Hawaii Conservation Conference 2009 - Climate Change
The Hawaii Conservation Alliance hosts the annual Hawaii Conservation Conference (HCC) in July. Now in its 17th year, The Hawaii Conserva...Video Episodes:
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20:36:40 08/11/09
Ben Namakin
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Ben Namakin Plenary Speaker, July 29 Hawaii Conservation Conference. Ben Namakin Pacific Islands Climate Revolution Ben Namakin is co-founder of the Pacific Islands Climate Revolution (PICRe), an organizations dedicated to recognizing youth as being under-represented in climate change dialogues, negotiations, and decision-making. He was born in 1980 and grew up on islands in the Pacific, living first in Kiribati and then moving in 1996 with his family to Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Mr. Namakin attended Ponape Agriculture & Trade School, the only vocational high school in Micronesia, and graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture and Marine Science in 2001. In 2002, Mr. Namakin began working for the Conservation Society of Pohnpei as Manager of the organization’s Environmental Education & Awareness Program. He also ran the "Green Road" program that educates students about watersheds, marine conservation, marine pollution, coral reefs, and land-sea connections. As a member of the youth delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Montreal, Mr. Namakin addressed the plenary session and contributed to the declaration "Our Climate, Our Challenge, Our Future." He also spoke for the Many Strong Voices at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia. Mr. Namakin is the founding chair of the International Pacific Marine. Educators Network (IPMEN), a World Wildlife Fund Climate Witness, steering committee co-chair for the Pacific Region and Global Youth, and also serves on the International Steering Committee for a Global Summit of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change.
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22:51:52 08/08/09
The Importance of Rare Plant Conservation in Large Scale Ecological Restoration
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Chipper Wichman presenting. As large-scale ecological restoration initiatives in Hawaii gain momentum, protecting botanical biodiversity must be aggressively undertaken. With 274 plant species currently listed as endangered, Hawaii has the most endangered flora in the US and time is running out. Historically, inadequate funding has constrained successful conservation of these rare species. This must be reversed if a large-scale restoration effort is to be successful. The current Plant Extinction Prevention Program's (PEP) state-wide network of field biologists will be a central component of an effective strategy to prevent extinction however it will require increased staffing and resources to meet our future challenges. The expanded PEP Program will channel genetic material into a stronger, better-funded network of Federal, State, and private seed storage and propagation facilities. The limitations of the current network are exemplified by the state's primary tissue culture lab for rare Hawaiian species. Located at the Lyon Arboretum, this very successful lab is in an aging wooden structure that hardly befits its critical role as a state-wide in vitro mico-propagation facility. Better understanding of rare-plant genetics will be another critical element needed to produce viable populations which are representative of the levels of genetic diversity found in natural populations. A robust network of researchers will be needed to address this vital component of the strategy. Finally, new reintroduction, sanitation, and seed-storage protocols, as well as landowner incentives, will be required to promote the successful establishment of large numbers of rare plants in the large-scale ecosystem restoration projects that Hawaii the Restoration Conservation Initiative (HRCI) will generate.
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22:46:46 08/08/09
The Hawaii Restoration and Conservation Initiative - an Overview
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Christian Giardina presenting. Native ecosystems and the Hawaiian culture they sustain face a stark future. While many landscapes, riparian areas and coastlines across Hawai'i have conservation status, and? restoration and conservation activities by diverse entities proceed on numerous fronts, the potent forces of invasive and exotic plants, animals and pathogens are wreaking havoc on our native ecosystems. The Hawaii Restoration and Conservation Initiative seeks to: i) establish a new dialogue between traditional practitioners, land and water managers, scientists and Hawaii's diverse communities; ii) implement new tools and strategies for conducting restoration and conservation at large spatial scales; and iii) support and mentor a new generation of stewards. To achieve these goals, this initiative requires a comprehensive planning, development and demonstration process that will provide Hawaii with a blueprint for: embracing a new culturally-based land stewardship paradigm; undertaking emergency actions to prevent imminent extinctions and new invasive introductions; establishing a comprehensive statewide assessment; enhancing cultural opportunities; developing new tools; implementing new restoration and conservation strategies; and expanding educational, recreational and economic development opportunities. Although both the scale and scope of this integration are unprecedented in Hawaii, large-scale efforts are the norm for tackling major ecological problems in other regions. Numerous successes at smaller scales across Hawai'i, a new generation of tools based on modern science that permits understanding and managing Hawaiian ecosystems at an unprecedented level of detail and the strength of already established partnerships provide the necessary pieces for achieving large-scale restoration and conservation in Hawaii while also stimulating a new sustainability economy.
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22:02:59 08/08/09
Na `Opihi o Hawai`i Nei: Study Of An Endemic Hawaiian Limpet (Cellana spp.) In The Hawaiian Islands
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Shauna Kehaunani Tom presenting. Opihi (Cellana spp.) are one of the most prized species harvested in Hawai`i, due to their cultural significance to Hawaiians and their high economic value. In Hawai`i, opihi are considered the fish of death because they are located in the inter-tidal zone with large wave action, so people risk their lives while harvesting opihi. Opihi are also an important source of protein, vitamins A & D, phosphorous and iron, before foodstuff began to be imported. There are three endemic Cellana species, C. exarata (makaiauli), C. sandwicensis (alinalina), and C. talcosa (ko`ele), distributed throughout Hawai'i. We investigated the distribution and density of opihi during various lunar phases on Hawaii Island and on Pihemanu (Midway Atoll) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to better understand opihi ecology across the Hawaiian archipelago from a cultural perspective. The alongshore transect survey at Puhi Bay, Hilo, Hawai`i revealed that alinalina are larger than makaiauli but exhibit lower densities during all three moon phases. Alinalina are favored over makaiauli, so their lower densities may be attributed to higher fishing pressure of this species. No true opihi were found on Pihemanu and may be due to the lack of connectivity with other populations. This research provided data on previously poorly studied population dynamics and ecology of opihi which are model species for culturally appropriate conservation efforts in Hawai`i for their cultural and economic importance. Further investigation on harvesting pressure of opihi in correlation to their densities at Kalaupapa National Historic Park, Molokai, is underway.
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21:56:38 08/08/09
Fatality Monitoring Associated With Wind Energy Development In Hawaii and Throughout The U.S.
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Alicia Oller presenting. Wind energy provides a clean, renewable energy source that is in high demand in Hawaii and throughout the United States (U.S.) as a response to concerns about global climate change. As wind power has become more common, the need to address potential environmental impacts has increased. Birds and bats have been identified as a group potentially at risk because of collisions with wind turbines and associated structures. Fatality monitoring studies are central to understanding what species are directly impacted by commercial wind energy facilities. When designing and implementing fatality monitoring, it is essential to consider the objectives of the study, target species, geographic location, vegetative conditions, topography and other site conditions in order to develop appropriate methods for field surveys and data analysis. Also, as wind energy development becomes more prevalent, impacts to threatened and endangered species may occur. Only a few publicly available studies have been designed to document potential incidental take of a listed species including two wind energy associated facilities in Hawaii authorized by state and federal Habitat Conservation Plans. The correct methods and take calculations are important to understanding the ultimate impact to the viability of a threatened or endangered species population.
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21:52:43 08/08/09
Monitoring and Evaluating Impact of Incidental Take to Protect Species
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Edith Nonner presenting. One of the major Hawaiian natural resource management issues that has generated debate is the protection of native ecosystems versus public hunting. Hawaii is unique in that none of the game species hunted are native. Hunting remains a popular and cherished activity for many of Hawaii's residents. However, Hawaii has the highest number of endangered and threatened plant species (377) in the U.S., and management for higher populations of game mammals may potentially have serious negative effect on protected plant species. In response, the Hawai`i Division of Forestry and Wildlife has carried out plant surveys (2003-2007) and developed a game mammal management plan within the Pu`u Anahulu Game Management Area and the Pu`u Wa`a Wa`a Cooperative Game Management Area in North Kona, Hawaii. A Habitat Conservation Plan is currently being developed to avoid and minimize impacts, as well as to contribute to the recovery of protected plant species. In collaboration with partners, the Plan is being developed to deal with potential impacts of game mammal management on listed species and critical habitat of Kokia drynarioides. Avoidance and minimization efforts will focus on protection of remaining high plant density areas, as well as on staff and hunter education. Mitigation strategies contributing to recovery of these species include outplantings and propagation, habitat restoration, as well as consideration of more creative approaches to protected plant species recovery.
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21:50:36 08/08/09
Improvements in Ungulate Management in Hawaii: The Nature Conservancy's Forest Recovery Project
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Jason Sumiye presenting. Over approximately two years, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i (TNCH) worked with multiple partner organizations to test and evaluate ungulate control programs and research methods in its preserves. Prohunt and Landcare Research were hired to provide professional animal control and data analysis, respectively; Telemetry Solutions provided GPS animal tracking collars; and TNCH contracted a market study to assess the business feasibility of a local company providing these services. Shortcomings of the project included incomplete datasets from collared animal experiments and an inability to establish a viable local animal control industry. However, data that were collected revealed information about ungulate behavior and valuable lessons learned, based on TNCH analysis. Positive outcomes have included the addition of specially-trained dogs to TNCH's ungulate control teams and standardized use of GIS and GPS tools. In this presentation we will briefly present TNCH's analysis of final data results from collaring research and specific conservation results in 17,000 acres of TNCH preserves.
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21:50:19 08/08/09
Opportunities for Students and Researchers: Protected Species Research and Information Needs
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Norma Bustos presenting. Opportunities for students and principal investigators is presented in an overview of specific research and information needs for recovery of endangered and threatened seabirds, waterbirds, bats, nene, and plants, among other species, from the perspective of providing net benefit from incidental take of these species. High priority research needs include, for example, reassessment of nene population status and recovery needs by island; how behavior differs between colonies, and how this affects their population success; determining return rate of released and non-released Newell's shearwaters; investigating movement and use of wetlands by waterbirds, particularly on O'ahu; determining the effect of feral cats and cat colonies on Kona (Big Island) waterbirds; life history of `ape`ape`a (bats); exploring bat avoidance and recovery options; developing species specific propagation techniques for protected plants; and developing a trained wildlife technician workforce within the Hawaiian Islands.
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21:46:23 08/08/09
The Effects of Rodents on Reproduction in Endangered Plants of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
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Joshua VanDeMark presenting. Rodents, especially rats (Rattus spp.), are well-documented predators of many native Hawaiian plants. The basic biology of many rare Hawai`ian plant species is poorly understood, and the role that rodents have in affecting their reproduction is largely unknown. We investigated factors that may limit the reproductive success of 13 species of rare and endangered plants in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, including impacts by rodents. Each species was monitored on a monthly or bi-monthly schedule and signs of rodent activity were recorded. Evidence of seed predation by rodents was documented through examining the soil seed bank, conducting seed offering trials, and observing fruit both prior to and after dispersal. More than half of the target species displayed signs of damage caused by rodents including predation of reproductive structures, bark stripping, and seed predation. Damage to seed capsules, before dispersal, was as high as 66% in Sesbania tomentosa, and 50% in Melicope hawaiiensis. In the soil seed bank, 99% of M. hawaiiensis showed signs of rodent predation. Seed offering trials showed high rates of predation for Sicyos macrophyllus (47%) and Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (100%). More than 50% of dispersed fruit from Sicyos alba had evidence of rodent predation. ?It is important to understand the extent to which rodents limit reproductive success of individual rare and endangered plant species in order to guide management strategies for preserving the diversity of Hawai`i's flora.
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21:45:06 08/08/09
At-Sea Detection of Derelict Fishing Gear: An Interdisciplinary Strategy to Address Marine Debris
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Kris McElwee presenting. Derelict fishing gear (DFG) is a threat to marine ecosystems, posing entanglement hazards for marine life and smothering the living substrate upon which it settles. Across the Pacific, DFG is recognized as a major environmental threat to coastal and nearshore areas. A regional "hotspot" for DFG is the Hawaiian Archipelago, particularly the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.In response to the threats posed by DFG in coral reef environments and the enormous cleanup costs of removal from the reefs, researchers have explored methods of detecting and eventually removing DFG in the open ocean. A December 2008 workshop brought technical experts in physical and biological oceanography, remote sensing, and unmanned aircraft systems together with individuals with practical expertise in fishing, economics, and marine debris.The specific goals of the workshop included 1) seeking solutions to locating DFG for removal, and 2) consideration of a census of DFG to assess the scale of the problem and determine the fraction of DFG that enters sensitive shallow-water environments. Participants developed a strategy that included steps in each of the following areas: characterizing DFG in the water column, characterizing the operational environment, developing models to predict the location and movement of DFG, and developing remote-sensing capacity to detect DFG. This presentation will review the background of the problem and the strategy that was proposed to improve our ability to measure, detect, and determine methods of addressing DFG, with the ultimate goal of preventing it from affecting our living marine resources.
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21:40:55 08/08/09
Impact of Ocean Acidification on Hawaiian Coral Reefs in the 21st Century
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Paul Jokiel presenting. Levels of ocean acidification at twice present day pCO2 will occur during this century unless extreme measures are taken to reduce fossil fuel combustion. The environmental consequences to Hawaiian coral reefs have been demonstrated experimentally. At this level, recruitment and growth of coralline algae (CCA) will be reduced by up to 80-90% and calcifying communities will undergo net dissolution caused by initial loss of the more soluble high magnesium carbonate component. Coral calcification will decrease by 15% to 30% under acidified conditions. Skeletal formation in corals is impaired, but other functions such as coral spawning and coral settlement show little or no difference. The impact of ocean acidification is insidious and is not marked by the dramatic and highly visible mortality events such as occurs with temperature-induced coral bleaching. Rather, ocean acidification leads to decreasing resilience and structural collapse of reefs communities. Quantitative models show that increasing frequency and intensity of bleaching events due to global warming during mid-century will be the dominant cause of reef decline, but ocean acidification becomes increasingly important near the end of the century. Corals in certain geographic regions can tolerate much higher temperatures than Hawaiian corals, so natural selection and genetic adaptation to higher temperature does occur over evolutionary time scales. However, observations on the chemical requirements for calcification indicate that adaptation to levels of increased ocean acidification is not possible.
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16:26:38 08/07/09
Dr. Stephen Schneider on Climate Change in Hawai`i: Threats and Opportunities, Keynote Speech
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Dr. Stephen Schneider presenting. Dr. Schneider is the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Professor of Biology, Professor (by courtesy) of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. Dr. Schneider received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Plasma Physics from Columbia University in 1971. He studied the role of greenhouse gases and suspended particulate material on climate as a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in 1972 and was a member of the scientific staff of NCAR from 1973-1996, where he co-founded the Climate Project. Internationally recognized for research, policy analysis and outreach in climate change, Dr. Schneider focuses on climate change science, integrated assessment of ecological and economic impacts of human-induced climate change, and identifying viable climate policies and technological solutions. He has consulted with federal agencies and/or White House staff in the Nixon, Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations. Actively involved with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an initiative of the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization since its origin in 1988 and a contributor to all four IPCC Assessment Reports, Dr. Schneider was Coordinating Lead Author, WG II, Chapter 19, "Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and the Risk from Climate Change" for the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) and a core writer for the AR4 Synthesis Report. This most recent assessment is being used by governments world-wide as the most up-to-date, credible document regarding climate change science, impacts, adaptation, vulnerability, and mitigation until 2012. Dr. Schneider along with four generations of IPCC authors received a collective Nobel Peace Prize for their joint efforts in 2007.
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12:43:23 08/07/09
Contributing to Species Recovery and Net Conservation Benefit on Maui: A Kaheawa Perspective
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Greg Spencer presenting. Since 2006, Kaheawa Wind Power (KWP) has been implementing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that includes substantial mitigation directed at the endangered nene, (Branta sandvicensis), Hawaiian Petrel, Pterodroma sandwichensis, Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), and threatened Newell's Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newelli) on the island of Maui. The HCP contains provisions that support a range of avoidance, minimization, monitoring, and mitigation initiatives designed to (a) enhance understanding of the interaction between covered species and the wind project, (b) measure direct and/or cumulative impacts or effects, (c) guide species-specific mitigation that will offset these impacts, and (d) provide a net ecological benefit in alignment with species recovery goals. Mitigation for each species is designed to be commensurate with estimated and observed impacts but must also demonstrate a net conservation benefit for the species. Maintaining a net benefit requires that mitigation actions must represent the best available scientific information and address pressing threats and/or principle factors limiting species recovery. Conservation initiatives aimed at providing a net benefit on behalf of HCP-covered species on Maui include improving annual survival and productivity of these species in the wild by controlling predators, improving available habitat, captive propagation, population reintroduction and translocation, and collaboration on research and monitoring that will inform critical management decisions. The development of specific mitigation strategies that complement and enhance ongoing recovery initiatives for these species on Maui will be discussed, along with examples of inherent challenges, biological success criteria, and the importance of collaboration and adaptive management.
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12:27:20 08/07/09
Integrating Conservation, Management, and Science: Tamaligi (Falcataria moluccana) Control in Samoa
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Flint Hughes presenting. The successful management of invasive species - whether in Hawaii or other Pacific Islands - depends on our ability to properly consider and effectively engage the broader social, cultural, and ecological forces under which a given invasion occurs. In American Samoa, the invasive tree Falcataria moluccana (a.k.a.Tamaligi in Samoa and Albizia in Hawaii) constitutes a key threat to the native forests of the National Park of American Samoa (NPSA). This fast-growing, but shade-intolerant tree species readily establishes itself from wind-blown seed in gaps of native Samoan forest. The NPSA invasive species management program has developed successful partnerships with the Samoan villages that lease lands to the park by working with the traditional chief (matai) councils and utilizing local villagers to restore these forests. The involvement of the traditional matai councils has created widespread grassroots support for our conservation goals and management actions to kill established tamaligi trees and allow natural regeneration of the forest. To date over 4,700 mature invasive tamaligi trees have been killed, reclaiming 1,500 acres of forest. A collaborative research program was established between NPSA and the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry of the USDA Forest Service to determine the success and impact of the removal of tamaligi trees by NPSA. The collaborations of NPSA with the matai councils, other government agencies, and non-profit organizations has resulted in native forest restoration, research, and outreach which has fostered increased recognition and pride in the natural and cultural resources of American Samoa.
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11:54:53 08/07/09
Reproductive Biology of Rare Hawaiian Plants: What Do We Know and How Can We Learn More?
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Donald Drake presenting. The native angiosperm flora of Hawaii is renowned for its endemism (89%) and for threats to its conservation. Of the approximately 1158 named angiosperm taxa, 269 (23%) are federally endangered, and similar numbers are either being evaluated for listing or are presumed extinct. Many taxa are extremely rare, with at least 150 being represented by natural populations of fewer than 50 individuals. We have surveyed the literature for published data on the reproductive biology of endangered Hawaiian plants, including aspects of breeding system, pollination biology, seed dispersal, seed predation, seed germination and dormancy, reproductive phenology, and population genetics. For all but a very few species, little data have been published beyond what a plant's floral traits allow us to infer about its mating system. More research is clearly needed. We briefly discuss some of the opportunities and constraints that affect the ability of researchers to collect publishable data on rare Hawaiian plants. Our goal is to spark interesting discussions between research scientists and conservation managers, leading to more efficient use of our complementary skills, and ultimately to improve the effectiveness with which data are collected and applied to the conservation of rare plants.
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11:46:19 08/07/09
Seed Longevity Research and Seed Banking of Hawaiian Plants
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Alvin Yoshinaga presenting. Until recently, little work was done on developing seed banks for native Hawaiian plants because of the widespread belief that seeds of Hawaiian plants were inherently difficult to store. In 1995, the USDA National Seed Storage Laboratory (now NCGRP), the University of Hawai`i Center for Conservation Research and Training (CCRT), and the Lyon Arboretum started a research program that demonstrated that seeds of most Hawaiian plants could be stored. They identified effective storage methods that are now increasing widely used in Hawaiian plant conservation. Standard seed longevity research methods for agricultural seeds assume that an infinite number of expendable seeds are available for research. For rare plants for which few seeds are available, methods need to be modified. Using large numbers of seeds for research improves the quantity and quality of information from the research but decreases the number of seeds available for immediate conservation use. In academic research, experimental design and statistical analysis center around hypothesis testing. In seed longevity research on rare plants, a model based on resource allocation among risky investments may be more appropriate. Despite these constraints, research on longevity of Hawaiian seeds has given important support to NCGRP's studies on improving understanding of longevity of seeds in general. This case differs from others in this symposium in that both NCGRP and CCRT's research is applied research for specific uses rather than basic academic research. Nonetheless, their research has enjoyed both support from working conservationists and fruitful collaborations with basic academic seed science researchers.