BIISC Committee and Community Meeting: Waimea/Kohala Sept 30th, 2010

AGENDA z

9am-10am z z

BIISC Today & Strategy for Partnering with Kohala

Unveiling an Action Plan for invasive management on Hawai i Island, and the importance of Kohala - Jan Schipper, Project Manager, BIISC Update on Rauvolfia vomitoria: what we know and why NOW is the time to act - Melora Purell, Coordinator, Kohala Watershed Partnership (KWP)

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10-10:30

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10:30-11:30 Project Updates – Island Wide with emphasis on North and South Kohala z z z z z z

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Coffee Break for Networking

Invasive species: perspectives from Hawaiian culture – Kanoe DeRego Update on Early Detection – Jimmy Parker & Bobby Parsons, BIISC Early Detection Team Coqui in Kohala – TBD Advances in Weed Mapping – Jean Franklin, Spatial Analyst, BIISC Outreach Action Plan – Page Else, Outreach Specialist, BIISC “Eyes and Ears Network” – what is it and why Waimea? – Page Else and Jan Schipper

11:30-Noon Public Q&A and Discussion.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) is a voluntary partnership of private citizens, community organizations, businesses, land owners, and government agencies to address invasive species issues on the island of Hawaii. BIISC's mission includes education, early detection, rapid response, control and eradication of invasive pests threatening agriculture, native ecosystems, industry, human health or the quality of life within Hawaii County.

Who is BIISC? z z

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BIISC partners Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources: Division of Forestry & Wildlife U.S.D.A. Forest Service University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Hawaii Department of Agriculture Hawaii Volcanoes National Park U.S. Geological Survey The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii Kamehameha Schools Malama O Puna Hawaii County Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kohala Watershed Partnership Three Mountain Alliance

Standard operations Early Detection and Rapid Response

BIISC Steering Committee

BIISC

Control of Established Pests

Outreach and Education

Early Detection and Rapid Response z

Early Detection Team z z

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Rapid Response (discussed last BIISC meeting) z z

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Survey island wide transportation corridors Identify rapid response targets

Private property issues Field crew control

Remote Sensing z z

“eyes in the sky” detection Satellite and aerial photography

Outreach and Education Keeping residents informed z Updates on new and established species z Community “eyes and ears network” z Attends public events and forums z Monitors BIISC Hotline z Published in popular media z “Go to person” for public inquiry z

Control of Established Pests z

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There are thousands of established pests, BIISC only has resources to work on a handful Focus: invasives that cause economical, environmental and/or ecological damage. Candidate species selected by feasibility and logistics z z z z z z

How big is populations (how many properties)? How fast will it spread (what do we know)? What is the opportunity cost (cost of doing nothing)? Cost/benefit analysis Where do we need to establish partnerships? Where do we need to work with communities?

Types of Invasives z

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Ecosystem Changers z Invaders which completely change ecosystem level processes and functioning by changing soil characteristics, light levels, etc. (Miconia, Strawberry Guava, Mangroves…) Pathogenic z Invaders which carry or host harmful pathogenic species or virus (mosquito, Avian Malaria, leptosporosis) Socially Unacceptable z Invaders which directly affect peoples health, sanity and well being (coqui, little fire ants, centipedes, spiders…) Economic Burdens z Invaders that directly impact our wallets, especially farmers and horticulturists (Viroa mites, coffee borer beetle)

Ecosystem Changers

Vines: smother, choke and dominate

Strawberry Guava: impenetrable forest

Mangrove: complete ecosystem shift

Pathogenic

Rat lung worm

Avian Malaria Leptosporosis

Socially Unacceptable

Economic Burdens

Viroa mite

Hive beetle Banana bunchy top

“three species of exotic fruit flies cost Hawai i over $300,000,000 EACH YEAR” Exotic fruit flies Red imported fire ant

Additive effects Erosion Landslide

Leptosporosis

Extinction Habitat loss

Spread invasive plants

Destroys ground cover

Creates mosquito habitat

How are we going to address this problem over the next decade? z

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Partnerships: build and strengthen partnerships across the island Legislature: work with decision makers to provide the best science to policy Strategy: develop a systematic island wide strategy to face the challenge Fundraising: raise resource base to increase staff and scope of project, put local people to work

ACTION PLAN z z

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What kind of Hawai i do we want to leave to our children? It takes a community/island to eradicate a weed/pest: building bridges and opening eyes and ears across the island Cost of inaction: extinction

MISSION z

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Current Mission: to prevent new invasive pest infestations on the island of Hawai i, to stop newly established pests from spreading and to provide local control of established pest species 2011 New Mission to include: z z z

1) focus on preventing further extinctions 2) research and monitoring 3) Interactive biome approach (terrestrial, freshwater and marine not independent)

2011 Annual Plan Operations: ensure that the organizational infrastructure of BIISC is effective, responsible and adaptable z z z z z z z

Build and maintain an effective workplace Strengthen the BIISC network and partnerships Strengthen the BIISC Committee Expand the budget Establish management reporting systems Optimize compliance and procedures Monitoring

2011 Annual Plan z

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Conservation: build partnerships to strengthen conservation efforts and make best use of limited resources Hierarchy of established pest and rapid response targets (priority setting) z z z

Integrate species based and area based strategies at the island scale Further the science of invasive species management Develop new and innovative tools to increase effectiveness and decrease collateral damages (spatial decision support tools)

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Most established pests are beyond the scope and resources available to BIISC, however we will build opportunistic partnerships, inform legislature and work to improve outreach for some. z Include:

albizia, gorse, strawberry guava, fire weed, feral cats, mongoose, rats…

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Poisons Devils Pepper – containment with intent to eradicate from North Kohala z z z z z

Strengthen partnership to include restoration of landscape following eradication Collaborate research to find safest and most effective treatment methods In 2011-2012: Containment to core (1,000 acres) In 2013-2015: Eradicate 2015 onward z

restoration & monitoring

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Coqui – focus on coqui control around critical habitat for T/E species and build capacity at the community scale (2010-2011) z z z z z

Volcano – work with Coquistadors Kohala – work with Waimea Community Association and Hawi control group UH – work with UH staff and students to further state of knowledge Prevent coqui infestation from spread to high value conservation lands Increase public awareness and ability to “treat it yourself”

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Miconia – contain Miconia to current range whilst biocontrol is established z High

elevations – prevent from spreading upwards to native forests z Northern limits – prevent from spreading to the Kohala Mountains z Leeward – work to contain populations on leeward/dry side z Increase public awareness and ability to “treat it yourself”

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Bocconia (Plume Poppy) - exclusion of populations from high conservation value lands in Ka’u z Work

towards exclusion Manuka, Honomalino and Ka’u Forest Reserve. z Strengthen regional partnerships

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Cryptostegia (Rubber vine) – containment and possible eradication from Ka’u region z Complete

regional surveys and complete island inventory z Develop containment goals z Strengthen regional partnership

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Buddleja (Smoke bush) - containment and eradication from Volcano region, Hamakua and Waimea. z 2011:

Waimea/Volcano z 2012: Volcano/Hamakua z 2013+ Monitor

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Cortaderia (Pampas grass) – monitor and control target in Waimea and Kona z Monitor

controlled sites z Survey for new populations/sites z Incorporate outreach component in communities

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Rhizophora (Red mangrove) – eradication target for this Island of Hawai i, outreach to coastal communities and monitoring of species recovery z 2010:

begin non invasive (manual) removal in Alula Bay with Malama O Puna z 2011: manual removal of Windward treated sites (dead wood) and monitoring of efficacy z 2012+ monitoring, outreach and treatment of remaining populations

2011 Established Pest Targets z

Rosa (Cherokee Rose) – eradicate from Volcano and Hamakua z Continue

surveys z Containment and eradication z

Little Fire Ants – support HDOA efforts to control and focus efforts on outreach

Early Detection Surveys 2010 – Major transportation corridors (Complete FIRST lap of island) z 2011 – Complete all major and secondary roads z 2012 – Complete all major subdivisions z 2013 – Complete remaining subdivisions, roads and major trails z 2014 – monitoring and resurvey major transporation corridors z

Rapid Response Targets 2010: Develop state wide systematic selection criteria together with neighboring island ISC’s z 2011: Develop and implement an island wide rapid response criteria and list of priority species for 1) containment, 2) eradication and 3) exclusion. z 2012 +: Refine list and more knowledge and information become available z

Recovery Target z

Hawaiian Coot (Endangered) – build an agency and community based partnership to increase juvenile survivorship by excluding target invasive species from breeding grounds z z z z z

Lokoaka Fish Pond – establish partnership with land owners and agencies Scoping exercise to establish methods, protocol and measures of success 2010: populations surveys/research 2011: implement control program 2012+ exclusion zones, monitoring

Area targets z

Protected Area: Wao Kele O Puna z 2010:

treat remaining Miconia and Albizia, build partnership with surrounding communities z 2011: monitor Miconia and Albizia, outreach, ED survey of access roads z work

with manager to develop a comprehensive weed management plan z Regional weed surveys

Area targets z

Eyes and Ears Networks (Outreach) z 2010

Volcano and Waimea z 2011 Laupahoehoe, Naalehu and Kona z 2012+ build a representative network of concerned communities to build local capacity to treat regional problem species with BIISC support.

Thematic Targets z

Freshwater: explore issues and build partnerships where recovery of T/E species possible z

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Marine: explore issues and build partnerships, feasibility analysis z z

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“No river left behind”: taking the “fresh” out of water

Roi Roundup (2011?) Fisherman eyes and ears network?

Sustainability: incorporate invasive species and weed management into sustainability dialogue.

Why Partnerships? z

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Invasive species problems are interdisciplinary are require a broad range of expertise and knowledge We need to work together to prepare for the next “crisis”!!!

Mahalo z

Mahalo Nui Loa to: z z z z z z z z

Barrie Moss Melora Purell Brad Lau Hans Sin USDA-FS USFWS HISC OHA

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BIISC Executive Committee z z z z z z

Anne Marie LaRosa Melora Purell Laura Nelson James Leary Donna Ball Hans Sin