July 21, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
Biosecurity is an important piece of the conservation puzzle, particularly for an archipelago community like Hawaii. Recent news of an increased risk of the brown tree snake ending up in the islands has reignited a discussion about invasive species and the detrimental effects they can have on our environment. That discussion – and the renewed awareness residents have – may have pushed some to turn their own illegal pets over to the Department of Agriculture.
In the past few weeks alone, 12 reptiles were taken into custody. While only one of these – a boa constrictor – was found in the wild, all are a threat to our fragile and unique island ecosystems.
The 9-foot, 3-inch-long boa constrictor found in Waiawa Gulch is a perfect, or rather, frightening example of what can happen when illegal pets end up on our islands.
July 16, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
In an effort to protect Hawaii’s natural, cultural, and historical resources, the Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP) was created. Through this program, state and county agencies and non-profit land conservation organizations may apply for grants to be used to acquire and protect land that has significant and rare resources, before it is bought and developed by outside, private buyers.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Chairman, William J. Aila, Jr., explained, “Legacy Land helps protect natural, cultural, and agricultural resources by either transferring full ownership of land to an agency or nonprofit organization that can protect the resources, or placing a conservation easement on the property to ensure that the owner will always protect those resources”. (Source)
The LLCP is one way Hawaii can support conservation efforts as well as address issues of food security.
July 15, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
Although the words “security” and “safety” are often used interchangeably, when preceded by the word “food”, the terms take on different, sometimes conflicting meanings. Food security, according to the World Health Organization, is built upon three pillars: food availability, food access, and food use. Food safety pertains to the prevention of foodborne illnesses, through education, legislation, and preventative practice. In Hawaii, these things – food security and food safety – are part of an important controversial conversation that affects our farmers, our local food sources, and our health.
July 7, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
We need not roam far to find rubbish. It is all around us: in our own homes, neighborhoods, and sadly, on our beaches and in the ocean. So why is a group of thirteen people setting out to sea in search of garbage today?
Dr. Markus Eriksen, of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Research Director of the voyage, told KITV, “We are going to be looking for derelict fishing nets and buoy, bottles and crates and plastic junk. We want to see the condition of it. We want to see what is the condition of what’s living under it and on it”.
Today, the group of environmentalists, scientists and self-funded explorers are setting sail on a 72-foot steel-hull racing sloop, called the Sea Dragon. Their destination: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Once they locate it – in about one week – they will collect samples and conduct research activities on the effects that plastic is having on the environment, sea life, and those who consume fish that have ingested plastic. Eriksen explained that, “Not just marine mammals, but many fish, including fish you and I eat, are eating plastics. So, we are going to capture fish and see what’s in their stomachs and tissues”.
July 1, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
An important part of conserving the unique, natural beauty of our islands is working diligently to protect against invasive species. Invasive species threaten native species that are not accustomed to defending themselves against foreign intruders.
Non-native algae suffocate coral reefs while mongoose prey on native birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects, and plants. Mongoose pose a particular threat to endangered sea turtles and our state bird, the nene.
Most residents are all too familiar with another intruder, the coqui frog from Puerto Rico that, in addition to producing an incessant and irritating mating call, has decimated native insect populations and disrupted the natural balance of our ecosystems.
These examples are just a few of the many invasive species that have made their way to Hawaii and wreaked havoc on native plants and animals. Now, yet another pest – the brown tree snake – is poised to invade the islands.
June 29, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
Conservation of our environment and the species that inhabit it involves hard work and often, sacrifice. Many restaurant owners and lovers of a certain Chinese seafood delicacy are facing one such sacrifice starting this week.
On Friday, June 1, 2011, a law banning the sale, possession, and distribution of shark fins will officially take effect in Hawaii. Since Governor Lingle signed the bill into law last May, those who serve shark fin soup, have had a full year to use up their supply. Starting Friday, anyone found to be breaking the law will face fines from $5,000 up to $15,000 for their first offense. Anyone convicted of a third offense will face fines from $35,000 to $50,000 and the possibility of jail time.
Is a bowl of soup really worth the risk?
June 24, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
On average, Kahului, Maui enjoys approximately 276 days of sun per year. Not far behind, Honolulu, Oahu sees about 271 days of sun while Lihue, Kauai receives 240, and Hilo, Hawaii, 168. Given these numbers, it is no surprise that businesses and residents of the Aloha state are looking increasingly toward solar power for energy.
Now Glimcher Realty Trust – the owner of Pearlridge Center – is considering what the sunshine can do for Oahu’s second largest mall, and in turn what the addition of solar panels can do for shoppers and the earth.
Glimcher is familiar with retail rooftop solar panels, as they recently set in motion a plan to cover Jersey Gardens – the largest outlet mall in New Jersey – with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. This project is no small task as it involves covering 1.3 million square feet with the 4.8-megawatt PV system. But the rewards will be well worth the effort;
June 18, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
With more endangered species per square mile than any other place on the planet, Hawaii has earned the unfortunate title of “endangered species capital of the world”. The Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) program is one way we can reverse the trend and work together to protect our unique native plant species and prevent further loss.
The PEP was developed by the Hawai‘i Rare Plant Restoration Group (HRPRG), a collaboration of botanical experts, State and Federal government agencies, private landowners, and non-profit organizations committed to the conservation of the state’s flora. The PEP focuses on identifying and protecting those species with fewer than 50 wild individuals remaining in their natural habitat.
According to the PEP, there are approximately 170 species that fall into this category currently. Once an endangered species has been identified, rather than await federal recognition via the Endangered Species list and risk losing the species entirely, PEP gets to work combating the factors – environmental, political, circumstantial, and otherwise – that threaten the endangered species. The Huffington Post reported that in 2010, the PEP protected 116 species, of which only 101 were federally listed.
The PEP takes their work a step further, going beyond just striving to protect those species already known to be endangered.
June 10, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 0 Comments
“Sustainability” and “buying local” are more than just buzzwords here in Hawaii. They are the key to a healthy, environmentally friendly future in which we can become less dependent on imports and better stewards of our ‘aina.
But choosing sustainable, local options is not always easy, particularly when it comes to seafood. Competing facts, studies and warnings can cause confusion, and lower prices on foreign fish can lead to competition. Luckily, local non-profit Hawaii Seafood Council (HSC) has just launched a new website that will make the facts about seafood clearer and the case for local fish consumption stronger.
Hawaii-Seafood.org presents facts on the different types of fish found in Hawaii’s waters, from giving basic descriptions of each species to providing information on how they are fished. HSC even offers tips on how the fish are best prepared for consumption as well as facts about health and nutrition.
The website also makes a strong case for buying locally caught seafood.
June 4, 2011 - Posted by Staff - 4 Comments
Three years after receiving a petition from non-profit KAHEA and the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service is proposing 16 “critical habitats” in an effort to increase the protection of endangered monk seals and the areas they inhabit.
Under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government is required to designate critical habitat areas for endangered species. Until now, the critical habitats for monk seals have been chiefly in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This recent proposal will expand these areas and also include a significant amount of shorelines and near shore waters in the main Hawaiian Islands, where monk seals have been increasing in numbers. As global warming leads to rising sea levels, swallowing up beaches in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, alternative locations for birthing and raising pups on the main islands must be designated.
Miyo Sakashita from the Center for Biological Diversity stated, “Habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands is essential for the survival of the imperiled monk seals”. Their future is dependent upon the protection of our shorelines.