Feds fund 11 projects
in isles to help nature
Eleven Hawaii projects to benefit imperiled plants and wildlife will receive a total of $1.16 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it was announced last week.
The 11 were among awards to 113 landowners in 43 states that were awarded a total of $9.4 million.
U.S. Interior Secretary Gail Norton said, "By making these grants, we are empowering citizens to restore habitat on their land and take other steps to protect and recover endangered, threatened and at-risk species."
Each grant must be matched by at least 10 percent of the total project cost either in nonfederal dollars or in-kind contributions.
The Private Stewardship Grants were awarded 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.
The Hawaii projects seek to protect and improve the habitats of a variety of threatened and endangered plants, birds, insects and animals. Methods used will include fencing out hoofed animals, removing invasive vegetation and replanting native plants, watershed management and fire control. They are:
>> Lanaihale Summit Fence Project (Castle & Cooke Resorts), $245,000. Fencing the native forest ecosystem of the Lanaihale Cloud Forest on Lanai will exclude hoofed animals from the forest.
>> Keauhou Forest Restoration (Hawaiian Silversword Foundation), $100,000. This is a comprehensive restoration program for 3,000 acres of forest and former ranch lands at Keauhou Ranch.
>> Waihee Coastal Dunes and Wetland Preserve Protection and Recovery Project (Maui Coastal Land Trust), $107,080. This project will initiate long-term restoration activities on the coastal dunes and wetlands of the 250-acre Waihee Preserve.
>> Auwahi Dryland Forest Restoration (Ulupalakua Ranch, Southwest Haleakala, Maui), $45,000. Community-based restoration of selected diverse tracts of dry-land forest at Ulupalakua Ranch.
>> Conservation Management in Lumahai Valley, Kauai (University of Hawaii), $155,100. Two seabirds -- the Hawaiian petrel and Newell's shearwater -- and 10 endangered and threatened plants are to benefit from this project, which will control hoofed animals and propagate plants.
>> Kauai Private Lands Program (Ducks Unlimited), $145,858. This project will restore about 40 acres of freshwater wetlands, 100 acres of brackish-water wetlands and 115 acres of associated upland and riverine habitat on two Kauai private properties.
>> Hawaii Forest, Wetland and Riparian Restoration Project (Umikoa Ranch), $127,700. This project will enhance forest, wetland and riparian habitat and establish protected sites to benefit 14 endangered species (three forest birds, the Hawaiian hawk, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian goose and eight plants) and another 15 species.
>> Kuohia Laka Hawaiian Rainforest Restoration Project (Laura Brezinsky), $64,800. This project establishes a plant propagation program for common forest plants to improve native habitat to support existing populations of endangered Hawaiian hawks and hoary bats.
>> Manana Valley Fire Rehabilitation (Manana Valley Farm), $43,367. This project will create habitat for the natural succession and recovery of rare and endangered species.
>> Koa Forest Restoration at Ulupalakua, Maui (Ulupalakua Ranch), $54,000. Restoration of a koa forest of Puumakua on Ulupalakua Ranch lands.
>> Wiliwili Forest Restoration at Puu-o-kali, Maui (University of Hawaii), $75,325. A 236-acre parcel will be protected by a deer-proof fence and selective weeding to provide growing areas for rare hibiscus flowers.
Fish and Wildlife Service