Critical habitats
form on Big Isle41 plants will be protected
on more than 208,000 acres
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has designated 208,063 acres of the Big Island as critical habitat for threatened and endangered plant species, completing the service's five-year effort to comply with a federal court ruling.
A final rule published Wednesday in the Federal Register establishes critical habitat for 41 plants on the Big Island.
"I want to compliment all those who have been involved in this major endeavor, especially the many people in Hawaii, from state employees to hunters, private landowners to botanists, environmentalists to the military, who have been willing to work with us to develop these critical habitat rules," said Paul Henson, Fish and Wildlife Pacific Islands field supervisor. "Because of their involvement, we believe we have a far better set of designations."
The acreage designated as critical habitat on Hawaii Island is 52 percent less than proposed in May 2002. Land was excluded for various reasons, including:
>> Biological determination that a species' conservation needs could be better met on other islands.>> Deeming Army environmental plans at Pohakuloa Training area adequate to conserve endangered plants on its 47,450 acres.
>> Accepting Kamehameha Schools and Queen Liliuokalani Trust's voluntary conservation activities as protective of some 13,915 acres of land.
>> Considering possible economic and social costs in removing 833 acres of state and private lands slated for development as affordable housing and a town center in Kailua-Kona.
"We believe working cooperatively together we can do far more to recover the species," Henson said. "Regulations don't accomplish nearly as much."The U.S. Endangered Species Act calls geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species critical habitats.
The Conservation Council for Hawaii, the Sierra Club, and the Hawaiian Botanical Society sued the Fish & Wildlife Service to force naming of critical habitats for 255 plant species.
Of the total acreage designated as critical habitat on the Big Island, 55 percent is owned by state or local government, 8 percent by private landowners, and 37 percent by the federal government.
Information about critical habitat designations in Hawaii are available at pacificislands.fws.gov or by calling 808-541-3441.