the Hawaiian Islands is in the North Kona region on the island of Hawai`i. This area is one of the finest examples of this ecosystem remaining in Hawai`i, and includes populations of the endangered kauila (Colubrina oppositifolia), uhiuhi (Caesalpinia kavaiensis), aupaka (Isodendrion pyrifolium), `aiea (Nothocestrum breviflorum), koki`o (Kokia drynarioides), and hala pepe (Pleomele Hawaiiensis). The major threats to the dry forest in the North Kona area are fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), which fuels wildfires; ungulates, which destroy plants and increase the disturbed habitat available for fountain grass to invade; and rodents, which eat the seeds and seedlings of native plants, preventing regeneration. Additional threats include insect predation and other alien plant species. The Kona Dry Forest Restoration Group was initiated in 1993, through a cooperative agreement between the Hawai`i Forest Industry Association (HFIA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The Group formed through this agreement was initially composed of representatives from the HFIA, who administer the group; Hawai`i Division of Forestry and Wildlife; National Tropical Botanical Garden; Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate; Potomac Investment Associates Kona Partnership; Hannah Springer and Mike Tomich of Kukui`ohiwai; Basil Hansen; Hualalai Ranch; and the Service. The overall goals of the Group are to: Exchange ideas with cooperators which will lead to the long-term protection and management of the dry forest in the North Kona district. Develop a management plan for dry forests in these areas which will serve as a model for other landowners. Demonstrate the management and/or restoration of a dry forest on private lands. Develop cost-effective methods of controlling alien plant and animal species and revegetating native species which are applicable on a large scale. Provide short-term protection for the remnant dry forests in demonstration plots, e.g., by means of fire breaks. The initial project undertaken by the Group was located in a 5.8-acre parcel leased to NTBG by KSBE, called Ka`upulehu mauka. This site is located on the Ka`upulehu lava flow and is composed of remnant dry forest dominated by lama (Diospyros sandwicensis). It occurs on rough `a`a lava with relatively shallow soils. After two years of active management, largely through hand spraying of a grass specific herbicide, the fountain grass at NTBG’s Ka`upulehu mauka parcel has been reduced from 100% ground cover to less than 10%. The rat population has been decreased sufficiently to allow for seed production. The Group has expanded to include other agencies and organizations conducting dry forest restoration, including The Nature Conservancy; U.S.Army from Pohakuloa Training Area; Will and Judy Hancock from Kalopi; U.S.Forest Service; and others as they are interested in participating. The Group, largely through the U.S. Forest Service and a student intern, controls the remaining and new infestations of fountain grass and other weeds at the site and continues to monitor and maintain the fire break. Eventually, the Group hopes to turn the management of this site, along with the continued monitoring, back to NTBG. With the Ka`upulehu mauka site in the maintenance and monitoring stage, the Group wanted to test a larger scale management efforts, and selected the 70 acres of remnant dry forest of Ka`upulehu makai which is leased to PIA by KSBE. Currently, the project is funded through the Service, with a salary match for a coordinator and a student intern from KSBE and in-kind contributions from Kukui`ohiwai, PIA, KSBE, NTBG, TNC, DOFAW, USFS, and US Army. KSBE also funded and constructed the fence around the parcel. The main goal of the larger Ka`upulehu makai parcel is to demonstrate the ability to reduce fire risk and restore dry forest in a large area, adapting the most economical and effective methods field tested in the Ka`upulehu mauka parcel to this larger area. In addition, the Group will continue to interact with others conducting similar work, through various network opportunities. Projects Highlights Home Page Top of Page