A free workshop for landowners interested in conserving Hawai'i's native plants and animals will be held April 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center's Alexa Higashi Meeting Room at One Cameron Way.

The "Landowner Assistance: Environmental Conservation and Restoration" workshop is being presented by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"DLNR believes there is a critical need to engage Hawai'i's private landowners as partners in the conservation and restoration of habitat for our native plants and animals," DLNR chairperson Laura H. Thielen said in a news release today.

Added Thielen, "This workshop is a collaborative effort between multiple state and federal agencies to inform private landowners about several programs that can provide funding and technical assistance relating to land conservation and restoration."

The workshop topics include: how to restore private land to native forest, how to improve native wildlife habitat on private land, and how to address problems with invasive species on private land

A separate workshop on conservation easements and land acquisitions will be held at a later date.

For more information, and to register, contact Charmian Dang online at Charmian.C.Dang@hawaii.gov or by calling (808) 587-4155. Deadline for registration is March 20.