HomeMy WebLinkAboutState County Team-up to Tackle Albizia_BIISCA I D _1_7S9
BIG ISLAND OCIbASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE
For Immediate Release: February 24, 2014
Contact: Dayva Keolanui, Outreach Coordinator, (808) 557 -8790,
biisc _ hawaii.edu
State and County Team -up to Tackle Albizia in Puna
Hilo —The State's Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of
Forestry and Wildlife, and the County of HawaiTs Department of Public Works
are teaming up February 26 -28 to remove invasive albizia trees along Upper
Puna Road.
State and County crews are working in coordination with the Big Island Invasive
Species Committee's ( BIISC) Albizia Demonstration Project in Keau'ohana State
Forest Reserve and Black Sands Subdivision, of lower Puna. Albizia trees within
100 ft. of the County road, endangering motorists, will be cut down, then chipped
and returned to the forest or, for larger trees, removed. BIISC will follow -up by
applying herbicide to stumps and nonhazardous trees using methods developed
with the University of Hawai'i extension program and the US Forest Service.
By teaming up, crews will be able to cover both County and State right -of -ways
and synchronize their efforts. "This project demonstrates how all stakeholders,
government, private sector, and residents, can work together to manage the
albizia problem in more cost effective ways," said BIISC Manager Springer Kaye.
The State and County tree work will be done from 8:OOam- 2:OOpm, starting from
the intersection of Upper Puna Road and Highway 130, extending 0.3 miles
along Upper Puna Road. Motorists are advised to expect intermittent delays on
Upper Puna Road during these times and to take the alternate route of
One' Ele' Ele Road to access Black Sands Subdivision.
According to Ecologist Flint Hughes, with the U.S. Forest Service, "Albizia, or
Falcataria moluccana, is a statewide ecological and public safety problem.
Albizia's rapid and pervasive growth destroys native forests by shading out native
plants and improving conditions other invasive flora, such as strawberry guava.
On top of that, the tree's brittle branches and shallow roots easily break in wind
or rain, then fall on homes, roads, and power lines."
The 500 -acre Albizia Demonstration Project area in Puna includes trees
overhanging homes and roads, as well as in native lowland forest. Kaye explains
"Stakeholders identified this area of Puna as a case study to showcase the wide
range of issues in albizia control, develop best management practices, and
empower communities to limit the spread of these menacing trees in their own
neighborhoods."
Since December, BIISC has held three Community Training Workshops, where
the public learned how to safely and effectively use herbicide to kill albizia trees
not threatening infrastructure. The next Community Training Workshops will be
held during the Hawai'i Invasive Species Awareness Week, from 9:00am-
2:00pm, at various locations in East Hawai'i.
Date
Area
Meeting Place
Tuesday,
Puainako St. Extension,
1.5 miles mauka of Komohana Ave.
03/04/14
Waikea
on South side of St.
Wednesday,
Carvalho Park upper parking lot
Wainuenue Ave., Hilo
03/05/14
Thursday,
Puainako St. Extension,
1.5 miles mauka of Komohana Ave.
03/06/14
Waiakea
on South side of St.
Saturday,
y,
Sands Subdivision ,
Intersection of Hwy. 130 and Upper
03/08/14
Puna
Puna Rd. on West side of Hwy.
For more information on Community Training Workshops, please contact BIISC
at 933 -3340.
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