WVOC
has established a community-based forest stewardship plan called
the Waikoloa
Dry Forest Recovery Project (WDFRP). Its goal is to
protect and preserve 275 acres of lowland dry forest containing
extremely rare plants and federally designated endangered tree species,
all of which played significant roles in the everyday activities
and cultural practices of native Hawaiians.
The WDFRP
proposal was developed in cooperation with the Natural Resource
Conservation Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii Division
of Forestry and Wildlife, Bishop Museum, Amy Greenwell Ethno-botanical
Garden, The Kohala Center for Pacific Environments, West Hawaii
Wildfire Management Organization, Pu'u Anahulu Community Association,
The Nature Conservancy, the Dry Forest Working Group, and Edith
Kanakaole Foundation.
Funding for
this ambitious project comes from many sources, including cost share
reimbursement grants from the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation
Service and State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources’
Forest Stewardship Program, as well as from Waikoloa Village Outdoor
Circle's own fundraising activities.
The County
of Hawaii's Research and Development Department provided funds for
development and printing of informational brochures and other materials,
for project signage, and for development and maintenance of this
and a soon-to-be dedicated Waikoloa Dry Forest website. Here
is a link to the projects website.
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