Island Conservation
A five-mile cat-proof fence built on Mauna Loa will keep native birds safe from invasive feral cats. The ‘Ua’u, also called the Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), is a seabird listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. ‘Ua’u spend most of their time out at sea, but they settle on the slopes […]
All of Hawai’i’s native bees have qualified for protection under the Endangered Species Act. A number of threats including non-native species…are having a devastating effect on the ecosystem. Research conducted by Xerces Society has prompted federal authorities to grant all seven of Hawai’i’s native bees protection under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first time a U.S. […]
Invasive ants are wreaking havoc on the Hawaiian Islands. David Moverly, the Invasive Species Advisor for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program in Samoa and manager of the Hawai’i Ant Lab in Hilo, is part of a global movement to manage and prevent the spread of invasive species. One invasive species he is […]
Researchers have returned from a deep-sea expedition hoping to explain why the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are so biologically rich. There’s kind of this paradox: How can you have so much productivity around Hawai’i yet the surrounding ocean waters are literally a barren ocean landscape? -Jamison Gove, NOAA oceanographer A research team including scientist from the […]
Organizations in Hawai’i combine forces to safeguard native species by developing better biosecurity. Hawaii is home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Residents of Hawai‘i know that its environment and way of life are special. Many of the native plants and animals exist nowhere […]
Invasive species degrade island ecosystems and threaten local and global biodiversity. This year, the World Conservation Congress was held in Hawaii. Hawaii is a biodiversity hotspot desperately in need of conservation measures. Its plants and wildlife have become severely threatened by invasive species brought to the island by people. Of the 415 endemic species assessed for […]
A Perfect Storm for Island Restoration? Unprecedented convergence of climate and conservation events herald a tipping point for island conservation 31 August 2016 – Somewhere Over the Pacific May I tell you a story? I’m in seat 8C. Seatbelt buckled. Going 500 miles per hour. Yet, I’m sitting still for what seems like the first time […]
The IUCN WCC brings conservationists and politicians together to discuss the world’s major environmental issues. Today is the first day of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress (IUCN WCC), a 10-day conference attended by more than 8,000 delegates from over 190 countries who will be attending more than 1,300 events. […]
Conservation fieldwork on explosive-ridden, ecologically and culturally rich Kaho’olawe Island is as rewarding as it is challenging. Everyone in Hawaii knows Kaho’olawe Island is littered with unexploded ordnance (a.k.a. bombs). For anybody who doesn’t know, the island was used as a bombing test site by the U.S. military from 1941-1990. But leftover ordnance is not the only problem […]
Restoration partners seek additional supporters to implement cultural and environmental restoration plan Contact: Sally Esposito, Island Conservation, sally.esposito@islandconservation.org, (706) 969-2783 Kelly McHugh, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, kmchugh@kirc.hawaii.gov, (808) 243-5886 Resources: Interviews, images On Friday, June 17, 2016, Hawaiʻi State Governor David Ige signed a bill appropriating funds to the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) for restoration and preservation […]