Wildlife Projects
Nearly half of Hawaii’s endemic bird species are endangered, posing significant challenges to management agencies charged with their protection and recovery. Our integrated approach emphasizes basic research to understand the biology of particular species, mitigation and control of threats and limiting factors, ecosystem restoration and protection of suitable managed habitat, education and outreach, and captive propagation and reintroduction programs. Please see below for ongoing wildlife projects:
Statewide Projects
Kauaʻi Projects
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Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project: KESRP is a DOFAW project, administered through the Pacific Studies Co-operative Unit of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi. The project focuses primarily on the three endangered seabirds found on the island of Kauaʻi – Newell’s Shearwater (Puffinus newelli), Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma castro). |
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Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project: The Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project aims to promote knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of Kaua‘i’s native forest birds. The project focuses on one threatened (i’iwi) and three federally endangered species (puaiohi, ‘akikiki, and ‘akeke’e), with the goal of facilitating recovery of their populations in the wild. |
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Lehua Island Ecosystem Restoration Project: Lehua Island is now considered rat-free after decades of work by a wide range of partners to remove invasive rabbits and rats from the island in order to protect native bird habitat. The project now focuses on biosecurity (making sure rats are not accidentally reintroduced to the island), vegetation restoration of native plants, and attracting more native birds to nest on the island. |
Oʻahu Projects
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Koloa Maoli Research Project: Unbeknown to most, Hawaii’s native duck, the Koloa Maoli, has been a part of the ecosystem of the Hawaiian Islands for tens of thousands of years. It is unique to these remote islands – found nowhere else on Earth. |
Maui Nui Projects
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Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project: On Maui and Moloka‘i MNSRP continues to search for seabird colonies, provide protections where funding and staffing permit and to provide public education about the importance of seabirds in our natural environment. The project collaborates with researchers, managers and regulators to focus efforts as well as possible to benefit our seabirds. |
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Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project: The mission of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project is to develop and implement techniques that recover Maui’s endangered birds and to restore their habitats through research, development, and application of conservation techniques. |
Hawaiʻi Island Projects
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The ʻAlalā Project: The ʻAlalā Project is a partnership between the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The project focuses on protection and reintroduction of ʻalalā. |
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Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project: High up on the slopes of one of the tallest mountains in the world is a distinct forest that occurs nowhere else on earth and is home to spectacular native plants and animals, including the critically endangered palila. DLNR is working hard to maintain this jewel for future generations, and this website will share the story with you. Aloha mai nei! |