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23. The announcement came shortly after President Bush signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to work with states, tribes, local communities, conservation groups, private landowners, and other partners in cooperative conservation projects.
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23. "President Bush believes the most effective action we can take to conserve wildlife and its habitat is to empower the people who live and work on the land," said Dave Allen, Pacific regional director for the Fish and Wildlife Service. "His executive order will ensure federal agencies make building partnerships in states and communities across the country our highest priority."
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23. President Bushs executive order instructs federal departments and agencies such as the Interior Department to ensure that they carry out their statutory obligations in a "manner that promotes cooperative conservation, with an emphasis on appropriate inclusion of local participation in federal decision making."
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23. "With todays executive order, President Bush has made working in voluntary partnership with states, local communities, private landowners and others the gold standard for our conservation efforts," Norton said. "The Private Stewardship Grants we are announcing today meet that standard by empowering private citizens to do what the federal government cannot do alone - conserve habitat for imperiled species on private lands."
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23. The Private Stewardship Grant program provides federal grants on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in voluntary conservation efforts on private lands that benefit federally listed endangered or threatened species, candidate species, or other at-risk species. Grant recipients must provide at least 10 percent of the total project cost either in nonfederal dollars or in-kind contributions.
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23. The grants awarded in Hawaii are:
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23. Auwahi Dryland Forest Restoration - (application by Ulupalakua Ranch) - Maui, $26,000
23.To assist the continued community-based restoration of especially diverse tracts of dryland forest at Auwahi, Ulupalakua Ranch, Maui within a 20-acre exclosure. This exclosure will protect five endangered plant species by collecting, germinating, and propagating the endangered plants; controlling non-native invasive plants within the exclosure; and irrigating to ensure outplanting success.
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23.Keauhou Fencing and Feral Animal Control - (application by Hawaiian Silversword Foundation) - Hawaii, $114,125
23.To build a 3-mile fence to protect 15,000 acres of forest and former ranch lands from ingress by alien animals (feral pigs, mouflon sheep, and goats) and control alien animals within the fenced unit. The project area contains diverse native forest and provides habitat for three endangered forest bird species, the endangered Hawaiian hawk, the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, and nine endangered plant species. The long-term objectives are to protect and manage a large contiguous area of the landscape to enhance the long-term survival and integrity of native plant and animal communities and the natural processes on which they depend, promoting recovery of endangered species.
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23. Wiliwili Dryland Forest Restoration at Puu o Kali Lava Flows, Western Haleakala - (application by Olino) - Maui, $56,000
23.To propagate and outplant six endangered native plant species and control selective invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species within the fenced 236-acre parcel of Pu?u o Kali Wiliwili dryland forest.
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23.Feral Ungulate Perimeter Fence for Limahuli Upper Valley Preserve - (application by National Tropical Botanical Garden) - Kauai, $336,000
23.To construct 4.5 miles of feral ungulate-proof fence along the upper perimeter boundary of 400 acres of Limahuli Valley. Any pigs inside the fence will be removed. This area is a biologically rich native Hawaiian lowland and montane wet forest that is habitat for wild populations of 10 federally listed species. Considerable restoration efforts have already occurred in upper Limahuli, and this fence project will secure the area from future damage from feral pigs and goats.
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23.Habitat Enhancement for Koloa and Nene - (application by Ducks Unlimited) - Hawaii, $49,800
23.To enhance and increase the number of wetland and associated upland habitats available to breeding populations of koloa and nene on the of Hawaii. The work will include lining ponds so they hold water year round, planting native vegetation, and controlling weeds and predators. The enhancement will occur in the Ahualoa District of Hawaii at Cloud Forest Coffee organic farm.
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23.North Pualii Gulch Ungulate Exclosure - (application by The Nature Conservancy) - Oahu, $65,750
23.To construct a 9.8-acre pig and goat fence exclosure in the Honouliuli Preserves North Pualii Gulch to protect an intact stand of dry-mesic native forest containing five endangered species including plants and the elepaio, five species of concern, and one candidate species. The work will include installing a 500-gallon tank and a 10 x 16 foot catchment surface and irrigation system to provide water for weed control and to water outplants. This project will reintroduce 12 listed endangered plant species within the fenced exclosure.
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23.Conservation and Restoration of Rare and Endangered Flora and Fauna Along Honolii Stream, South Hilo - (application by Waialae Falls LLC) - Hawaii, $48,818
23.To restore a 1/3-mile long section of land along the Honolii Stream by removing pigs and invasive tree species and planting state and federally listed plant species that once occurred in the area, restoring habitat for the plants as well as two endangered birds, the Hawaiian hawk and koloa. Fencing will help protect the restoration site from further ingress of pigs.
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23. Dryland Forest Restoration at Kaupulehu - (application by Hawaii Forest Industry Association) - Hawaii, $108,515
23.To enhance the existing dryland forest remnant at Kaupulehu by continuing on-the-ground conservation actions during a 1-year period: reintroducing nine target endangered plant species, managing nonnative competitors, ensuring an ample supply of water for irrigation, reducing threats from alien mammals, reducing threats from fire, and ensuring stable and consistent management of dry forest restoration.
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23.Nene and Riparian Restoration for the Kohala Mountains - (application by Pacific Plains) - Hawaii, $61,200)
23.To enhance 100 acres of pasture to a condition that would provide suitable habitat for reintroduction of nene; construct a nene breeding pen, and restore 20 acres of native riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian ohia forest and plunge pool habitat on adjacent lands in the Kohala Mountains on the Big Island.
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23.Locking Gate for an Interior Cave Entrance in Makauwahi Sinkhole- (application by Grove Farm Company, Incorporated) - Kauai, $18,810
23.To protect the unique cave habitat by placing a locking gate at the cave entrance located in the southern end of Makauwahi Sinkhole. This will protect the endangered Kauai cave wolf spider and Kauai cave amphipod that are known to occur in the area. Protection and restoration of cave habitat is fundamental to the recovery of Kauais endangered cave spider and cave amphipod.
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23.No Na Mamo (For the Future Generation) Project - (application by Fujitory Hawaii, Inc. DBA Umikoa Ranch) - Hawaii and Kauai, $189,250
23.To restore koa, ?ohi?a and riparian habitats for threatened, endangered, and candidate species within three protected areas totaling 150 acres. Work sites will be on the islands of Hawaii and Kauai. In addition, the project will develop and establish programs that employ, educate, and inspire Hawaiis youth to work in fields of conservation and cultural management.
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23.KuOhia Laka Rainforest Restoration Project - (application by private individuals) - Hawaii, $43,600 To support the establishment of a plant propagation and out-planting program for common native forest plants as well as endangered, candidate, and rare plant species, and improve existing native habitat to ensure forest health and support existing populations of endangered animals such as the Hawaiian hawk and hoary bat.
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23. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.
