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Hawaii's
Dryland Forests
For ancient Hawaiians, the forests of these islands literally meant life itself. From them they gathered the resources and drew the spiritual inspiration that were the cornerstones of their culture. The native dryland forests were a bounteous source of diverse plant materials used in vessels, implements, food gathering, fishing, shelter, medicines and rituals. Lowland dry forests were located on the dry leeward coasts between 300 to 1,500 feet in elevation, an area the ancient Hawaiians called the wao lama. Sadly, 90 percent of Hawaii's native dryland forests has been lost due to human activities such as land clearing, wildfires, and the introduction of alien species that have had disruptive and harmful effects. E Malama i Ka 'Aina': Cherish The Land Today,
the remaining dry forests continue to be degraded and fragmented by land
development, deforestation, fire, alien plant species, rodent predation
and grazing by domestic and feral livestock. The native plants found here
cling to a precarious existence: approximately half of Hawaii's endangered
plant species are from dry and semidry environments.In the last decade,
for both biological and cultural reasons, there has been a renewed and
urgent sense of stewardship for these declining forests. A concerted effort
to restore them is under way in the Ka'upulehu ahupua'a in North Kona
on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Here, an organization called the North Kona
Dry Forest Working Group (DFWG) is
carrying out two demonstration restoration projects. The DFWG evolved
from the concerns shared by many local citizens who approached the Hawai'i
Forest Industry Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about
protecting and managing the remnant dryland forests in North Kona.
A Success Story A six-acre parcel
in the upper Ka'upulehu region, fenced as a forest reserve in the 1950's,
has been Reaching Our Objectives
The Dryland Forest Working Group: Who We Are The North Kona Dryland Forest Working Group is a cooperative association of individuals, non-governmental organizations, private businesses and public agencies interested in dryland forest conservation. They include:
With the support of so many and those yet to join us, we believe the dryland forests can survive and once again thrive. We respectfully ask you to join our efforts and help bring to fruition the words of the original stewards of Hawaii's lands: E ola ' may there be life. Photographers: To contact us:
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Most
of the landscape in the Ka'upulehu dryland forest is dominated by an introduced
ornamental grass common to drier leeward areas of the Big Island. Fountain
grass (Pennisetum setaceum) is an aggressive invader that suppresses the
native vegetation and fuels dangerous wildfires that have proved devastating
to native species. Eliminating the fountain grass and maintaining the
site is extremely labor intensive. Existing grass must be cut back to
its base and treated with herbicide. Once the fountain grass is dead,
native species find it easier to become established and survive. Seedlings
can be planted and irrigated to supplement natural regeneration. Although
invasive plants still require manual and chemical control, the work becomes
less intensive as the natural system recovers. Firebreaks, rodent control
and fences to prevent grazing are also critical to protect the recovering
forest. 
restored by various strategies since 1995. Fountain grass and other invasive
have been controlled, 200 native trees have been planted, irrigation has
been installed, and fire and rodent control measures are in place. Because
of these efforts, the site has become one of the highest quality native
dry forests in Hawai'i. With this success, the focus of the DFWG shifted
to a larger 70-acre parcel in the lower Ka'upulehu region. Here the DFWG
has been working to duplicate the success of the smaller parcel on a larger
scale, striving to develop techniques that can be practically applied
across the larger landscape by private landowners and government agencies.
Like
the ancient Hawaiians, the aim of the DFWG is to provide ongoing stewardship
in both restoring and preserving these dry forest lands. The Group is
testing methods of eliminating fountain grass, reducing fire hazards,
maintaining fences and irrigation lines and identifying factors influencing
natural regeneration.The results of this research are continually shared
with the public and professionals through on-site field trips, seminars,
workshops and publications. Combined with other dry forest restoration
efforts statewide, this work will stimulate interest in and knowledge
of the biological and cultural significance of native Hawaiian dry forests
both in Hawai'i and elsewhere. Accomplishments to date are the result
of hard work by volunteers and cooperating agencies' staff with funding
support from government, private and scientific organizations. To effectively
implement the results of the research, greater public participation and
additional funding are needed. The DFWG also seeks to form partnerships
with additional landowners interested in implementing their own projects.
This will permit continued development of a cost-effective model of dry
forest restoration.
U.S. Army