Forested watersheds provide hawaii with drinking water, cultural resources, and are home to unique plants and wildlife found nowhere else in the world

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant on October 1, 2023 to the State Of Hawaii Department Of Land & Natural Resources under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation federal grant program (CFDA 15.657). The grant will fund a 5-year project to protect over 17,000 acres of high-value watershed forests in East Maui, Hawaii. Key activities include removing invasive plant and animal species to directly benefit the recovery of critically endangered plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. This project supports the State of Hawaii's top priority for storing carbon on natural and working lands and aligns with comprehensive watershed management plans to safeguard the state's drinking water, cultural resources, and unique biodiversity from threats posed by invasive species and climate change.

Protection is needed to safeguard these invaluable resources in the face of threats such as invasive species and climate change. These forests have significant economic value because they reduce erosion and flooding, as well as capture fresh water. Protecting these forests is the top priority action for storing carbon on natural and working lands according to the hawaii state greenhouse gas sequestration task force. This project will also likely result in the recovery of critically endangered plants and animals. The state, with the help of partners, has created comprehensive watershed management plans to protect these forests. This east maui project will remove high-priority invasive plant and animal species, providing direct benefits to over 17,000 acres of high value watershed forests.