The Garden Island chatted with Weed Risk Assessment and Plant Pono Liaison Amanda Skelton about her work to keep invasive species off Kauai. Her goal is simple— prevent the next major pest from coming ashore. The Garden Island: First, tell
The Garden Island chatted with Weed Risk Assessment and Plant Pono Liaison Amanda Skelton about her work to keep invasive species off Kauai.
Her goal is simple— prevent the next major pest from coming ashore.
The Garden Island: First, tell our readers a little about your background. How did you find yourself living on Kauai?
Amanda Skelton: I never really intended to move to Kauai. My parents live here and I came for the holidays. After college, I was living in Mozambique working for an aid organization. The contract ended and I planned to move to Angola after spending time with my parents. I put my resume out and got an offer doing conservation work. Everything just fell into place so I missed my return flight without much thought. I’ve worked in agriculture and in conservation since my arrival in 2002.
TGI: When did you discover your love of plants? Do you have a favorite?
AS: It is intriguing to look at unique traits that facilitate the ability to thrive in a particular ecosystem. I have always been drawn to nature.
Malay rose (Etlingera venusta) is a large pink and white pinwheel, many people do a double take. Blue Jade is blooming, the racemes of turquoise flowers make breathtaking lei.
Hawaii has amazing native plants. Hibiscus Kokia spp. saintjohnnianus has orange flowers that seem iridescent. Maiapilo (Capparis sandwichensis) has huge fragrant flowers. The twisted red Kokia drynarioides flower is a stunner.
I also enjoy orchids, including vanilla. I led workshops on vanilla pollination and curing.
TGI: For those who don’t know about Plant Pono, how do you choose to describe it? How long has the program been around?
AS: Plant Pono was started in 2009 by Christy Martin. It utilizes a website — www.plantpono.org — and targeted outreach to educate home gardeners as well as the landscaping/nursery industries about invasive species. Unfortunately, several of the more damaging plant introductions arrived as ornamental species, with good intentions, but have spread to harm agriculture and native ecosystems. There are few restrictions on introducing new plants, but no one wants to be responsible for introducing a plant that seriously damages the environment. This is a tool that illustrates which plant species are currently invasive, or are highly likely to be invasive, and provides suitable alternatives.
TGI: I understand Plant Pono has a way of assessing plants for invasive characteristics. Can you talk about that and why it’s important?
AS: We use the HPWRA (Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment), a tool that looks at a plant’s characteristics to predict the likelihood of a plant becoming invasive. It is about 90 percent accurate. Assessments are conducted by an objective botanist using published, referenced material. Reproductive and other traits determine if a plant is likely to spread beyond where it was planted. If everyone used the HPWRA, we might prevent the next highly invasive plant from coming in. Eradication efforts are difficult and conservation agencies are already stretched thin. Ideally, those plants would never reach the shore.
TGI: Which plants would you consider some of the worst as far as invasive — ones you would hate to see get going here on Kauai?
AS: We don’t really know what will show up, and it’s scary to speculate. The Kauai Invasive Species Committee has a list of early detection plants. We know pests such as coqui frog and little fire ant are established on other islands. The ants are attracted to moisture and known to bite pets on their eyes, causing blindness. An established population of mongoose on Kauai would be terrible, and they could decimate our native bird populations, as happened on other islands. These pest species have slipped by in the past and it is important to be proactive when bringing things in from neighbor islands.
TGI: What is the result of people not being careful about ornamental plants?
Unfortunately, things like Australian tree fern, guava, ginger and Lantana have entered many natural areas. Native plants provide food and cover for native pollinator insects as well as to native forest birds, so we risk losing habitat and putting greater pressure on the forest. The biggest consequence is how it could contribute to the loss of biodiversity and the way it impacts the larger watershed. Invasive plants can be tied to erosion and degradation of water quality.
TGI: What are some of the biggest challenges facing Plant Pono?
AS: Some nurseries are more open than others. I’ve met with people who don’t believe that the Australian tree fern is actually problematic, despite the way it has spread. There are also a lot of species that could be potentially invasive and there is not always consensus on plants. Conservationists and horticulturalists don’t always agree, but ultimately there are no bad plants, just bad places for them.
TGI: What is Plant Pono’s ultimate goal?
Ideally, to be the go-to reference for plants and for users to consider invasiveness when researching planting choices. We want to showcase native and non-invasive alternatives so that people are able to enjoy their landscapes without worrying about the potential impact to island ecosystems. Another goal is to have nurseries and gardeners requesting assessments before bringing new species to the island. We want to prevent the next invasive species from ever arriving — prevention rather than eradication.
TGI: What is one thing most people don’t know about plants in Hawaii that you think they should?
AS: Kauai has a high rate of endemism — our plants are really special and we should be proud of their uniqueness. Our native white hibiscus (H. waimeae, H. arnottianus) are the only hibiscus with a natural fragrance. Hibiscus clayi and St. John’s Hibiscus only occur naturally in small areas of Kauai. Some of the flowering plants in Kokee have specialized flowers for honeycreepers and other pollinators. Many of our native plants are great for landscaping purposes but relatively few are available at most commercial nurseries. However, that is something that will change with customer demand.
TGI: How can people make informed decisions when it comes to planting at their own homes?
Gardeners can do their homework before planting and request assessments. Nurseries also can screen plants, and in the past have been willing to discontinue selling problematic species, such as Australian tree fern. Customers drive the demand, so asking for non-invasive plants encourages nurseries to carry them.
Perspective is important. Some things may be fine when planted appropriately, but could run away in natural areas or under certain circumstances. Ginger illustrates this well – it can be contained in yards, but when it was brought to Kokee, it spread and started smothering the forest. Now there is massive effort to control it, where possible. We need to be smart and use the tools we have to plant “pono” – to know before you grow.
