The project supports management of over 80 acres of forest in olona gulch, which is critical habitat for lowland mesic forest ecosystem unit 6 endangered plant species to benefit from this project…

The project supports management of over 80 acres of forest in olona gulch, which is critical habitat for lowland mesic forest ecosystem unit 6 endangered plant species to benefit from this project include schiedea kaalae endangered, pepp, 12 IND , pteralyxia macrocarpa endangered, 120 IND , cyanea crispa endangered, pepp, 16 to 25 IND , cyanea acuminata endangered, 446 IND in the KO olau mtns and 715 IND in WAI anae mtns and cyanea truncata endangered, pepp, extinct in the wild, CA 100 introduced IND at several sites very little management currently occurs in this site, mostly due to the remoteness funds are requested to work with dofaw to specifically protect and increase populations of cyanea truncata, schiedea kaalae, and pteralyxia macrocarpa this project seeks funding for monthly helicopter access and supplies to facilitate sustained rare plant threat management invasive weed, RAT and slug control , monitoring, and forest restoration by kualoa ranch stewardship staff in partnership with the dofaw plant extinction prevention program staff will prepare sites for outplantings of 50 to 100 IND of c truncata and s kaalae each, as well as some individuals of p macrocarpa regular monitoring will be conducted for all rare plants, as well as surveys to identify unknown individuals remaining in the area funding supports maintenance and restoration of a one acre fenced site in hakipu u where c truncata will be protected in a more accessible site these plants will be easier to monitor and study, and will serve as a location where fruit can easily be collected additionally, the site will be used in outreach efforts to convey the importance of native hawaiian forests and to describe and showcase the challenges and successes of perpetuating rare and endangered plants in hawai i