Grantee name: division of forestry and wildlifegrant number: G25AC00434PROJECT title: aerial seeding strategies for hawaiis degraded dry forests project dates: 8 15 25 -08 14 28AWARD purpose:…

The State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources received $137,909 under a Cooperative Agreement (G25AC00434) from the U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection program (CFDA 15.808) to support comprehensive field trials evaluating aerial seeding strategies for Hawaii's degraded dry forests. Award activities, conducted from August 15, 2025 through August 14, 2028, include native seed collection, processing, and storage (15% of effort); assistance with seed media broadcast operations (15% of effort); and study site preparation including non-native plant control via chemical and mechanical methods (70% of effort).

Key deliverables include collection of approximately 90 pounds of native seed for aerial broadcast, logistical and on-the-ground support during aerial broadcast operations, and weed control and maintenance of an 18-acre study area at Pohakuloa Training Area. This research directly supports the U.S. Department of Defense's post-fire recovery and dryland restoration objectives by developing scalable, cost-effective seed-based restoration techniques applicable to DOD installations in Hawaii and other dryland ecosystems. The work will provide critical restoration infrastructure for DOD-managed lands while improving habitat conditions for at-risk species across the Hawaiian islands and U.S. affiliated Pacific territories.

Grantee name: division of forestry and wildlifegrant number: G25AC00434PROJECT title: aerial seeding strategies for hawaiis degraded dry forests project dates: 8 15 25 -08 14 28AWARD purpose: support comprehensive field trials to evaluate different seed mixes and soil amendments. Activites to be performed:support includes native seed collection, processing, and storage (approximately 15% of effort) assisting in seed media broadcast actions (approximately 15% of effort) and study site preparation including non-native plant control using chemical and mechanical methods (approximately 70% of effort).deliverables and expected outcomes: assist with the collection of 90 LBS of seed for aerial broadcast. Provide logistical and on the ground support during aerial broadcast operations. Conduct weed control and maintenance 18 acre study area at npuu. Intended beneficiaries: this research has wide-ranging benefits to DOD, both in hawaii and other dryland ecosystems where DOD installations are located. Most readily, this work will equip DOD managers with scalable restoration techniques for post-fire recovery in drylands, particularly where traditional hydroseeding is not feasible. In hawaii, this work will provide restoration infrastructure and increase the spatial extent of restoration on DOD-managed lands, such as the phakuloa training area, which provides critical habitat for at-risk species. Improving the efficacy of seed-based restoration approaches would significantly decrease costs associated with wildfire and dry forest restoration on DOD lands in hawaii and U.S. Affiliated pacific islands and beyond.