---

The recent Hawaii Conservation Conference (July 28-29) in honolulu had many useful and thought provoking presentations. it was very beneficial to be able to attend and bring ideas and information back where it could perhaps help guide future habitat restoration efforts at the Fleming Arboretum.

The conference theme for 2005 focused on restoration efforts in Hawaii but there were informative presentations from other places and nations as well. Some of the highlight presentations:  

* a symposium on Paleoecology work being done in Hawaii.  This fascinating study of past evidence of biological habitats and species is especially relevant to the South easterm slopes of Haleakala where the Fleming Arboretum is located.  Researchers spoke of the abundance of bird life that once inhabited the area and also of efforts to attempt to reintroduce some native bird species into restored habitats in this region. The arboretum could prove a beneficial location for such future efforts because it is large enough (17 acres) to provide needed habitat, but small enough to manage rare avian populations.

* Several presentations were offered on lessons learned from restoration efforts underway in various lowland or midrange forests. These featured forests on the Big island and Kaua'i, but they were dealing with suppression many of the same invasive species we face at Pu'u mahoe. The research projects offered insights and the most effective ways to remove alien grasses, how to stabilize populations of rare plant species through both on site and off site propagation and  strategies to gradually convert an alien dominant habitat to a native plant dominant habitat.

* One of the poster presentations on display showed a new fencing being used in New Zealand which was able to keep, rats, mongooses and rabbits out of preserve areas. Another showed insects being tested for possible importation as miconia control vectors. There were also several excellent poster displays on native birds and efforts to protect more suitable habitat areas.

* An update on the progress of restoration work going on in the island of Kaho'olawe was also very useful, since some of the species of native dry land forest plants grown at the Fleming Arboretum are also being used for restoration efforts on Kaho'olawe and there are traditional links between Puu Mahoe (where the Arboretum is located) and the island of Kaho'olawe. It was also heartening to view or hear several excellent student presentations at the conference and see many young adults in attendance.  It appears that the future of our biological resources will be in good hands.

I was also grateful to be able to meet so many researchers and conservation managers some of whom are likely to prove to be very beneficial contacts in future projects I undertake for Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe. Mahalo nui for the opportunity to attend this useful conference.

Lucienne de Naie
SR 1 Box 47, Haiku, HI 96708
sponsored by Friends of Fleming Arboretum

---