Making a Critical Difference
The Watershed Partnerships have a proven track record of on-the-ground management that has led to results oriented protection and restoration of forested watersheds through fencing and ungulate removal, invasive species control, native outplantings, and outreach and education involving schools and communities. Much of this success can be attributed to having committed partners, dedicated staff and leadership, directed management plans that prioritize threats and actions, effective organizational structures which insure dollars go directly to projects, and passionate volunteers and community support. To date, combined partnership success includes:
- 300,000 acres managed for feral ungulates and destructive invasive species;
- Planted 83,000 native and endangered plants for forest restoration;
- Engaged 5,500 volunteers including community members, teachers, and school groups in projects;
- 40 miles of protective forest fence completed.
To learn about major accomplishments read below, visit individual Watershed Partnerships, preview a gallery of images of where we work, what we protect, and the threats we manage, click here for a fact sheet, or visit our watersheds page (media and interactive resources section) to see a series of 2 minute videos about us (includes how we work, watershed threats, the people involved, and native habitats and species protected. Click here to see one example video).
 |
 |
 |
- Preparing protective fencing for core Alaka'i watershed area, most current project will protect approximately 2,000 acres
- Over 2,000 acres managed for priority invasive weed species of Kāhili ginger and Australian Tree Fern (Alaka'i Wilderness Preserve and
- Protected last remaining lowland bog ecosystem found in the State
- Developing cost effective, cutting edge technologies for high elevation remote sensing and mapping of
targeted invasive weeds such as Australian Tree Fern
- Developing and refining technologies for invasive weed control in remote and inaccessible terrains
Koolau Mountains Watershed Partnership
- Engaged over 200 volunteers in projects
- Have surveyed over 85% (or 18,000 acres) of the Ko‘olau high elevation range areas to identify and
prioritize invasive weed management and removed over 31,000 weeds from summit areas
- Outplanted over 22,000 native plants for native forest restoration and post-wildfire burn areas and rehabilitated 86 acres of summit back to native forest
- Created 200 acres of fenced protected area for nine rare and endangered plants and an endangered snail
- Expanded partnership boundary to include and recognize the importance of riparian areas
- 8.5 mile contour fence completed to protect 1,500 acres of the
best, most intact native Montane wet and mesic forest systems
on the South slope of East Molokai
- Instituted hunting program that involves local hunters to reduce
feral goat populations (over 1,200 goats reduced) which destroy
vegetation and cause sedimentation of coral reefs
- Installed forest understory monitoring system which will measure
efficacy of actions taken to preserve habitat
- Developed weed control capacity that conducts “hi-confidence
sweeps” and surveys for and removes priority weed species in the
highest priority native forest areas
- Completed the 2015 South Slope Management Plan and Weed Management Plan
- Completed 11 miles of fencing to protect remaining native forested watershed on the island which is also
home to rare species
- Worked with students and volunteers to replant and restore forests with over 900 trees planted to
encourage fog drip and water capture
- Working with volunteer hunters, have controlled 111 feral ungulates (axis deer and mouflon sheep) from
inside the fence exclosure
- Work with State Division of Forestry and Wildlife to restore a 3 acre plot for ‘U’a’u (endangered Hawaiian
Petrel) habitat
- Constructed and maintain quarterly 9,970 meters of boundary
fence in which 21 ungulate and invasive weed transects are
installed and continue to be monitored to maintain core 7,000
acres of forested watershed
- Controlled a 16 acre Kahili ginger infestation in a remote portion of
Wailuanui drainage as well as additional habitat-modifying
invasive weed populations of Clidemia, Palm grass, Tibouchina,
blackberry, Pampas grass, and Andropogon
- Provide hands-on classroom presentations and lead guided hikes to
thousands of Maui school children and community members as
well as host innovative conservation outreach initiatives such as
Malama wao akua art contest and native forest focused poetry
slams
- Improved access by public hunters in Koolau Forest Reserve which has resulted in removal of 1,266 pigs
since 2002
West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership
- Protecting 17,989 acres of watershed with 17 miles of ungulate fence
- Manage The Nature Conservancy’s Kapunakea Preserve
- 104 miles of perennial streams protected behind fence
- Begin to reduce over 12 kilometers of illegal dirt bike trails with barricades to reduce impacts on native forest
- Directly engage over 200 members of the community in work and moving to increase participation
by initiating an interpretive hike and volunteer program
Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership
- Planted 47,022 native plants to restore Leeward Haleakalā forest
- Engaged over 2,544 volunteers, and 18,938 volunteer hours
contributed to restoration efforts, including Hawaiian students,
other school groups, and special interest groups
- Cleared over 2,500 acres of priority invasive tree species such as
bocconia, Christmas berry, and silk oak from southern Haleakala
- Created six demonstration exclosures across Haleakala’s leeward
slope to further test and develop effective regional restoration
techniques
- Three miles of fenceline completed in Nu’u, with an additional 9 miles
of fence routes prepared in Kahikinui that will protect the last intact
koa forests on southern Haleakala
- Maintain 755 acres of native dryland and koa forest in protected exclosures, with another 200
acres planned
- Completed fencing to protect 520 acres of forested watershed that is home to a rare native tree snail found no where else but in Kohala
- Collected thousands of native seeds and fruits, which are being propagated and outplanted to restore the vegetation on two stream corridors
- Engaged more than 70 students in nature day camps, teaching ecological concepts and watershed stewardship
- Cooperatively manages over 230,000 acres of state, federal and private lands through protective fencing
and feral ungulate control, which include some of the best quality native forests home to 3 endangered
forest birds and 25 species of endangered plants
- Restored eight species of endangered plants (over 6,000 individuals) in ungulate-free areas
- Planted over 8,000 common native plants to reforest former ranch land
- Reached over 270 teachers in two years of focused teacher workshops centered on native habitat and
ecosystem subject areas
- Engaged over 250 local students and community volunteers in field seminars and service projects such as
weed control, seed collection, and planting rare native plants
 |
 |
 |