1,517 Acres of Maui Forest Considered for Inclusion in Natural Area Reserve

By Wendy Osher

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing the designation of more than 15-hundred acres on Maui for inclusion in the State’s Natural Area Reserve System.

The land is located in the Nakula region of Haleakala and includes a tract of Koa dominated forest that state officials say is rapidly disappearing from the leeward slopes.

A forest restoration program, including construction of fences intended to improve habitat for other rare forest birds is ongoing at the location.

DLNR officials say the area includes native plant communities, the majority of which are imperiled, and none of which are well represented within the statewide NAR system.

The item comes up for discussion in a meeting of the land board on Thursday.  The board will consider a request for a public hearing on Maui regarding the proposed addition of Nakula into the Natural Area Reserves System, and withdrawal from its current designation as State Forest Reserves land at Kahikinui.