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A publication of the University of Hawai'i at Mﾄ］oa Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
V O LU M E 60 | I S S U E 4
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN
C E S PRO
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FROM THE EDITORS
Techniques for natural resource management continue to evolve as new challenges present themselves. The unique native species and increasing list of introduced threats in Hawai‘i require local conservationists to embrace an adaptive management style and a 'think outside the box' approach. You will read in these pages about individuals who go to great lengths to preserve the genetic stock of plants extinct in the wild, battle Hawai‘i's most invasive weed species and construct barriers to protect dwindling populations of tree snails. We highlight the techniques employed in these and other endeavors and hope that the ideas spark new ideas of your own. If we continue to share our successes and failures with one another, together we can make positive changes across the planet for plants and animals on the brink of extinction. Kimberly Welch & Celeste Hanley, Editors
ON THE COVER The exquisite curved flowers of Stenogyne kanehoana would be impossible to observe if cuttings from the last wild plants were not collected in 2004. The last wild plant died in 2013. LEFT Three nānū (Gardenia manii) cuttings, which trace their ancestry to the 'Ōpae'ula area of the Ko'olau mountains, begin to develop roots. These individuals are the next generation of clones for the nānū living collection and will serve as a genetic safety net in the event that wild plants should perish.
Larry is a plant propagation assistant with the U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i's O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program.
Julia is a senior ecosystem restoration specialist with the U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i's O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program.
JULIA GUSTINE LEE
Julia Gustine Lee has worked with OANRP for over 10 years. She currently facilitates the collection, propagation and outplanting of common native Hawaiian plants to support endangered species habitat.
Matthew is a rare plant specialist at the U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i's O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program and a coordinator for Laukahi: The Hawai'i Plant Conservation Network.
TAY LO R M A R S H
Clay is a wildland fire extension specialist with the University of Hawai'i at Mﾄ］oa.
Torie and Anthony are former cultural resource technicians with the U.S. Army Garrision Hawai'i's O'ahu Army Cultural Resources Program.
C L AY T R A U E R N I C H T
Dr. Clay Trauernicht specializes in pre-fire mitigation and post-fire response on Pacific islands. He seeks to increase knowledge exchange among firefighters, natural resource managers and researchers and to develop tools for wildfire prediction and suppression.
Anthony Casciano and Torie Robinson share their implementation of a new technology to aid in the documentation of petroglyphs on O'ahu. They recently had the opportunity to present their work with petroglyphs at the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology conference in Hilo, Hawai'i.
Matthew Keir has been working with OANRP for over 16 years, managing ex situ collections and propagation work, along with coordinating field monitoring, collections, reintroductions and other outplantings.
ANTHONY CASCIANO
TO R I E R O B I N S O N
CONTRIBUTORS
M AT T H E W K E I R
LARRY ABBOT
Larry Abbot has been growing endangered plants at OANRP for over 10 years. His passion for cultivation extends to fish, shrimp, and even bacteria. Always a conservationist, his job titles have included field technician, horticulturist and professional naturalist.
Taylor Marsh has spent the last seven years working to eradicate numerous incipient weed species in Hawai'i. He currently leads a crew of five in the field, targeting some of the worst weeds within OANRP management units. Taylor is an ecosystem restoration specialist with the U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i's O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program.
CONTENTS 4 Cloning for Preservation: Greenhouse Living Collections at the O'ahu Army Natural
Resources Program
Delve into one of the essential approaches to preserving some of the world's most endangered plant species. B Y L A R R Y A B B O T A N D M AT T H E W K E I R
1 2 Enhancing Petroglyph Management with Reflectance Transformation Imaging Archaeologists can now look at petroglyphs in a new light, thanks to Reflectance Transformation Imaging technology. BY TORIE ROBINSON AND ANTHONY C ASCIANO
1 8 Be Prepared for Hawai'i's Year-Round Fire Season
While the burden for managing fires has grown over the years, local resources can help managers assess and reduce the risk of wildfires. B Y C L AY T R A U E R N I C H T
2 0 Invasive Innovations
Conservationists are wielding a whole new arsenal to tackle some of the islands' worst invaders. B Y T AY L O R M A R S H
2 4 Remote Carpentry: Top Tanji Treatments
Endandered species conservation turns to the construction innovations of OANRP carpenter Dan Tanji. BY JULIA GUSTINE LEE
ACRONYMS
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Kimberly Welch and Celeste Hanley Environmental Outreach Specialists Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program
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Sally Pfenning Director of Public Works U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i
EDITORS
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DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC WORKS
Directorate of Public Works O'ahu Army Cultural Resources Program O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program U.S. Army Garrison, Hawai'i
OUTREACH@OANRP.COM
THE ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN (EMP) The EMP highlights the U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i's innovative approaches to natural and cultural resource management in support of the U.S. Army's training mission in Hawai'i. The success of this newsletter depends on article contributions from the staff of the O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program, O'ahu Army Cultural Resources Program, Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) Army Natural Resources Program, and PTA Army Cultural Resources Program. Mahalo to all staff who contributed to this issue. ‘Ō
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All photos in this issue are by OANRP or OACRP staff, unless otherwise noted. Mahalo to Matthew Garma for providing all of the photos for "Cloning for Preservation: Greenhouse Living Collections at the O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program."
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DPW OACRP OANRP USAG-HI
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BY LARRY ABB OT T AND MAT THEW KEIR
By cloning plants through air layering, a propagation technique which results in an exact genetic replica of the 'parent' plant, OANRP is able to preserve the gene pool of endangered plants like mēhamehame (Fluggea neowawrea). 4
Endangered Stenogyne kanehoana (far left) and nﾄ］ﾅｫ (Gardenia manii) (left) are two of the rarest plants found within the OANRP living collection.
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ue to habitat loss and degradation from an onslaught of invasive (non-native) species, the native flora is also critically imperiled. Approximately 10% of native plants are already extinct and over 30% of the remaining species are listed endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reasons for the decline of native plants are numerous: fire; browsing and trampling by non-native animals such as pigs and goats; competition with aggressive weeds and destruction of seeds and seedlings by rats and slugs. All of these threats contribute new pressures on native plant species. With 39 endangered plant species currently in their care, OANRP takes steps to minimize and eliminate these threats by preventing destructive wildfires, installing fences, controlling weeds and reducing numbers of rats
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THE FLORA OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ARE ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE IN THE WORLD. NEARLY 90% OF FLOWERING PLANTS AND CLOSE TO 75% OF FERNS NATIVE TO HAWAI'I ARE FOUND ONLY HERE.
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and slugs around important populations. When these measures alone are not enough to restore populations and to further reduce the risk of a species going extinct, collections of seeds or cuttings from the plants are brought in for cultivation in the OANRP greenhouses. For some of the species the OANRP manages, the plants are too few, too old, too far apart from one another to be pollinated or have otherwise lost the ability to produce seeds on their own.
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN
Gardenia mannii, or nānū (or nā‘ū) in Hawaiian, is an endangered plant species
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The OANRP has been collecting cuttings and air layers from the trees to secure the remaining plants in a greenhouse 'living collection.' Plants in the living collection are replicated (cloned) so each wild tree is sheltered in the greenhouse and will not be completely
lost when it dies. It is critical to collect from plants in all of the known populations, ensuring enough genetic diversity has been secured to build strong populations in the next generation. If too few trees, or 'founders,' are used, the next generation could become inbred. Inbreeding leads to a loss of fitness and important traits, resulting in a failed population and ultimately, extinction. Much like a collection of rare tigers, the living collection in the greenhouse must be managed so no genetic diversity is lost. As more nānū trees are brought in from the field, they add to the collection and the strength of the next generation.
TOP LEFT New leaves of the endangered nānū (Gardenia manii) unfurl within the OANRP rare plant nursery. CENTER LEFT Matt Keir searches for a vantage point to collect cuttings from one of the 60 wild nānū (flagged) remaining on O'ahu. BOTTOM LEFT Despite their beauty, the flowers of the endangered nānū are failing to yield viable fruit, which further underscores the importance of cloning the species. BELOW Members of the nānū living collection at the OANRP rare plant nursery at Pahole, O'ahu
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known only from the Ko‘olau Mountains on O‘ahu. There are fewer than 60 mature trees left in the wild. Hopefully, more trees will be found in the future, but so far no young plants have been found, and none of the trees are producing seeds that can be grown into new plants.
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ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN
Since 2001, OANRP has been collecting from all known populations of Hawai‘i's state flower, ma�o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. mokuleianus), another Federally-listed endangered species. Staff visited populations from Mākua Military Reservation and from State and private lands along the north shore many times to build a living collection held at the OANRP greenhouse at Schofield Barracks. Over 100 founders have been secured by collecting cuttings from wild plants, and these collections have been maintained in cultivation for over 14 years.
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In 2007, a wildfire in Waialua killed most of the ma‘o hau hele in this area, including all of the plants clonally represented in the OANRP living collection. Because they had been secured in the greenhouse before the wildfire, these plants were available for use in a restoration project to build a new population in the mountains above Waialua after the fire. In addition, more plants were grown from this original collection and planted into the Honolulu City and County's Koko Crater Botanical Garden. This resource is now accessible to the public and to other conservation groups that can use this genetically diverse living collection to start their own restoration projects.
The ma'o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. mokuleianus) living collection at Schofield Barracks is comprised of over 100 founders, secured by collecting cuttings from wild plants. The species is also represented at the Koko Crater Botanical Garden.
CLICK FOR INFORMATION ON VISITING KOKO CRATER BOTANICAL GARDEN
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For a few plant species, the OANRP greenhouse living collection is all that is left. Stenogyne kanehoana is a native plant in the mint family that has only been found in three places, all in the Wai‘anae Mountains. This very rare species is now considered 'extinct in the wild,' meaning that all of the known populations in the mountains have died, but plants kept in the greenhouse living collection are still alive and thriving. Thanks to successful collections when the plants were first found and years of dedication by the OANRP greenhouse staff, this species has been saved from complete extinction by a greenhouse living collection. Over the last several years, OANRP has grown hundreds of new Stenogyne kanehoana and planted them out into protected native forest areas.
TOP LEFT Although the size of the endangered Stenogyne kanehoana living collection is impressive, it is comprised of just two founders, which makes the species highly vulnerable to inbreeding depression. BOTTOM LEFT Natural resource management technician Chris Lum uses flagging tape to support the vulnerable mint on a trellis within the OANRP rare plant nursery at Schofield Barracks. RIGHT The living collection of Stenogyne kanehoana serves as a propagule source for new plants to outplant.
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The OANRP greenhouse living collections are a critical part of protecting and restoring populations of Federally-listed endangered species. The collections provide shelter from threats to rare plants while their habitats can be protected and restored. Large, genetically diverse collections are needed to produce strong plants in the next generation, and they must be maintained in perpetuity. Once wild populations are restored, become established and are thriving again, the living collections can be retired. Until then, OANRP greenhouse staff will work to ensure that no important founders are lost and will continue to maintain strong living collections.
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Enhancing Pe t r o g l y p h Management with Reflectance Transformation Imaging
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN
BY ANTHONY CASCIANO AND TORIE ROBINSON
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RTI—a combination of lighting manipulation and photography software —is a new addition to the Hawaiian archaeologist's toolbox, vastly improving documentation of our vanishing cultural resources.
Petroglyphs on a basalt rock face at Fort Shafter, O'ahu (facing page) were captured using RTI, revealing additional human figures and 'īlio (dogs). Staff from the O'ahu Army Cultural Resources Program used this new information to create an updated illustration (below).
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A conventional photograph of a human figure (left) versus a RTI snapshot (right) found at Kahauiki Stream, Fort Shafter, O'ahu.
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he O�ahu Army Cultural Resources Program (OACRP) supports the U.S. Army's management of at least 30 petroglyph sites on O�ahu. OACRP archaeologists encounter many challenges when documenting petroglyphs in the varied environments of O�ahu. The weather conditions, time of day, lighting and extent of deterioration can all prevent archaeologists from successfully documenting the true characteristics of a petroglyph. A new development in imaging technology has enabled OACRP to record petroglyphs in a much more thorough and comprehensive manner. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) is a multi-image combination technique that interactively displays objects under varying lighting conditions to reveal surface phenomena. RTI shows minute details on rock surfaces that are normally invisible to the naked eye and often impossible to record with conventional
photography. The RTI technique has already helped OACRP archaeologists discover additional features on previously recorded petroglyphs. The strength of RTI is its ability to highlight the subtle changes in height and depth on a subject’s surface, allowing the viewer to better distinguish any human modifications that might be present. The images created by RTI can help determine the particular production technique the artist used–pecked, bruised or abraded. Archaeologists can also use RTI to identify any anthropogenic or environmental impacts to petroglyph boulders and then work to prevent further degradation. Petroglyphs are non-renewable resources that cannot be recreated if damaged or destroyed. Natural forces like wind and rain cause rock surfaces to erode over time. While some petroglyphs have survived for several hundred years or more, they are very slowly weathering
and deteriorating. Accurate documentation of the images and changes in the condition of the rock is essential for the preservation of O�ahu's petroglyphs.
In comparison to other Polynesians, Hawaiians were especially prolific in the production of petroglyphs, or ki'i pōhaku. Likely due to the abundance of exposed basalt on the relatively young islands, pre-contact Hawaiians created extensive, heavily covered panels on the young flows of Hawai'i Island, and on suitable outcrops on all of the other islands as well. To date, the Army has used RTI to record petroglyphs at six of approximately 30 archaeological sites in Hawai'i .
KAHAUIKI STREAM PETROGLYPHS
OACRP archaeologists first applied RTI at Fort Shafter Military Reservation. A basalt rock outcrop overlooking Kahauiki Stream contains multiple petroglyphs that were initially recorded in 2000. The site was selected because the majority of the petroglyphs are difficult to see with the naked eye due to natural deterioration of the rock faces and poor lighting. Additionally, numerous petroglyphs throughout the site were difficult to identify and were never fully recorded. RTI was a relatively new technology to Hawai�i, and using the technique in the uncontrolled, outdoor environs of Hawai�i had never been done before. In fact, RTI was initially invented for use in a laboratory setting, where the sun, wind, terrain and vegetation are not factors.
OACRP’s implementation of RTI was very much a trial and error process. OACRP’s field crew experimented with several different methods aimed at limiting the effects of ambient light created by the sun: from tents and tarps to photo shoots in the dark of night. As the methods were refined, results improved. OACRP is currently working to implement RTI at all petroglyph sites on Army-managed land as a standard documentation practice. OACRP also plans to use RTI periodically to monitor weathering and other impacts on petroglyphs. TOP A basalt rock outcrop with petroglyphs overlooking Kahauiki Stream, Fort Shafter Military Reservation, O'ahu. ABOVE OACRP archaeologists Anthony Casciano and Torie Robinson perform a RTI photoshoot in the field. BELOW A conventional photograph of an Kahauiki 'īlio (dog) figure (left) versus an RTI snapshot (center). A tent and tarps are set up to block ambient light sources at a petroglyph photo shoot in Mohiākea gulch (Schofield Barracks West Range).
HOW DOES RTI WORK? 1 Place a camera in a fixed position facing the subject (the petroglyph).
2 Place two small black spheres within the view of the camera, but not overlapping the subject.
3 Capture a series of photographs, using a single artificial light source held in different positions around, but at the same distance, from the subject.
Imagine the petroglyph is the center of a clock, and on each number, the light is held in four positions. These light positions should create a figurative dome around the subject and result in a capture series with anywhere from 28 to 60 photos.
A petroglyph panel in MÄ kua
4 Upload photos to computer and enhance photos using specialized imaging software.
The imaging software can processes multiple images, accounting for all possible light positions, and save this data as a single file. The result is a single 2D image, that can be manipulated with the click of a mouse. The viewer can control light direction, magnification, sharpness, shadows, contrast and even change surface properties.
People with access to basic photography equipment (including tripods and a flash setup) along with a laptop computer have all they need to utilize RTI technology. Photos can be taken, uploaded to the computer and manipulated with the RTI software directly in the field.
Images from the Kahauiki Stream petroglyphs are updated following an OACRP photography session using RTI. Compare the old petroglyph images (left) with the newer versions on the right.
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Invented in 2001 by Tom Malzbender of Hewlett Packard Labs, RTI is now available as an open-source software, through Cultural Heritage Imaging. Free downloads of RTIBuilder and RTIViewer software are available online at WWW.CULTURALHERITAGEIMAGING.ORG, along with user guides and demonstration videos.
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ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN
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BE PREPARED FOR HAWAI‘I’S YEAR-ROUND FIRE SEASON BY CLAY TRAUERNICHT
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ildfires occur year-round in Hawai‘i, although the risk of large fires is much greater when there is drought. Typically, the hot, dry and windy conditions of Hawai‘i's summertime dry season provide the perfect 'fire weather' recipe. However, this year's strong El Niño event may be flip-flopping our normal dry and wet seasons. An extremely wet summer and fall in 2015 has kept the wildfire count relatively low on O‘ahu. Unfortunately, the consistent rains have also encouraged rapid growth in fast burning invasive grasses. In addition, El Niño forces are forecasted to create dry conditions across Hawai‘i over the winter months (normally our rainy season). Now is the perfect time to learn about Hawai‘i's wildfire issues and how we can work to reduce wildfire risk.
So what can we do about it?
Additional Resources
Hawai'i Wildfire Management Organization WWW.HAWAIIWILDFIRE.ORG
Information for homeowners and community level engagement
Pacific Fire Exchange
WWW.PACIFICFIREEXCHANGE.ORG
Information for large landowners and land managers wishing to improve fire risk assessment, pre-fire management or post-fire response
Hawaiian Fire Weather Products
HTTP://WWW.PRH.NOAA.GOV/HNL/PAGES/FIREWX.PHP
The National Weather Service's Fire Weather Program provides planning forecasts updated daily and spot forecasts on an as-needed basis in support of wildfire suppression and natural resource management.
expanses of grasses provide surface fuels that carry fire quickly over large areas whereas dense shrubs and dead branches can provide ladder fuels that allow fire to spread up into tree canopies. Common
strategies to reduce vertical and horizontal fuel continuity are to manually thin ladder fuels beneath tree canopies 6-10 feet from the ground and to establish fuel breaks: strips where vegetation is reduced or cleared (typically to a width that is three times the height of the existing vegetation). All of the actions we take to prepare for and reduce the risk of wildfires are ultimately aimed at protecting the resources we value. For most of us, this means having a plan to evacuate family, pets and livestock during a wildfire event and creating 'defensible space' around our homes and properties to make safer conditions for fire responders to do their job.
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Area burned (1,000 acres) 666
Understanding the basic factors that drive wildfire occurrence–ignition sources, climate and weather, and vegetation or fuels–can greatly help in assessing and reducing wildfire risk. Changing the weather is obviously beyond our control, but staying alert to dry, windy conditions can help inform when to take extra precautions. The National Weather Service issues red flag warnings on particularly dry and windy days and their Hawaiian Fire Weather Products page is updated daily. In terms of ignitions, nearly all wildfires in Hawai‘i are started by human activities such as campfires and sparks from machinery, welding and catalytic converters on cars. Landowners and managers can therefore reduce risk by limiting the use of machinery or public access during dry and windy conditions. Of course, other people’s behavior 666 Wildfire Occurrence in Hawai'i Wildfires are more is usually 50 ANNUAL AREA BURNED STATEWIDE FROM 1904-2012 66666 frequent and affect beyond our larger areas of 40 control and Hawai‘i than ever highlights the 30 before, which has importance of greatly increased the community 20 burden for our fire education response agencies. 10 and outreach Abundant humanto get the 0 caused ignitions, message out 1942 1950 1950 1958 1958 1966 1966 1974 1974 1982 1982 1990 1990 1998 1998 2006 2006 1910 1918 1918 1926 1926 1934 1934 1842 drought, and the expansion 1910 when fire risk is Year Year of fallow agricultural areas high. and fire-prone grasslands all contribute to year-round Vegetation or wildfire fuels are really the only factor we wildfires across the state. Fire responders are able to can influence directly. Fine, flashy fuels like grasses are contain 90% of wildfire ignitions to less than one acre in especially dangerous because they cure rapidly and ignite size, but large fires (>1,000 acres) occur almost every year easily, whereas woody plants require drier conditions and on all islands. These fires pose serious threats to the safety more energy (i.e., hotter fires) to ignite and burn. The of our communities and can devastate large areas of our arrangement of vegetation both horizontally across the watersheds in a matter of hours. land and vertically from the ground into tree canopies is a good indicator of how fire might spread. Large
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iNVASIVE iNNOVATIONS BY TAYLOR MARSH
New techniques and tools for targeting non-native weeds are invading the conservation field.
P OW ER SPR AYER AERIAL SPRAY
HBT IPA 20
OANRP staff use the power sprayer to control the devil weed (Chromolaena odorata) infestation at Kahuku Training Area.
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Power sprayers are often used in agriculture and roadside spraying. We have constructed a setup that allows us to easily operate from fourwheel drive trucks and includes enough hose to reach target plants 100 meters away. The rig consists of a pump and motor framed together for easy transport, a 200-gallon tank designated for herbicide mixing, a hose reel designed to hold 100 meters of high pressure hose and an indestructible spray nozzle. This set-up allows staff to access the truck bed for the entire operation, which includes pouring and mixing herbicides as well as starting and operating the pump and motor. Even with this field-ready rig, we still struggle to get close to some invasive plant infestations. Since invasive species know no boundaries and grow anywhere they please, target species often exist in hard-to-reach areas, distant from 4WD roads, and beyond the long reach of hose equipment. Other spraying tools, such as backpack sprayers or aerial sprays, are called into service in these cases. The power sprayer is by far the most efficient and effective tool to date for controlling large patches of highly invasive weeds, especially on roadsides.
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he history of conservation in Hawai‘i is one of everevolving tools and techniques for the protection of rare species and control of the invasive species that threaten them. Invasive plant control demands creativity and innovation in a variety of settings: through rugged terrain, on cliffs or even across entire valleys. Maximizing efficiency is difficult when so much of weed control simply requires cutting down each plant by hand, one by one. Strategy, timing, techniques, tools: all are critical to improving efficacy, efficiency and most importantly, allowing staff to see that hard work is paying off. Over the years, we've added a few new tools to the bag of tricks, adapting existing equipment to fit our specific needs. Tools must be durable, portable, efficient, costeffective and also easy to use and maintain. Many tools haven't made the cut. We continue to experiment with new tools as new technology arises and new weed control needs are identified. The four tools highlighted here were designed and constructed by conservationists, for conservationists, to fit specific needs in the field. Controlling or eradicating invasive species can be an uphill battle, but with new tool applications and open minds, our methods and overall strategies will adapt to get ahead of the game.
HERBIC IDE BA LLISTIC
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"H BT " Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) is on the HBT hit list.
Probably the coolest tool in conservation to date, HBT is perfect for treating weeds on
steep cliffs and plants that are scattered at low densities across vast areas. Developed by Dr. James Leary of the University
of Hawai'i in 2008, HBT “is a novel application technique designed to deliver encapsulated herbicide projectiles with long-range accuracy and precision.� These encapsulated projectiles are filled with a solution containing low doses of the herbicide inside a gel capsule. On impact, the capsules break and splatter the targeted plant with herbicide. HBT uses high air pressure to apply herbicide to target weeds at up to a 100-foot distance. The setup consists of an applicator (paintball gun), CO2 tank, hopper unit for holding and loading projectiles and the projectiles (paintballs) themselves. This tool has proven efficient in the field on Maui and can save time and money in controlling incipient weeds. OANRP is currently working with Dr. Leary to fine-tune HBT strategy to control Psidium cattleianum (strawberry guava) in remote summit forests on O'ahu.
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AERIAL BALL
This tool is ideal for treating large patches of plants
which are not accessible with the power sprayer, or when target weeds occur in areas inaccessible on foot, such as on cliffs or in military impact areas. This rig consists of a Hughes MD 500-series helicopter complete with a 30-gallon herbicide tank mounted to its belly, and a 100foot line consisting of a steel cable, electric cord and spray hose which connects to a sturdy spray
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In addition to HBT, Dr. Leary at the University of Hawai'i has also developed a technique for efficiently treating large
numbers of trees by injecting them with low levels of herbicide. Regularly spaced
cuts are made at the base of target trees, and very small quantities of undiluted herbicide are injected into the cuts. Matching the herbicide to the target plant species is important; OANRP is conducting tests with Dr. Leary on approximately twenty species to determine which product provides the best control on each taxon. One of the benefits of IPA is that little gear and small quantities of herbicide are needed, freeing staff of heavy packs, a critical asset when working on steep slopes and dense forest. Crews conduct rigorous, thorough sweeps across entire gulches, treating large canopy weeds with IPA tools. On such a field day, staff are able to sweep many acres and can start to make a difference across entire management units. For an all-day operation, Leary has developed a Camelbak™’ setup, which OANRP staff use. The setup consists of a Camelbak™ bladder filled with herbicide concentrate, a plastic output tube connecting the bladder to a calibrated nozzle (re-purposed veterinary dispenser), a sharp hatchet and a small GPS unit, all held in a backpack that is small enough to squeeze through thick vegetation. Another application technique involves the use of sheep drenchers, originally used for inoculating livestock. These consist of a small bottle of herbicide which screws into a calibrated spray nozzle. While the sheep drenchers aren't ruggedized to withstand days of bashing through thick forest, they are cheap, easy to carry and don't catch on branches. Staff continue to tinker with IPA gear setups. Who knows what the next version will look like? OANRP has already swept tens of acres and removed hundreds of large invasive trees with IPA tools.
APPLICATION
ball. Usually cone-shaped and made of galvanized steel, the ball houses and protects one or more spray nozzles. The pilot controls the herbicide flow from the helicopter, carefully applying herbicide to target weeds identified by natural resource staff. OANRP has also worked to create an easy setup for transferring mixed herbicide to the helicopter tank from a holding tank in the back of our truck using an electric pump. This operation takes scheduling and coordination with the helicopter company, pilot and Army Range Control for spraying on Army lands. Operations are also extremely weather dependent and require light winds and dry conditions. Given O'ahu's somewhat unpredictable weather in localized areas, deciding whether or not to spray can happen the day of a scheduled operation. 23
RE MOT E C A RPE NTRY
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BULLETIN
TOP TANJI TREATMENTS
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BY JULIA GUSTINE LEE
Ko'olau Mountains, O'ahu
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The symphony of power saws, pounding nails and electric drills isn’t a natural forest sound. However, when OANRP carpenter Dan Tanji is in the mountains, it is. The retired nuclear submarine engineer has found a way to fulfill two passions: his love for protecting Hawai‘i's natural resources and his boyhood dream of building things, by providing first-class carpentry projects that help OANRP achieve conservation goals. Tanji is the go-to guy for countless projects, but this list highlights some of his truly inspired creations.
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Helping natural resource staff rest a little easier on camping trips.
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Camping is a regular part of managing rare taxa at OANRP. Frequent camp trips take a toll on staff tents and gear, in addition to their ability to get a good night's sleep. Tanji came to the rescue on this issue with his remote cabin construction. Overlooking some of the most beautiful forest areas on O'ahu, some of the cabins incorporate a shipping container. OANRP collaborated with the Army’s Aviation Brigade who used their precision flight skills to airlift the containers and align the corners with metal plates in Tanji's cabin foundations. The containers were placed within inches of their target and were easily winched and welded into place. After a hard day's work, staff can now sleep comfortably on Tanji-built bunks.
ABOVE OANRP carpenter Dan Tanji (left) and natural resource management coordinator Dan Adamski take a break after flying into the Ko'olau Mountains to work on one of the program's cabins. Completed and partially finished cabins are shown throughout this spread.
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THE PLANT BOXES
Outplanting over 2,000 plants every winter just wouldn't be the same without them. Each year OANRP outplants thousands of endangered plants into remote management units. Plants fly first class in a custom designed 'Tanji' box or the smaller 'Tanjiki' version. Plants and associated gear are loaded carefully into these transport boxes and received by staff at drop zones near outplanting locations. The transport boxes are lightweight to maximize plant numbers in each load, feature zipper-opening sides for easy access to plants and are completely closed to protect plants from wind damage.
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BOTTOM LEFT Rare Plant Program manager Matthew Keir inspects a load of plants ready for outplanting within the 'Tanjiki'. BOTTOM RIGHT The helicopter slings the Tanjiki, full of plants, towards a remote drop zone in the mountains. ABOVE OANRP staff receive a load of endangered Cyanea superba subsp. superba—safely tucked away in the Tanjiki—in upper Mākaha.
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THE SNAIL ENCLOSURES
Keeping Achatinella species safe from Jackson's chameleons, rats and cannibal rosy wolf snails. Creating barriers against snail predators was a real challenge before Dan Tanji developed a design that could be affixed to snail enclosure walls. One of Dan's stellar ideas to exclude the carnivorous rosy wolf snail recognizes one of the snail's most distinguishing anatomical features: the so-called 'foot' used for locomotion. Dan's design is something like a bed of nails on which the surface area is so slight that the snail cannot adhere to the surface and traverse forward. The barrier is constructed with copper mesh cut into narrow strips that are embedded vertically in plastic lumber that is affixed to the snail enclosure walls. His designs withstand the winds of the summit. Without these barriers the enclosures would not be the success they are today. Over 1,000 snails now live safely behind his innovations.
The cannibal rosy wolf snail (Euglandina rosea) (right) cannot easily traverse the rows of copper wire mesh and 12V electric wiring installed along the sides of the enclosures, which protect endangered kÄ huli (Achatinella sp.) (far left). The remaining photos feature aerial shots of the snail enclosures, in addition to images of OANRP carpenter Dan Tanji surveying and constructing the enclosures.
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Root into y our communit y T he U.S. Ar my Gar r i son-Hawai‘ i Natural R esources Prog ram staff lead s monthly volunteer s e r v ice tr ips to protec t rare and e ndangered plant s and animal s on Ar my -managed land s. E ach educational tr ip incor porates hiking and a hand s-on oppor tunit y to care for Hawai‘ i's natural resources through invasive weed control in native habitat and occa sional planting activ ities.
HO‘OA‘A
BECOME A VOLUNTEER JOIN THE VOLUNTEER LISTSERV
Contact OUTREACH@OANRP.COM or 656-7741 to be added to the volunteer database.
ORGANIZE A TRIP
Contact OUTREACH@OANRP.COM to organize a service opportunity for your class, hālau or group.
ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY GARRISON–HAWAI'I U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i (USAG-HI) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Army installations and training areas in Hawai'i. The USAG-HI team provides facility management and quality Soldier and military family services for more than 95,000 Soldiers, retirees, civilians and families across 22 military installations and training areas on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island. These installations include O'ahu-based Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, Fort Shafter, Tripler Army Medical Center, and the Island of Hawai'i-based Pōhakuloa Training Area.
ABOUT THE USAG-HI DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC WORKS ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION The DPW Environmental Division Office at USAG-HI is comprised of two branches: the Compliance Branch and the Conservation Branch, who are dedicated to providing guidance, support and liaison services to those who live, work and train on the installation, while also protecting the environment. The Conservation Branch includes the Army's natural and cultural resource programs, which protect endangered species and cultural resources, respectively, on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island.
ABOUT THE O'AHU ARMY NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM The O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program is an award-winning Army program dedicated to natural resources protection and conservation. The program supports the Army's training mission by protecting the biological resources found on O'ahu Army installations and training areas. To minimize the impacts of military training on some of O'ahu's rarest plants and animals and their habitat, the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i partners with the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) to protect more than 80 threatened and endangered species. PCSU employs over 60 staff through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i to accomplish natural resource work for the Army throughout the island of O'ahu.
ABOUT THE O'AHU ARMY CULTURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM The U.S. Army's O'ahu Cultural Resources Program is charged with identifying and managing cultural resources on Hawai'i's Army installations and training areas. The program consists of a dedicated team of government and contracted archaeologists and cultural resources professionals. Together they manage and protect more than 1,000 archaeological sites on O'ahu, as well as more than 800 historic buildings and structures within two National Historic Landmark Districts and five Historic Districts.