SPP 12-143 Paradise Helicopters - Laserfiche WebLink

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Paradise Helicopters Special Permit Application While the area contains native floral, no resources requiring special protection are present. No threatened or endangered plant species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were present (USFwS 2011). As the project site itself consists of a portion of Mr. Thompson's mostly landscaped property and the roadways in front of it, where visitors walk during their brief visit, there would be no direct 'Impact to rare vegetation. Although helicopters can be vectors for seeds or other parts of invasive plants, the already highly disturbed character of the area means that such impacts will likely not be significant. An important neighboring land use is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located directly adjacent. Lava has overrun most of this area. Native species as well as non-native species from Royal Gardens are slowly colonizing this area. The periodic landing of the tour helicopter would not be expected to have adverse impacts to the flora here. Fauna An early morning visit to the site detected only a few species of common non-native birds, with most individuals being Japanese White-eyes (Zosterops japonicus). Few endangered or otherwise rare bird species would be expected in this area because at 1, 100 feet it is too low for Hawaii's endangered forest birds. Several native birds are known to use area at least occasionally, including the Hawai'i 'Amakihi (Hemignathus virens virens) and the 'Apapane (Himatione sanguinea). Although the endangered Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarlus) was not observed in the project area, it undoubtedly forages in the general area, as it is commonly seen throughout forested areas of Puna. The vegetation in Royal Gardens includes some "ohla trees as tall as 40 feet that could possibly be suitable for hawk nesting. The endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bats (Lasiurus ossi cinereus semotus) is often found in alien as well as native vegetation in a variety of locations throughout the island of Hawaii. These solitary bats are widely scattered and roost almost undetected in tall shrubs and trees. They have been observed in many areas of Puna and should be presumed to be present at least occasionally and to roost perhaps somewhere in Royal Gardens. Although no endangered Hawaiian Petrels (Pterodroma sandwichensis) or threatened Newell's Shearwaters (Puffinus auricularls newelli) would 8