(KAPAʻA)–Hosting its ninth virtual “Forest Friday” conversation on Friday, February 25th at 4:00 p.m., the Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee (KISC) and Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP) will devote an hour-long discussion to the most abundant tree in the forests of Hawaiʻi–ʻōhiʻa lehua.
The virtual event will review the role of ʻōhiʻa in the environment, culture, as well as, our watersheds and provide an update on the presence of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death on Kauaʻi. The event is one of numerous offered as part of Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM). This year, HISAM is exploring the three wao (or realms) of 1) Akua (upper forests), 2) Kanaka (lower valleys and urban areas), and 3) Kahakai (wetlands, ocean).
Kim Steutermann Rogers, ROD Outreach Specialist for KISC, will emphasize the role of ʻōhiʻa in our everyday lives, as well as, provide an update on the presence of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death on Kauaʻi.
Breghan Klein and Kalli Harshman will share details on the work being done in the forest to help save ʻōhiʻa. Klein is a field technician for KISC, and Harshman is a watershed field technician for Kauai Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Kailee Lefebvre, Planner for Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, will highlight the current legislation proposing to name ʻōhiʻa as the Hawaiʻi State Endemic Tree.
This virtual talk story is a unique opportunity to discover what is happening with forest conservation on Kauaʻi. People are encouraged to participate in the conversation by submitting questions during the event or in advance by emailing saveohia@hawaii.edu.
Registration is required to participate on Zoom and can be done at bit.ly/ohiaonkauai. Or viewers can watch live on Facebook at the KISC or KFBRP pages. Previous Forest Friday conversations can be found on YouTube at KISC’s and KFBRP’s channels.
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