Fund invasive species prevention and management on Maui Nui

Protecting Maui Nui's Native Ecosystems Through Invasive Species Prevention, Early Detection, and Strategic Management

Establish sustained investment in invasive species prevention, early detection, rapid response, and strategic management across Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi. Invasive species are among the most significant threats to Hawaiʻi's native biodiversity, watersheds, agriculture, and natural resources; as new invasive species continue to arrive and established populations expand, sustained investment is needed to prevent further spread, protect high-value ecosystems, and reduce long-term environmental and economic impacts.

Building on the work of the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), the Molokai Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC), and their partners, funding would support field operations, monitoring, technical capacity, equipment, and community participation to address priority invasive species threats.

Priority activities would include detecting and responding to new introductions before they become established, eradicating localized populations where feasible, containing established infestations to prevent further spread, and protecting native forests, watersheds, agricultural lands, and other ecologically sensitive areas. Management priorities would be guided by species distribution, invasion stage, ecological risk, feasibility of control, and available resources.

Sustained investment in these activities would protect Hawaiʻi's natural and cultural resources, improve the effectiveness of existing conservation efforts, and reduce the future costs of managing invasive species. The initiative would provide flexible support for both emerging threats and ongoing management priorities as environmental conditions and invasion risks change.