PROJECT REPORT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 29,480 trees were planted to restore 61 hectares of land in Hāmākua, Ka`ohe, Pu`u Mali Restoration Areas and Mauna Kea Forest Reserve Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you! What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in Hawaii. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW Mauna Kea, ancestrally known as Mauna a Wakea, represents an unbroken lineage to the Earth, sky, and heavens. It has a remarkable geography, encompassing a tremendous number and diversity of climate zones – from some of the wettest tropical forests on the planet to some of the Earth’s driest alpine zones. The Mauna is the only point in the Hawaiian state that supports consistent snow cover, and is home to some of the largest extents of native ecosystems left in the Pacific, the largest populations of native Hawaiian forest birds, a large number of threatened species and a tremendous number of important living cultural sites. The purpose of this project is to facilitate and accelerate forest recovery that will effectively mitigate threats of wildfire and alien weeds to secure suitable recovery habitat for endangered birds, the endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bat, and dozens of plants and invertebrates listed as candidates or species of concern.
TREES PLANTED 29,480 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED 469 WOMEN INVOLVED 335 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE INVOLVED 316 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM TRAINING 469
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 3 HECTARES REFORESTED 61 YOUTH INVOLVED 207 WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 23
TREE SPECIES PLANTED SPECIES PLANTED
THROUGH THIS PROJECT Māmane (Sophora chrysophilla) `A`ali`i (Dodonea viscosa) `Iliahi (Santalum paniculatum)
THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF GENEROUS INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY INCREASE OUR PROGRAMS ABILITY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, RESTORE LANDSCAPES, CONSERVE NATIVE SPECIES AND RECONNECT COMMUNITIES.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP The planting sites are all on degraded land - the main focus of the program is to restore critical habitat for the endangered, Palila bird. The trees planted will draw cloud cover and moisture back to these locations.
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happening on the ground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS The planted trees will increase ecosystem diversity, providing habitat for numerous native species, including several endangered and threatened plants and animals. Fire risks will likely diminish as the forest canopy closes and grass densities decline due to increased shading. Changes in soil moisture and wind velocity due to increases in tree size and density should also contribute to reduced fire threats. Restoration of the mitigation parcels will provide additional habitat for Palila, as well as for the Akiapolaau (Hemignathus munroi), which was present until the early 2000s. Benefits include, Biodiversity (reduced invasive species cover, enhanced habitat for Hawai‘i endemic plants and animals), and ecosystem function (reduced fire danger, enhanced water supply and reduced erosion).
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
Mauna kea is the focus of a wide diversity of natural and cultural resource stewardship organizations because the Mauna is home to a wide diversity of cultural and natural resource challenges: a changing climate, invasive species, a growing wildfire threat, the loss of unique floral and faunal biodiversity, and the degradation of soils critical to both ranching and agricultural food production. This restoration effort will restore the reciprocal relationships that bind person to the landscapes and elements of Mauna Kea, and through this restoration, locals will cultivate the health and well-being of the ecologic and human communities.
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS? Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate) our impact on the planet. Trees are one such solution. From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
"Planting trees here will protect, restore, and conserve Hawaii's forest and related resources. As the trees grow, they will improve soil and water conservation, store carbon, moderate local climate by providing shade, regulate extreme temperatures, increase wildlife habitat and improve the land's capacity to adapt to climate change.”
Stephanie Rochemont Project Manager United States