Kaua'i groups searching for consensus on habitat issue

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Two key players say there are signs of progress in the battle over establishing critical habitat for endangered species.

At a public meeting on Kaua'i last week, the parties weren't ready to announce any kind of agreement, but said they're talking, and there seems to be more flexibility than there has been.

But it's not clear that this will lead to a solution the various interested parties can support.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, under orders from the federal District Court, is working under deadlines to establish critical habitat for 255 species of plants in the Islands.

It started first on Kaua'i, where nearly 100,000 acres have been proposed as critical habitat for 83 species. Massive habitat areas have been proposed for other islands, and proposed designation for O'ahu is expected to be announced this week.

The sheer size of the area worries hunters who fear the land ultimately will be fenced off and hunting stopped. And it perplexes state wildlife officials because they say there's no hope of ever doing endangered species work in such large areas.

A lot of folks are concerned simply because there doesn't seem to be any middle ground.

"We need to bring people together" to find solutions the whole community can support, said Chipper Wichman, who runs the Limahuli Garden for the National Tropical Botanical Garden.

Michael Buck, head of the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said he feels that the sheer size is more a reflection of what the law requires than the needs of the endangered plants.

"We thought the focus was more on what was legally defensible, but we would like the Fish and Wildlife Service to recognize the science of recovery. We start from a different place — reality, experience on the ground," Buck said.

The Concerned Citizens of Kaua'i and Ni'ihau drew about 100 people to a public meeting Thursday at which hunters, environmentalists, native plant experts, bureaucrats and biologists got together.

Paul Henson, who is heading the critical habitat project for the Fish and Wildlife Service, expressed the frustration of his office.

"It's my belief that most of the species can and should be preserved" in the wild, he said.

He said his agency is negotiating with the parties who brought the case to federal court for more time to work out a solution that meets the biological needs of the plants, but also the social and economic needs of society, he said.

He and Buck said they're talking, and Henson said he hopes to bring the issue back to the community to gather more information on how best to proceed.

But deep divisions remain.

Karen Blue, of the Conservation Council for Hawai'i, said residents should not fear the designation, and that it's primarily designed to prevent the federal government from conducting "bad federal projects" in such areas.

Elton Ushio, representing the Kaua'i Hunting Association, said hunters have an interest in protecting the environment, but are afraid that critical habitat designation will lead to lawsuits that could force the government to fence off vast areas.

Keith Robinson, who conducts endangered species restoration alone and with his own money, said the lawsuits are using up money that actually could be used to protect species in "lifeboat preserves."

"It takes active management. Just drawing some lines on a map isn't going to do anything," Wichman said.

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