Habitat plan targets a fifth of Lana'i

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has run into severe criticism for its proposal to designate a quarter of Kaua'i as critical habitat for endangered species, yesterday proposed more than a fifth of Lana'i's acreage for similar consideration.

The agency is under a federal court order to establish critical habitat for Hawai'i's endangered species.

On Lana'i it has nominated 19,405 acres in eight chunks as critical habitat for 32 of the 37 endangered plant species associated with the island.

Castle & Cooke, which owns almost all of the island, is aware of the proposal but has not studied it, said Vice President Vince Bagoyo.

"We don't have any comment," Bagoyo said. "We haven't seen the proposal at this point. There is a call from the Fish and Wildlife Service to meet with us, and that will probably happen within a week."

Although privately owned, more than 70 percent of the land proposed for designation already is in the state conservation district, which limits development and most other activities.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has not scheduled a public hearing, but will consider requests for one through April 18. Send requests to Paul Henson, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands, Box 50088, Honolulu 96850.

Critical habitat is defined as land inhabited by an endangered species, plus land required for the species to expand enough to be removed from the federal endangered species list.

One of the Lana'i species is considered extinct, so critical habitat designation would be useless, and for certain others no suitable habitat has been found. Thirteen of the plant species no longer exist on Lana'i, although they survive on other islands. Re-establishing those plants on the island is considered crucial to their recovery.

"Even though they are no longer found there, the type of habitat each species requires is still present and is considered important to the survival and recovery of these plants," said Ann Badgley, Fish and Wildlife Service regional director for the Pacific.

The largest piece of proposed habitat is a 14,500-acre section that includes the moist summit area and slopes of northeast Lana'i down to an elevation of about 500 feet, plus three gullies running westward from the summit ridge.

There also are pieces on the southern coast between Hulopo'e and Kaunolu, the northwest coast around Ka'ena and inland pieces on the north and west sides of the island.

"Nearly all of the land within the critical habitat units is unsuitable for development and other uses and activities due to its remote location, lack of access and rugged terrain," the agency said in a press release.

One of the island's larger conservation areas, The Nature Conservancy's Kanepu'u dryland forest preserve, is not included in the proposed designation.

Fish and Wildlife Service official Barbara Maxfield explained that the property has adequate conservation money and a management plan in place, so there is no need for additional special treatment.

On Kaua'i the agency was stung by criticism the new designation would restrict access and activities and was too broad, covering lands unsuitable for restoration of species.

The agency insists that it considers the proposed lands suitable for species restoration, and makes the point that designation alone has no impact, except where federal money is being used for projects or federal permits are required.

In those cases the Fish and Wildlife Service must be consulted to ensure the projects do not damage the species.

In coming months the agency will propose critical habitat for endangered plants in the rest of Maui County as well as for the Big Island, O'ahu and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

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Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.