HILO, Hawaii — Hawaii island forestry managers say one-third to one-half of the total acreage of a Big Island forest has been impacted by the erupting Kilauea volcano.
HILO, Hawaii — Hawaii island forestry managers say one-third to one-half of the total acreage of a Big Island forest has been impacted by the erupting Kilauea volcano.
KITV-TV reported Sunday that the 2-square mile (5-sq. kilometer) Malama Ki Forest Reserve is home to a young ohia-dominated forest and sub-populations of forest birds such as the Hawaiian honeycreepers, the Hawaii amakihi and apapane.
Steve Bergfeld with the Department of Land and Natural Resources says with further expected loss of forest habitat and defoliation due to lava inundation and volcanic emissions, the remnant and sub-populations may no longer persist, rapidly decline or become further fragmented and/or contract in range.
The reserve also holds a public year-round hunting area which foresters predict will be greatly reduced due to loss of forest and the effects to feral animals.
———
Information from: KITV-TV, http://www.kitv.com/index.html
