117 



can be done about the dozens of other serious weed problems. The most cost-effec- 

 tive way of deaUng with unwanted pest species is to prevent them from ever enter- 

 ing the State. 



The Extinction of Hawaii's Native Plants and Animals 



With only 0.2 percent of the land area of the United Sates, Hawaii has 75 percent 

 of the Nation's known extinctions. Of 140 Hawaiian birds, 70 have gone extinct 

 since the arrival of humans. Of the 70 forest birds still in existence, 30 are threat- 

 ened or endangered. For many of these birds, we know very little about their biology 

 and even less of the specific causes — is it loss of habitat? Introduced disease? Preda- 

 tion of the nests? 



Plants have fared no better. As of June, 1992, 85 Hawaiian plants were listed by 

 the US Fish & Wildlife Service as endangered and more than 103 species are sched- 

 uled to be added in the near future. About a dozen plant species have been reduced 

 to a single individual. 



The Hawaii Conservation Biology Initiative (HCBI) report "Immediate Research 

 Needs of Hawaiian Natural Area Managers", which was prepared in 1992 by a 

 group consisting mainly of management-oriented people, identified the alien plant 

 problem as the highest priority for research on natural resource management prob- 

 lems in Hawaii. The report identified the problem of the impact of feral pigs on na- 

 tive ecosystems as another of the highest priorities. 



Following on from that report, an HCBI workshop on research priorities for forest 

 birds identified introduced diseases of birds, and predation by introduced rats, mon- 

 gooses and feral cats as being critical factors in the decline of bird numbers. A sec- 

 ond workshop to identify the priorities for research on alien plants, gave the highest 

 priority to preventing plants that are potential invasive weeds from entering the 

 State and becoming established. The report of the workshop concluded 



"Not enough is being done, to prevent the entry and establishment of harm- 

 ful plants in Hawaii. Inasmuch as new legislation needs to be passed or ex- 

 isting laws need to be enforced, the solutions to this problem are partly po- 

 litical." 



Economic Impact 



The economic crops grown in the Hawaiian islands have also been seriously im- 

 pacted by introduced pest species. It has been estimated that the alien fruit fly spe- 

 cies, the Mediterranean, Oriental, and melon flies, cost Hawaii $300 million annu- 

 ally in lost markets for locally grown produce. These same species are also threats 

 to California's multi-billion dollar fhiit and vegetable industry. Nearly a million dol- 

 lars a year are expended by State of Hawaii for research to control or eliminate im- 

 pact of alien species on agricultural commodities. 



The Formosan subterranean termite, another alien species to our islands since the 

 early 1900's, cause millions of dollars of damage each year to residential and indus- 

 try structures. In 1985, a conservative estimate to prevent infestation, to undertake 

 remedial control, and to repair damage caused by this species in Hawaii was $50 

 million per year. 



The tourist trade, on which the State's economy depends, could be impacted in 

 the future. If the mosquito that carries human malaria were to be introduced to Ha- 

 waii, it could pick up the malarial parasite from visitors from some parts of the 

 world and start the human malaria cycle in Hawaii. If future intending visitors to 

 Hawaii need to dose themselves with anti-malarial drugs before they leave home 

 and worry about the brown tree snake biting their babies while they sleep (as hap- 

 pens in Guam) the impact on the tourist trade could be disastrous. If (when) the 

 snake and/or human malaria are found to be established in Hawaii it is predictable 

 that many costly emergency actions will be taken — but it will be too late. 



As well as its impact on the native bird life and its nuisance value to humans, 

 the brown tree snake causes millions of dollars worth of damage in electrical out- 

 ages on Guam. There is no reason to think the economic impact on Hawaii would 

 not be proportionally equivalent. 



The Quarantine Problem 



The liberalization of world trade through the General Agreement on Tariffs and 

 Trade and the North American Free Trade Agreement, which will bring about an 

 increased flow of goods between countries, can only exacerbate the transfer of orga- 

 nisms from country to country. These developments should be accompanied by the 

 trading partners making a renewed commitment to slowing the international spread 

 of pests and diseases through the setting and poUcing of more stringent quarantine 

 and surveillance policies. 



