Conservation projects receive $2.3M in grants

Hawaii wildlife conservation projects on Maui and the Big Island will get $2.3 million in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service grants to help save threatened and endangered species, the agency announced recently.

The projects:

» The Kilauea Coastal Preserve Acquisition will use $1.6 million to help buy 20 acres at Kahili beach, adjacent to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, as habitat area for the Hawaiian goose, Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian gallinule, Hawaiian duck and the Hawaiian hoary bat.

» A project on the Leeward slope of Haleakala on Maui will receive $280,500 to fence out invasive hoofed animals from 190 acres of Auwahi forest on privately owned 'Ulupalakua Ranch. The project will benefit the Blackburn's sphinx moth and 10 plant species.

» Invasive plants will be removed from a 2,000-acre site within the East Maui Watershed Partnership area at a cost of $88,000, to benefit five forest bird and nine plant species.

» Hawksbill sea turtle nesting habitats on the Big Island will be improved via a $106,920 grant by controlling predators, non-native plants and minimizing human contact. Green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals also will benefit.

» Strategic fencing will keep wild pigs and illegal dirt bikers out of 2,644 acres of prime habitat for 11 rare species including Newell's shearwater, Hawaiian dark rumped petrel, Hawaiian short eared owl and a number of listed or proposed plant species in the West Maui Mountains.

More detail about projects and grants is available via the Internet at: endangered.fws.gov/grants/section6 and endangered.fws.gov/grants/private_stewardship.html.