Posted on: Monday, December 6, 2004

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lots of state and federal money goes into protecting the plants and animals that people are most concerned about, leaving unmanaged many others.

Money often goes to the "squeaky wheel," namely, the species that have lobbies. These include the rarest plants, the most endangered birds, and game birds and mammals favored by hunters.

"We have so many endangered species that it's hard for us to look past that," said Scott Fretz, an endangered species biologist with the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

The Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy program seeks to change that. This is a federally financed effort and each of the 50 states and the territories are preparing a conservation strategy under the program. In Hawai'i, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is developing the plan, which it hopes to have complete by October. The Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the Division of Aquatic Resources are leading the effort.

The strategy should identify an array of Hawaiian animals but not plants. However, addressing the problems of the animals could require conservation efforts dealing with plants.

"A lot of this is going to point to habitat-based work," Fretz said.

The strategy will identify species, where they're found, what their habitats are like and what threats they face, and will lay out actions needed to monitor and conserve the species, said project coordinator Christen Mitchell. The program anticipates that federal and state agencies will work with local agencies and organizations to protect the species.

"We want to get a broad plan that really gets input from the people," Fretz said.

Mitchell said the wildlife strategy program is looking for people who want to be on the mailing list and who may want to get involved in specific conservation efforts. To learn more about the program, call Mitchell at 587-0051 or e-mail wildlife.strategy@hawaii.edu.

To learn more about the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy program nationally, visit the Web site www.teaming.com.

"The state wildlife strategies will provide an essential foundation for the future of wildlife conservation and an opportunity for the states, federal agencies, and other conservation partners to strategically think about their individual and coordinated roles in conservation efforts across the nation," the Web site says.

If you have a question or concern about the Hawaiian environment, drop a note to Jan TenBruggencate at P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766, e-mail jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or call (808) 245-3074.