The nature conservancy TNC will extend the field validation of mosquito suppression utilizingthe incompatible insect technique IIT method on maui and begin field validation of thetechnique on kauai

This federal Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657), provides $5,258,783 in funding to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to extend field validation of the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) method for mosquito suppression on Maui, and begin field validation of the technique on Kauai. The award supports a subcontract with Verily Life Sciences to ramp up production and shipment of incompatible Culex male mosquitoes for deployment in key forest bird habitats, including Haleakala National Park, Hanawi Natural Area Reserve, TNC's Waikamoi Preserve on Maui, and the Alakai Wilderness Preserve on Kauai. The goal is to suppress invasive mosquito populations and reduce the spread of avian malaria, a disease threatening native Hawaiian forest birds. The award period runs from July 3, 2024, through December 30, 2026.

Funds support a subcontract with verily life sciences for mosquito colonyproduction ramp up to continue production for maui and kauai releases specifically theproduction and shipment of incompatible culex male mosquitoes for deployment in key forestbird habitats including but not limited to haleakala national park hanawi natural area reserveand tncs waikamoi preserve on maui and the alakai wilderness preserve on kauai. The goal of this project is to support the suppression of invasive mosquito populations of wildtype culex mosquitoes in treatment areas on maui and kauai known to spread avian malaria adisease driving the extinction of native hawaiian forest birds.