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THE ALIEN PEST SPECIES INVASION IN HAWAII i 

 Background Study and Recommendations for Interagency Planning 



executive summary 



The silent invasion of Hawaii by pest species— weeds, disease organisms, preda- 

 tors, insects, etc.— has far-reaching consequences for the State's people, economy 

 and natural environment Pest species ab-eady established in Hawaii are responsible 

 tor large losses of agricultural and horticultural crops. These pests limit the ship- 

 ment ot local produce to mainland markets, damage native forests, streams and wa- 

 tersheds, compete with native flora and fauna, and cany diseases that affect native 

 species, agricultural crops, livestock and humans. The magnitude of the threat 

 posed by the continual introduction of alien species into the State has led to wide- 

 spread agreement among scientists, farmers, environmental groups and government 

 agencies that stopping the influx of new pests is essential to Hawaii's future well- 

 being. 



This report describes and assesses the current systems used in Hawaii to prevent 

 the introduction of unwanted alien species and to respond to those pests that suc- 

 ceed in entering the State. It is intended to help focus coordinated, multiafrency 

 planning to solve the complex alien pest problem. 



Hawaii has been actively involved in ahen pest prevention and control for a cen- 

 tury, loday, at least 20 State, Federal and private organizations and a number of 

 volunteer groups dedicate a meyor part of their resources to this area. 

 Prevention 



In general, Federal agencies in Hawaii are concerned with preventing the intro- 

 duction of noxious pests into the U.S. from foreign sources and^preventing pests es- 

 tab ished in Hawaii from reaching the U.S mainland. Their work is guided by Fed- 

 eral laws and rules that have evolved with a focus on protecting large-scale main- 

 land agriculture and enforcing international trade agreements. The U.S Customs 

 Service, U^. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal 

 and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Defense's Military 

 Customs Inspection Program are the Federal agencies most involved in prevention 



flCl/lVlLlCS. 



Compared to Federal agencies. State agencies have a larger responsibility for the 

 prevention of noxious pest introductions that may be damaging to Hawaii State 

 agencies assume most of the task of preventing U.S.- mainland pests from reaching 

 Wawaii. Because of Hawau's tropical environment and unique natural history, the 

 btate 18 vulnerable to far more foreign pests than the typical mainland State. There- 

 tore btate agencies rely on Federal colleagues to call them in on foreign pest intro- 

 ductions that pose a threat to Hawaii but may not be prohibited in the U S The 

 Hawaii Department of Agriculture carries out virtually all of the State's prevention 

 progranis. Several volunteer task forces and private educational programs have also 

 been mitiated to bolster public awareness and promote improved prevention sys- 



Control 



The control of established or newly escaped pests in Hawaii is primarily the re- 

 sponsibility of State government, although Federal agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 bervice. National Park Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture) carry out pest 

 control operations on Federal lands, enforce endangered species laws, and carry out 

 research to improve control methods. The lead State agencies involved in control are 

 the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources 

 Private organizations including the Hawaii Sugar Planters' Association, Bishop Mu- 

 seum, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and Hawaii and Maui Humane Societies 

 are involved in aspects of alien species control as well. While there is some coordina- 

 tion among these agencies and groups, most focus only on agriculture or human 

 health, or native ecosystem pest problems. 



Problems 



Despite the efforts of these organizations, unwanted alien species are entering 

 Hawaii at an alarming and increasing rate. Since the 1970s, an average of 20 new 

 alien invertebrates (insects, molluscs, etc.) per year were recorded in Hawaii. This 



iQQo^^P^'"®*^ ^^ ^^® Nature Conservancy of Hawaii Natural Resources Defense Council-^uly 



77-812 0-94-4 



