Rare Hawai‘i: It wasn’t meant to be a barnyard

70 million years of evolution. Thousands of plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Introduced pigs, goats, deer and sheep roaming freely over public lands. More than 265 extinctions and counting.

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Costs (Residents pay) NEW

Policy and Control Outside Hawaii (Hawaii Lags) NEW

Problem Overview

Newspaper and Magazine Articles

A Look at What We're Losing

Pigs

Feral Pigs and the Death of Hawaii's Native Birds

Native Hawaiians Speak Out

Deer

Goats

Sheep

Scientific Reference List

Don Chapman describes being in a Hawaiian rainforest

Edward O. Wilson on Biodiversity

Report about invasive species in Hawaii available online From The Hawaii State Legislative Reference Bureau (pdf file)

Research by the Secretariat for Conservation Biology: Environmental Valuation and the Hawaiian Economy takes a look at the financial and social costs of losing native Hawai`i.

Terrific link: USGS's Hawaii and the Pacific Islands page. Scroll down a few pages and look for Feral Pigs, followed by Feral Goats and so on.

Link to Nature out of place, Chapter 1 (pdf file)

Controlling Feral Animals (see how they do it Down Under)

Other Environmental Issues

Speak Out!

 

 

Island devastation by game mammals has been neglected for too long. Our water won't be clean, forests will continue to succumb to the march of invasive weeds, and we cannot save our hundreds of endangered species while their habitat is full of large hoofed animals.
Contact those responsible for game mammals
  • The game program is the responsibility of the DOFAW branch managers and game managers on each island. Since statehood in 1959, there has never been a long-term plan for game control and conservation-oriented management, statewide or for any island. Residents on each island should be aware of what their branch manager's plans are to protect the island from game mammals. Ask for a report outlining what is being done islandwide and what the plan is for the future, to limit the range of game mammals to appropriate areas and protect native plants and animals from introduced game species. Contact information for each island's managers is here.
  • Public awareness of the environmental damage caused by introduced game animals is very low. This has resulted in disinterest on the part of the administration and members of the legislature. The result is a lack of funding and protection for native species, which have been steadily declining for decades. Contact information for elected officials is below.
  • The situation will continue to get worse until the hunting program is redesigned. Right now it is an enormous and astronomically expensive barrier to conservation. A plan to reduce the number and range of feral animals is crucial. Let's ask for it!

These are the people who will make it happen if enough people call, fax, write, and vote!

Link to contact information for DOFAW branch managers.

Governor Linda Lingle, Hawaii State Capitol, Honolulu, HI 96813. Ph: 587-0660; Fax: 587-0160; Email: gov@gov.state.hi.us.

The State legislators for your district. All their contact information is available at the Hawaii State Legislature web site. The site is also filled with information about the activities of the Legislature, including a Citizen's Guide, legislative bills, timetables, and how you can make your voice heard. It's a great place to do some research and make contact with the people who represent you: you can send email to them directly from the web site.

Chairperson, State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Ph: 587-0400; Fax: 587-0390. Email: dlnr@pixi.com. Attn: Laura Thielen.

Paul Conry, Administrator, State of Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. Ph: 587-0660; Fax: 587-0160; Email: paul.j.conry@hawaii.gov.

 

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