Preserving biodiversity in the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii, one of the most isolated places in the world, is host to many native and endemic avian species having evolved in isolation of predator pressures from mammals. Without natural predator defenses, these species are extremely vulnerable to introduced species such as cats, rats, and mongoose. Predator control and eradication is therefore a main conservation tool to recover species. The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and its partners have conducted as well as island wide eradications on small islands and followed examples provided by New Zealand in building island refugia for listed species through the construction of predator exclusion fencing. Predator exclusion/eradication have occurred or are planned for the islands of Oՙahu, Maui, Hawaiՙi and Kauaՙi for seabirds and waterbird species protection. These examples demonstrate solutions, strong partnerships and Hawaii’s contribution and commitment to the threats facing our unique biodiversity.