Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi

Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi
Name	Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi
Formation	1951 (Hawaiʻi program established 1959)
Type	Nonprofit conservation organization
Headquarters	Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Leader title	State Director
Parent organization	The Nature Conservancy

Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi is the Hawaiʻi state program of The Nature Conservancy, focused on conserving native ecosystems across the Hawaiian Islands through land protection, species recovery, and community partnerships. The organization operates preserves, conducts restoration projects, and collaborates with federal agencies like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and state entities including the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources to protect watersheds, reefs, and cultural landscapes. Its work intersects with regional initiatives such as the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and conservation science institutions like the University of Hawaiʻi.

History

The program grew from the postwar expansion of The Nature Conservancy and was formally organized in Hawaiʻi amid conservation movements linked to landmarks like Haleakalā and Kīlauea; early collaborations involved Bishop Museum and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. In the 1970s and 1980s the organization acquired key properties near Waimea Canyon, Kōkeʻe State Park, and Molokaʻi to secure watersheds and native forests, working alongside agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and NGOs like Sierra Club and World Wildlife Fund. During the 1990s and 2000s the Conservancy partnered with NOAA programs and international conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity to address threats to coral reefs around Kāneʻohe Bay and Papakōlea green sand areas, expanding marine conservation to match terrestrial reserves. Recent decades saw intensified restoration campaigns informed by research from institutions including Hawaiʻi Pacific University and Smithsonian Institution initiatives in the Pacific.

Mission and Goals

The Conservancy's mission aligns with The Nature Conservancy global objectives and local priorities such as protecting watersheds that feed communities like Hilo and Kailua-Kona, conserving coral reef systems near Kaʻūpūlehu and Molokaʻi for fisheries supported by NOAA Fisheries, and safeguarding cultural landscapes associated with Native Hawaiian practices. Strategic goals emphasize partnerships with entities such as the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to advance science-based management of places like Kauaʻi’s highlands, bolster resilience to threats like invasive species exemplified by Miconia calvescens introductions, and contribute to regional climate adaptation agendas tied to Paris Agreement commitments. Policy engagement occurs alongside organizations including The Pew Charitable Trusts and regional coalitions working on marine protected areas like Papahānaumokuākea.

Protected Lands and Key Projects

The Conservancy manages and protects preserves on islands including Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi (island), Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi, conserving ecosystems from alpine zones on Mauna Kea to lowland dry forests near Kona and reef systems offshore of Lānaʻi. Signature projects include watershed protection at sites adjacent to Waimea and restoration of ʻāina tied to Kānaka Maoli cultural practices, marine conservation work near Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi in coordination with NOAA and Papahānaumokuākea stakeholders, and invasive species control in uplands adjacent to Haleakalā National Park and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The Conservancy’s preserves often serve as focal points for joint initiatives with universities such as University of California, Berkeley and research institutions like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for studies on coral bleaching and watershed science.

Species Conservation and Restoration Efforts

Programs target endemic taxa including forest birds like ʻIʻiwi, ʻApapane, and other Hawaiian honeycreepers affected by avian malaria and ʻōʻō extinctions; plant recovery for species documented by Bishop Museum and National Tropical Botanical Garden; and reef restoration for species such as Hawaiian green sea turtle and coral taxa monitored by NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. Actions include predator control for threats from species such as feral pig and mongoose introduced during the 19th century, propagation and outplanting in collaboration with botanical partners like the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and marine nursery projects influenced by research from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Conservation genetics and captive-breeding collaborations link with agencies like U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and museums including the Smithsonian Institution to recover species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

The organization partners with Hawaiian community groups such as Aha Moku, cultural practitioners from ʻohana and ʻohana-based trusts, and municipal governments in places like Honolulu and Kauaʻi County for co-management and traditional resource stewardship. Collaborations include joint marine initiatives with NOAA and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument program, watershed projects with the U.S. Forest Service, and education programs with schools in the Hawaiʻi Department of Education network and universities including University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Volunteer stewardship, training for traditional practitioners, and co-designed monitoring initiatives engage NGOs like Conservation International and funders such as The Rockefeller Foundation to integrate indigenous knowledge with conservation science.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources combine philanthropic support from foundations like Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation, donations from corporate partners and individual donors, grants from federal agencies such as NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and revenue from conservation easements and land management. Governance follows nonprofit structures coordinated with The Nature Conservancy’s global board and local advisory councils, involving legal frameworks such as easements recorded with county offices in Honolulu County and Maui County, and compliance with statutes including the Endangered Species Act and state-level conservation statutes administered by the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources. Financial oversight and strategic planning incorporate input from conservation scientists at institutions like University of Hawaiʻi and policy partners including The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Category:Environmental organizations based in Hawaiʻi