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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today published an addendum to the Multi-Recovery Plan that identifies recovery actions for ten additional endangered plant species found on the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe in the Hawaiian Islands. Since introduced animal and plant species are the primary threats to these endangered plants, the addendum focuses on actions that will control non-native species and ensure the long-term survival of the plant species.
The ten plant species were listed as endangered on September 3, 1999, and include Clermontia samuellii (oha wai), Cyanea copelandii ssp. haleakalaensis (haha), Cyanea glabra (haha), Cyanea hamatiflora ssp. hamatiflora (haha), Dubautia plantaginea ssp. humilis (naenae), Hedyotis schlechtendahliana var. remyi (kopa), Kanaloa kahoolawensis (kohe malama malama o Kanaloa), Labordia tinifolia var. lanaiensis (kamakahala), Labordia triflora (kamakahala), and Melicope munroi (alani).
To prevent the extinction of these plants and ultimately recover them within their historic ranges, the Service recommends: fencing existing populations to prevent trampling and uprooting by non-native hoofed animals such as pigs, goats and deer; controlling encroachment of non-native plants; trapping non-native rodents, insects, and slugs that feed on the rare plants; artificial propagation and augmentation of current populations and establishment of new ones as well as research and long-term monitoring.
Some recovery actions, such as seed collection for propagation and cultivation, fencing, hoofed-animal removal, and rodent control are already underway for one or more of the endangered plant species.
Habitat degradation and predation by pigs, goats, and deer are considered the primary threats to these plants. Pigs damage the native vegetation by trampling the forest floor and uprooting plants, which encourages the spread of non-native plants. They also feed on the plants, especially on the starchy interior of tree ferns.
Competition with non-native plants also is a major threat to the survival of these species. The introduced plants often out-compete native species for space, light, water, and nutrients, according to Fish and Wildlife Service botanists. Plants such as velvet tree, New Zealand tea, strawberry guava and common guava, Koster
