2024 Hawaiʻi Island Weed Control and Restoration Forum
This forum was brought to you in collaboration with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC), Hawaiʻi Volcanos National Park, Invasive Species Program (HVNP), the Three Mountains Alliance (TMA), Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park (KALA), and the Ecosystems Extension Program (EE). After a brief hiatus from the Big Island Natural Areas Weed Control Forum it was great to come back together, meet new people, see old friends and colleagues. The primary intention was to create a space for people to connect and gather information to guide future forums. For future reference, the information exchanged
Day 1: Weed Control Agenda
8:00-9:15
9:15-9:30
9:30-10:40
10:40-11:40
11:40-12:40
12:40-1:30
1:30-3:00
3:00-3:30
Sign-in, coffee and light breakfast--Mahalo TMA Foundation for sponsoring coffee and our organizing team for providing light breakfast items
Activity: Gallery walk--participants add post-its with Weed Control challenges and success
Welcome
Short Presentations (10-20 minutes with Q&A)
Tool tailgate
Lunch--Mahalo TMA Foundation for sponsoring our lunch!
Short Presentations (10-20 minutes with Q&A)
Breakout workspaces to discuss and document weed control topics: What we know, what we need to know
Wrap-up
Day 2: Restoration Agenda
8:00-9:15
9:15-9:30
9:30-11:00
11:00-12:00
12:00-11:00
1:00-3:00
3:00-3:30
Sign-in, coffee and light breakfast--Mahalo BIISC for sponsoring coffee and everyone who brought food to share
Activity: Gallery walk--participants add post-its with Restoration challenges and success
Welcome
Seed scatter presentations
Species access lists
Lunch--Mahalo BIISC for sponsoring our lunch!
Seed source activity and discussions
Wrap-up
The agenda featured six short presentations, a "tool tailgate", and a breakout group session with unstructured rotations focused on 10 weed control topics. The presentations ranged from 10-20 minutes, with time for Q&A after each presentation. During the breakout session, participants were instructed to roam the topics at their leisure, engage in discussion, and document 1) What we know and 2) hat we need to know about each topic. Topics were extracted from a) pre-survey sent out in Jan 2024 and b) post-it activity where participants shared their weed control challenges (and successes). The information collected is presented below.
Presentations
Biocontrol Updates for Forest Weeds in Hawaiʻi
Tracy Johnson (USFS-IPIF)
Brief overview of history of biocontrol in Hawaiʻi, process for determining biocontrol. Current status of biocontrol agents for: Clidemia, Miconia, Tibouchina, Banana Polka, Faya tree, Strawberry guava, Himalayan Ginger, Christmas Berry and Albizia
Brief history and current status of BIISC target species--Buddleja madagascariensis, Cryptostegia madagascariensis, Perskia aculeata, Cotoneaster pannosus, Rubus sieboldii, Ilex cassine, Phenax hirtus, Lonicera Hildebrandiana, Chromolaena odorata. Including distribution, population size.
Invasive Plant Control Efforts at BIISC
Jenn Tamaariki (BIISC)
UAV Uses for Conservation: Beyond Imagery
Ryan Perroy (UH Hilo)
Description of developing UAV applications for NRM goals: Invasive species detection through imagery (Miconia calvescens, CRB) and sampling (ROD); control methods (distribution of Tecctococus ovatus) and restoration (seed "ball" broadcasting)
Weed Control Strategies at Keauʻohana
Jaya Dupuis (Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration)
Brief historical overview of management at Keauʻohana by HER including spatial extent and threats. Description of control methods for invasive species of concern--strawberry guava, Maile pilau and clidemia--and details on species-specific herbicide efficacy including application method and active ingredient.
Agricultural Aircraft Operations: Regulations and Exemptions
Roberto Rodriguez III (UH Hilo)
Overview of process for implementation of UAS for NRM objectives, with a focus on pesticide/herbicide application. Covers both obtaining certification for individual OR when contracting a certified UAS operator.
Herbicide efficacy for three application methods, five active ingredients and numerous species. Covers injection, foliar and cut-stump application methods. Includes Glyphosate (multiple formulations), Triclopyr (multiple formulations, Milestone, Imazypr and Fusilade. Mentions strawberry guava, ironwood, African tulip, Miconia, Clusia, Cercropia, Albizia, Banyan, Java plum, Melochia, Trema, Polynesian yam, kukae maile, maile pilau, Erichtites, Thimbleberry, Desmodium, Watabe fern, Wedelia, Lantana,
Post-Albizia Control Successional Patterns and Dynamics to Inform Management
Flint Hughes (USFS-IPIF)
Presents results from 10+ year study post-Albizia treatment. Study tracked, leaf litter inputs, nutrient dynamics, understory vegetation response, Albizia seedling recruitment and tree and coarse wood decomposition.