The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest is a major contributor to improving understanding of how to conserve and manage tropical forest ecosystems. It celebrates its 10-year anniversary on March 23.
“Hawaii Island, along with many of its neighboring islands, has seen an unprecedented increase in environmental change and threats from invasive species, fire and ecological stressors in the last several decades,” said Ric Lopez, director of the U.S. Forest Service’s Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry in Hilo, which oversees management of the experimental forest. “The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest gives us a unique opportunity to study how the land responds to these challenges and develop methods for land managers that can help sustain these ecosystems and ecological functions for future generations.”
The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest covers about 51,000 acres on Hawaii Island, is part of the Forest Service’s experimental forest and range network, and is co-managed in partnership with Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The experimental forest is comprised of two units on opposite sides of Hawaii Island, the Laupahoehoe Experimental Forest and the Puu Waawaa Experimental Forest.
In addition to providing educational opportunities for the public, the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest provides collaborative academic research opportunities. Local, national and international research projects include test plots tracking the movement and rate of spread of the deadly fungus responsible for rapid ohia death, developing biological control approaches for combating invasive plant species, informing understanding of fire dynamics within the landscape, and demonstrating effective restoration methods in tropical ecosystems of the world.
During this anniversary year, the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and its partners will be planning special events and tours highlighting the experimental forest’s learning environment. Info: www.hetf.us, www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/ipif/.