Future directions for forest restoration in Hawai‘i

Abstract

Hawai'i has served as a model system for studies of nutrient cycling and conservation biology. The islands may also become a laboratory for exploring new approaches to forest restoration because of a common history of degradation and the growing number of restoration projects undertaken. Approximately half of the native ecosystems of Hawai'i have been converted to non-native conditions. Many restoration projects have focused on intensively managed out plantings of native plants with emphasis on threatened and endangered species. While these projects have been effective in stabilizing plant populations, this model is often prohibitively expensive for restoration at the scale needed to protect watersheds and provide habitat for rare bird species. Here we suggest ways of rethinking ecological restoration that are applicable across the tropics, particularly on islands and fire-prone grasslands. First, we suggest making use of nonnative, non-invasive species to help reclaim degraded or invaded sites or as long-term components of planned restoration outcomes. Second, we suggest incorporating remote sensing techniques to refine where restoration is carried out. Finally, we suggest borrowing technologies in plant production, weed control, and site preparation from industrial forestry to lower restoration costs. These suggestions would result in ecosystems that differ from native reference systems in some cases but which could be applied to much larger areas than most current restoration efforts while providing important ecosystem services. We also stress that community involvement is key to successful restoration, as a major goal of almost all restoration projects is to re-connect the community with the forest.

Natural regeneration as a tool for large‐scale forest restoration in the tropics: prospects and challenges

“…In these cases, naturally regenerating forests can potentially be managed to reduce the effects of exotic invasive species (Friday et al . , Nghiem et al . ), and species composition can be enhanced through enrichment planting or other silvicultural treatments (Bertacchi et al .…”

Restoring forests: What constitutes success in the twenty-first century?

“…They advocate use of an integrative operational approach that incorporates key advances in ecological engineering, site preparation, propagation of plant materials, and site silviculture. Friday et al (2015) envision future restoration of the isolated archipelago of Hawaiian Islands through a case study. Interestingly, they highlight many key themes of the Congress, including the potential utility of non-native species to aid in the initial reclamation of heavily degraded sites, the importance of prioritizing which sites to restore first, and the need to implement cost-effective restoration techniques.…”

Management implications for the reintroduction of the endangered Hawaiian state flowerHibiscus brackenridgei

“…One of the most cited reasons for the failure of a reintroduction project is unsuitable habitat (Godefroid et al ). Through the use of HSM, managers may better determine sites and permit locations which would provide a more suitable environment for the target species (Questad et al ; Friday et al ; Rovzar et al ). Indeed, the U.S. Army planted 61 individuals on 6 January, 2016 in locations with a predicted probability of 70% or greater near the Kealia Trail and by December 2016 they had an 80% survival rate.…”