“nuisance” species and natural resource management

“Nuisance” Species andNatural Resource Management

A Hawaiian Perspective

Dr. Isabella A. Abbott

From From mountainsmountains

Volcanic islands Volcanic islands are a continuum are a continuum

of habitatsof habitats

to the seato the sea

Stream flow links Stream flow links this entire state’s this entire state’s land mass to the land mass to the

coastal zone.coastal zone.

Ahupua’a Ahupua’a stretch from stretch from mauka mauka (mountain)(mountain) - - makai makai (ocean)(ocean)

Land and Land and coastal coastal

processes are processes are linked.linked.

Land – Land – oceanocean tenure based on tenure based on relationships and resources relationships and resources

Stewardship that Stewardship that built a resilient built a resilient

societysociety

lava flows lay lava flows lay foundation for foundation for

spectacular spectacular oceanic oceanic islands.islands.

Formed via volcanic action, Formed via volcanic action,

A Restored Hawaiian FishpondA Restored Hawaiian Fishpond

Isolating mechanisms aboundIsolating mechanisms abound

Deep valleysDeep valleys

Deep channelsDeep channels

Hawaii’s isolation is globalHawaii’s isolation is global

Greatest distance away from any Greatest distance away from any land massland mass

Non-indigenous introductionsNon-indigenous introductions

Changes in land use practicesChanges in land use practices

Loss of ecosystem qualityLoss of ecosystem quality ––

deterioration & poor waterdeterioration & poor water

targeted species collections targeted species collections

Threats to Threats to native native aquatic aquatic speciesspecies

unintentional /intentionalunintentional /intentional

Ballast water Ballast water

Mechanical impacts Mechanical impacts

Even in the Even in the ocean, some ocean, some

Hawaiian Hawaiian species are species are

found no where found no where else – they are else – they are

endemicendemic..

25 % of corals 25 % of corals

25 % of shallow 25 % of shallow water fishwater fish

25 % of algae25 % of algae

32 % of shallow 32 % of shallow water water

invertebratesinvertebratesOnly on our reefsOnly on our reefs

Peleophycus Peleophycus multiprocarpiummultiprocarpium

HihiwaiHihiwai

O’opu nopiliO’opu nopili

O’pae kala’oleO’pae kala’ole

Natives GalleryNatives GalleryNohu pinao Nohu pinao

` ilio holo i ka ua ua ` ilio holo i ka ua ua

These species are only in Hawai’iThese species are only in Hawai’i

CoconutCoconut

TaroTaro

BananaBanana

PigPig

MMāālamalama To take care of; preserveTo take care of; preserve

Hawaiian Principles: Hawaiian Principles:

Today: Today: Respect and conserve the environment Respect and conserve the environment

PonoPono In perfect order; true conditionIn perfect order; true condition

Today:Today:Do the right thing..Do the right thing..

MMāālama i ka lanilama i ka lani

Stars Stars guided guided their their ancestorancestors.s.

MMāālama i ka āinalama i ka āina

The land gave The land gave them life and them life and protection.protection.

MMāālama i ka wailama i ka wai

Streams Streams gave gave them them water water for their for their families families and and crops.crops.

MMāālama i ke kai lama i ke kai

The ocean The ocean delivered delivered their their ancestors ancestors to these to these islands islands and gave and gave them them food.food.

Ahupua’a Ahupua’a stretch from stretch from mauka mauka (mountai)(mountai) - - makai makai (ocean)(ocean)

Land and Land and coastal coastal

processes are processes are linked.linked.