Restoration of threatened plant species in Limahuli Valley on the Hawaiian Island of Kaua'i in the framework of the Global Tree Assessment
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Societal Impact Statement: Trees are an important part of many ecosystems. The Global Tree Assessment data can be used to focus conservation and restoration efforts for the circa 30% of tree species that are threatened worldwide. The conservation status for the tree flora of Limahuli Valley on Kaua'i Island and a restoration plan for 11 endangered tree species is evaluated in the Global Tree Assessment framework. Lessons learned from Limahuli Valley, one of the most biodiverse valleys in the Hawaiian Islands, provide recommendations for developing long-term sustainable restoration projects. Summary: Based on conservation status assessments of the world's circa 60,000 trees, the Global Tree Assessment (GTA) report revealed that 30% (17,500) of known tree species are currently at risk of extinction. This study aims to evaluate the conservation status for the tree flora of Limahuli Valley and a restoration plan for 11 endangered tree species, in the Global Tree Assessment framework. Of the 117 tree taxa found in Limahuli Valley, 83 (71%) have been assessed for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and 90% of the assessed tree taxa are threatened. However, only 19 (21%) of these are federally listed and nine tree taxa were not found under their current name or at all in the GlobalTree Portal, suggesting a need for additional curation as well as a conservation status assessment gap. Progress has been made in Limahuli Valley on most restoration goals suggested by the GTA framework, but challenges remain related to both access to material for restoration, mitigation of threats, and understanding correlates of survivorship. Furthermore, trees only constitute about 40% of the flora in Limahuli Valley, and it is important to also consider nontrees including ferns and allies to strive for restoration of an ecosystem as well as the targeted species.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Plants People Planet |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Pages (from-to) | 547-562 |
| ISSN | 2572-2611 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:
This work received funding from Fondation Franklinia for the project “Endangered Endemic Trees of Kaua'i” (#2020‐4); National Geographic Society for the project “Recovery of the rediscovered Hawaiian lobeliad ” (#NGS‐66553C‐20); Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund grants for “Seed Ecology and Conservation of the Critically Endangered Hawaiian endemic (Araliaceae)” (#172517270) and “Conservation collections, genetic diversity study, outplanting, and breeding systems study of the critically endangered Hawaiian taxon, subsp. (Malvaceae)” (#162512606); American Public Gardens Association and the United States Forest Service Tree Gene Conservation Partnership for “Scouting/Collecting Trip for ”; the Institute of Museum and Library Services (#MG‐60‐19‐0064‐19); U.S. Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (#F18AC00508) for “Limahuli preserve rare plant conservation, collections and habitat restoration” as well as U.S. Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (#F13AC00504); USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative, and the Botanical Society of America Honolulu Chapter for Limahuli preserve fence construction and repair and rat traps. Lyon Arboretum is thanked for the micropropagation of . Numerous staff and volunteers are thanked for their contribution to the reported conservation work over the years including Puakea Mo'okini‐Oliveira, Ashley Ramelb, Saori Umetsu, Randy Umetsu, Chiemi Nagle, Marcus Collado, Jordan Guss, Mackenzie Fuggett, and Kassandra Jensen. The KUPU Hawai'i Conservation Leadership program and the Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, are thanked for member support. Cyanea kuhihewa Polyscias racemosa Hibiscus waimeae hannerae Ochrosia kauaiensis Cyanea kuhihewa
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Plants, People, Planet published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of New Phytologist Foundation.
- biocultural restoration, capacity building, conservation partnerships, Global Tree Assessment, island flora, native plants, threatened and endangered plants
Research areas
ID: 317044853