Hilo resident Nick Sakovich is a professor emeritus of the University of California. He has worked in the field of agriculture for 30 years and is a member of University of Hawaii Master Gardeners. Email your questions to Sakovich at askthegardenguy@earthlink.net.
By Nick Sakovich
Question: I appreciate your column, Nick. Why are invasive species such as blueberries (easily carried by bird droppings) and rabbits (who breed like rabbits) allowed in our state? Why are any species not native (with some educational or utilitarian exceptions) allowed here? Hawaii nei is beautiful and pono as it is and needs are active, proactive assistance. The governor wants to throw more money at this issue when each of us can make a big difference without spending too much kala. — Mahalo, Alf
Below I provide a current summary of the invasive species issue. For this information I consulted with Christy Martin, public information officer for the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species in Honolulu.
Although Hawaii has fairly restrictive laws regarding the importation of most animals, a large number of plants are allowed to come in because the state has no authority to keep them out.
There have been state laws on the books for many years concerning the importation of animals and microorganisms — organisms such as fungi and viruses that cause disease. A number of years ago, plants were kept out of Hawaii if they had the potential to transport insects or diseases that would affect sugarcane, pineapple or coffee. Most others were not seen as presenting a problem, and therefore, the importation of plants was never addressed.
Today, there are few laws which protect us from invasive plant species coming into Hawaii. On a federal level, there is the relatively short “Noxious Weeds List” used to keep weeds out of the United States. This list, however, is not very helpful to Hawaii since it was put together to address problems concerning mainland agriculture and ecosystems. The State of Hawaii also has a “Noxious Weeds List,” but it is intended to control the spread or damage caused by the listed plants. Unfortunately, most of the species of weeds are already in Hawaii.
Another list, the “State Noxious Seed List,” restricts certain plants from being sold in the State. This list has only 110 species listed; many of which are already present. In addition, a “Restricted Plant List” exists with plants that could carry quarantine insects or diseases. The State is not restricting these plants as potential invasive species, but because they may be carriers. And to further complicate matters, Martin points out that there is a federal Plant Protection Act that keeps states from making more restrictive rules that applies to plants imported from outside the U.S.
Improvements began in 2008, when the state laid the foundation for the establishment of stricter laws. Act 40 gave the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture the ability to restrict the entry of a plant solely because the plant itself has the potential of being an invasive species. The next step will be to draft Administrative Rules, which lay out how Act 40 will be implemented. This includes the difficult work of agreeing on a risk-benefit system that balances community and business needs such as biofuel and nursery imports with conservation and natural resource concerns. In addition, such rules need to be implemented using already stretched resources and personnel.
Presently, there is a Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment system, which allows trained assessors to use a series of questions as a “background check” on plants before they are imported to Hawaii. This system is 90 percent accurate in flagging would-be invasive plants, and it is currently a free service. Residents can have a plant assessed by email hpwra@yahoo.com, or visit www.hear.org/wra. Furthermore, citizens can voice support or concerns to the local state legislators and the County Council.
A House resolution (HR77 HD1) passed in 2011 and endorsed by Rep. Clift Tsuji and Rep. Linda Evans, calls on multiple stakeholders to assess the situation and provide recommendations. To participate or comment on HR 77 HD1, contact the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species at christym@rocketmail.com. The next CGAPS meeting will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Conference Room, 1849 Auiki St. in Honolulu. CGAPS meetings are open to the public.
Hilo resident Nick Sakovich is a professor emeritus of the University of California. He has worked in the field of agriculture for 30 years and is a member of University of Hawaii Master Gardeners. Email your questions to Sakovich at askthegardenguy@earthlink.net.