Why Protecting Big Island Hawaii’s Forests and Parks is so Important for Conservation

Big Island Hawaii is a land of contrasts, where fire and ice coexist, where ancient and modern cultures blend, and where nature and civilization meet. The island is blessed with a rich and diverse array of forests and parks, which cover about 40% of its land area². These forests and parks are not only sources of beauty and recreation, but also of conservation value. They provide essential habitats for native wildlife and ecosystems, protect watersheds and freshwater resources, store carbon and mitigate climate change, and support cultural and economic activities. Here are some of the reasons why protecting Big Island Hawaii’s forests and parks is so important for conservation:

• Forests and parks are home to native wildlife and ecosystems. Big Island Hawaii has some of the most unique and endangered wildlife and ecosystems in the world, with about 90% of its species being endemic to the islands¹. These include the nene (Hawaiian goose), the palila (a honeycreeper), the silversword (a spiky plant), and the honu (green sea turtle). Many of these species depend on the forests and parks for their survival, as they provide food, shelter, nesting sites, and migration corridors. However, these wildlife and ecosystems are also threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, and human activities. Protecting the forests and parks helps to preserve the island’s biodiversity and evolutionary heritage².
• Forests and parks protect watersheds and freshwater resources. Watersheds are areas of land that drain water into streams, rivers, lakes, or oceans. They provide vital services such as water supply, flood control, erosion prevention, and habitat for wildlife. Big Island Hawaii has 10 major watersheds that supply water to over 200,000 people³. The forests and parks play a key role in maintaining the health and function of these watersheds, as they capture rainfall, filter pollutants, recharge groundwater aquifers, and regulate stream flow. Protecting the forests and parks helps to ensure the availability and quality of freshwater resources for human consumption, agriculture, industry, and recreation².
• Forests and parks store carbon and mitigate climate change. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing Big Island Hawaii and the world. It is causing rising temperatures, sea levels, and ocean acidity, which have negative impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, people, and economy. One of the ways to combat climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. Another way is to enhance carbon sequestration by protecting and restoring forests and parks. Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in plants, soils, or other reservoirs. Big Island Hawaii’s forests and parks store about 100 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent⁴, which is equivalent to removing about 21 million cars from the road for a year⁵. Protecting the forests and parks helps to reduce the island’s carbon footprint and contribute to global climate action².
• Forests and parks support cultural and economic activities. Big Island Hawaii’s forests and parks are not only natural assets but also cultural and economic ones. They have historical, spiritual, and aesthetic significance for the Native Hawaiian people, who have lived on the island for centuries. They also provide opportunities for education, research, tourism, recreation, hunting, fishing, gathering, farming, ranching, forestry, and other activities that generate income and jobs for the island’s residents. According to a study by The Nature Conservancy, every dollar invested in forest conservation in Hawai‘i returns $6 in benefits to society. Protecting the forests and parks helps to sustain the island’s culture and economy².

Big Island Hawaii’s forests and parks are precious gifts that we have inherited from our ancestors and that we have a responsibility to pass on to our descendants. They are essential for our wellbeing and survival as well as for the wellbeing and survival of countless other species that share our world. By protecting Big Island Hawaii’s forests and parks, we can ensure their conservation value for present and future generations.

Source:
(1) Hawai‘i Island Forest Reserves. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/frs/reserves/hawaii-island/.
(2) The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/hawaii/.
(3) Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Forestry Program | Forest Reserve System. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/frs/.
(4) Hawaii’s lawmakers mull fees for ecotourism crush : NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/04/05/1168119111/hawaii-considers-fees-to-pay-for-ecotourism.
(5) Hawai‘i Conservation Program | NFWF. https://www.nfwf.org/programs/hawaii-conservation-program.