Description: This report describes the design, field methodology, and first year results of a vegetation survey and long-term monitoring program to assess the status and document changes in the dominant native plant communities relative to alien species management efforts within the Kipuka Alala section of the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawai`i. Kipuka Alala is recognized by the Army to be an important habitat that contains a number of unique plant communities as well as populations of several listed or rare plant species. Additionally, Kipuka Alala has been identified as a potential site for the reintroduction of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered species of Hawaiian Honeycreeper bird that was known to use this area as recently as the 1950’s. Despite the large amount of damage seen in the naio-mamane communities that are found within the Kipuka Alala study area, this is still a native-dominated habitat that contains extremely important populations of both common and rare native species. The effort the Army has put into constructing the two fences in within Kipuka Alala and starting an invasive plant control program is indicative of their recognition of the significance of this habitat. However, unless the ungulates are completely removed from within the Kipuka Alala exclosures, as well as from existing and new fences constructed to protect similar habitats in other areas on PTA, the condition of the native habitats and species will continue to decline rapidly to the point where recovery will be very difficult. The highest priority actions needed to foster recovery of the habitat in Kipuka Alala back to a self-sustaining native species-dominated community are as follows: 1) Immediate and complete removal of the ungulates from within the fences in Kipuka Alala; 2) Significantly reduce the distribution and cover of fountain grass within this habitat; 3) Prevent the invasion of other fire promoting or extremely invasive species of plants; 4)Have the capacity to quickly respond and extinguish any fires that get started in Kipuka Alala or in contiguous habitats adjacent to Kipuka Alala. 5) Continue monitoring the vegetation as described in this report to help with the prioritization and refinement of management actions in the extremely important native habitats in and adjacent to Kipuka Alala.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: U.S. Army, Pohakuloa Training Area