Enhancement Report

1
Enhancement Report

• Analysis to Identify Biologically Important Areas

2
NARS Commission
Powers and Duties

• 1) Establish criteria to be used in determining
  whether an area is suitable for inclusion with
  the reserves system
• 2) Conduct studies of areas for possible
  inclusion within the reserves system
• 3) Recommend to the governor and the department
  areas suitable for inclusion within the reserves
  system
• 4) Establish policies and criteria regarding the
  management, protection, and permitted uses of
  areas which are part of the reserves system
• 5) Advise the governor and the department on any
  matter relating to the preservation of Hawaiis
  unique natural resources
• 6) Develop ways and means of extending and
  strengthening presently established preserves,
  sanctuaries, and refuges within the State
• 7) Advise the department and other public
  agencies managing state-owned lands or natural
  resources regarding areas under their respective
  jurisdictions which are or may be appropriate for
  designation as natural area reserves and
• 8) In carrying out the above duties, consult the
  most comprehensive up-to-date compilation of
  scientific data on the communities of natural
  flora and fauna of Hawaii.
• HRS 195-7

3
NARS Commission
Powers and Duties

• 1) Establish criteria to be used in determining
  whether an area is suitable for inclusion with
  the reserves system
• 2) Conduct studies of areas for possible
  inclusion within the reserves system
• 3) Recommend to the governor and the department
  areas suitable for inclusion within the reserves
  system
• 4) Establish policies and criteria regarding the
  management, protection, and permitted uses of
  areas which are part of the reserves system
• 5) Advise the governor and the department on any
  matter relating to the preservation of Hawaiis
  unique natural resources
• 6) Develop ways and means of extending and
  strengthening presently established preserves,
  sanctuaries, and refuges within the State
• 7) Advise the department and other public
  agencies managing state-owned lands or natural
  resources regarding areas under their respective
  jurisdictions which are or may be appropriate for
  designation as natural area reserves and
• 8) In carrying out the above duties, consult the
  most comprehensive up-to-date compilation of
  scientific data on the communities of natural
  flora and fauna of Hawaii.
• HRS 195-7

4
NARS Commission

• NARS Statute
• a statewide natural area reserves system should
  be established to preserve in perpetuity specific
  land and water areas which support communities,
  as relatively unmodified as possible, of the
  natural flora and fauna, as well as geological
  sites, of Hawaii.

5
NARS Commission

• NARS Vision Statement
• We envision a future in which the NARS contains
  the full range of Hawaiis unique geology,
  plants, animals, and habitats and will be forever
  protected, enhanced and valued by all
  generations.
• NARS Mission Statement
• NARS exists to ensure the highest level of
  stewardship for Hawaiis unique natural
  resources through acquisition, active management,
  and other strategies.

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Enhancement Report

• Purpose
• Systematically evaluate areas statewide for their
  biological resources in order to prioritize
  existing ideas as well as identify other areas
  with important biological resources.

7
Enhancement Report

• Purpose
• Systematically evaluate areas statewide for their
  biological resources in order to prioritize
  existing ideas as well as identify other areas
  with important biological resources.
• Compiles data useful for planning and
  policymaking.

8
Enhancement Report

• Purpose
• Systematically evaluate areas statewide for their
  biological resources in order to prioritize
  existing ideas as well as identify other areas
  with important biological resources.
• Compiles data useful for planning and
  policymaking.
• Find ecosystems not protected in NARS.

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Enhancement Report

• Methods
• NARS Commission meetings to identify what data is
  useful to find undesignated ecosystems and native
  species.

10
Enhancement Report

• Methods
• NARS Commission meetings to identify what data is
  useful to find undesignated ecosystems and native
  species.
• Find the most viable relatively unmodified
  examples of these ecosystems.

11
Enhancement Report

• Methods
• NARS Commission meetings to identify what data is
  useful to find undesignated ecosystems and native
  species.
• Find the most viable relatively unmodified
  examples of these ecosystems.
• Ask!

12
Enhancement Report

• Methods
• NARS Commission meetings to identify what data is
  useful to find undesignated ecosystems and native
  species.
• Find the most viable relatively unmodified
  examples of these ecosystems.
• Ask!
• Multi-stage radial survey method

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• FLORA, FAUNA, LANDSCAPE

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• FLORA

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• FLORA
• Total Plant Richness
• Endangered Plant Richness

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• Mapping Plant Species Ranges in the Hawaiian
  Islands Developing a Methodology and Associated
  GIS Layers

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• FAUNA
• Forest Bird Habitat
• Endangered Forest Bird Habitat
• Aquatic Species
• Anchialine Pool Species

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• LANDSCAPE
• Area
• Habitat Diversity
• Priority Habitats
• Habitat Quality
• Habitat Contiguity
• Management Contiguity
• Ecosystems

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Enhancement Report

• Summary of Data Sources
• An Ecoregional Assessment of Biological
  Conservation for the Hawaii High Islands

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Summary of Native Ecosystem Distribution by
Region
Percent of Ecosystem in NAR
Do the NARs capture the most viable ecosystems?
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Summary of Native Ecosystem Distribution by
Region
Percent of Ecosystem in NAR
Do the NARs capture the most viable ecosystems?
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Viability of Ecosystems (not including Coastal)
v
Some in NAR
NARS contain the most viable (green and dark
green) ecosystems in many regions.
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
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Enhancement Report

• Next Steps
• Acknowledge limitations and omissions in data
• Further discuss which data sources are most
  important for determining biologically important
  areas
• Discuss which areas are most biologically
  important based on Enhancement Report
• Involve land managers and experts to determine
  how to conserve these areas

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Enhancement Report

• Questions