Date: June 27, 2018
Source: American Ornithological Society Publications
Office
A new study in The Condor:
Ornithological Applications presents some of the best guidance to date on
the priorities and actions that can be taken to help Hawaii's endemic birds.
Hawaii's ecosystems, including its native bird populations, are struggling. Of
the 21 species of forest birds left on the islands, almost two thirds (12
species) of are endangered or threatened. The current conservation status of
the wildlife and vegetation on the island is almost entirely attributable to
humans. The actions needed to stabilize or reverse these trends need stronger
support and coordination, however funding and resources are limited. This new
paper lays out a plan to better guide and empower conservation efforts for
Hawaiian birds.
Eben Paxton of USGS Pacific
Island Ecosystems Research Center and colleagues synthesized the key points
that came out of a collaboration of more than 60 stakeholders in Hawaiian bird
conservation. The focus is on actionable research and management approaches
that can be employed today. Habitat loss, invasive plants, non-native
predators, and introduced diseases were identified as the largest threats to
Hawaiian birds. Climate change is projected to exacerbate all threats. Given
limited resources, the stakeholders decided on eight main priorities as well as
several actions specific to the island of Kauai. In addition to helping Hawaii
and its birds directly, the goal of this collaborative report is to make Hawaii
a model for other areas of the world, especially islands, that are in need of
strong conservation efforts.
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