Total eradication giant burmese honeysuckle lonicera hildebrandiana and madagascar rubbervine cryptostegia madagascariensis from the island of hawaii

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $134,183.70 Project Grant (CFDA 15.608 - Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species) to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The grant, effective from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2027, funds efforts to completely eradicate the Giant Burmese Honeysuckle (Lonicera hildebrandiana) and Madagascar Rubbervine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis) from the island of Hawaii. Key activities include conducting robust outreach to gain property access, walking transects to detect the invasive plants, and implementing integrated pest management techniques to control all immature and mature plants while preventing non-target effects. This grant supports the Fish and Wildlife Service's broader mission to prevent, control, and manage aquatic invasive species that threaten native ecosystems and resources across the United States.

Conduct robust outreach to communities around infested areas to gain property access. Walk appropriately spaced transects in the infested zones and buffer zones to detect the plants. Control all immature and mature plants detected via a combination of integrated pest management techniques while preventing nontarget effects.