Conservation Practices for Wildlife Habitat on Taro Farms

Supports EQIP and WHIP

Management practices that have been shown to provide or improve habitat for threatened and endangered species can be supported by both the WHIP and EQIP programs. There is ample anecdotal evidence that appropriate management of wetland taro fields (lo‘i) can provide habitat for endangered birds including the Koloa duck, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian coot, and Hawaiian stilt. However, this anecdotal information had not been scientifically assessed and verified. Under the direction of an experienced avian biologist, this project identified the habitat attributes that are necessary for native bird success on taro farms and identified specific conservation practices that would create and improve habitat for these native species. Hawaii NRCS field conservationists are using the project results in cooperation with taro farmers to plan shallow water management techniques on the farm that benefit both endangered waterbirds and taro farming.

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Wildlife and Taro Farms Final Report (188 KB)

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