HAWAI’I — In Hawai’i and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands, forests sustain life. They provide communities with food, wood, medicine and are part of their cultural heritage.   

In December 2023, nearly 100 participants gathered in Hilo, Hawai’i for a week-long forestry workshop to discuss challenges of protecting these forests.
Many participants traveled long distances from remote locations. Even virtual communication is challenging in these areas, which contend with poor internet connectivity. 

The conference brought together foresters, researchers, college students and others from locations across the Pacific — the Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap), the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Territory of American Samoa, the State of Hawai’i, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of Guam, and the Forest Service’s Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and the Pacific Southwest Region. The universities of Hawai’i and Guam, USGS, Micronesian Conservation Trust, Smart Trees Pacific, Ebiil Society and Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization also attended.

“The workshop felt like a large family gathering,” stated Sherry Hazelhurst, director of State and Private Forestry for the Pacific Southwest Region. 

Climate change was a major topic of discussion and one of grave concern for Pacific Island communities. Rising sea levels driven by climate change pose an imminent threat to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and other low-lying areas.

Along with sea level rise, climate change increases temperatures which can prolong the lifecycles of invasive insects. These intruders hitch rides on cargo ships that transport goods to Hawai’i and the U.S.- affiliated Pacific Islands.  
“Hawai’i receives most of its products from overseas, contributing to the spread of invasive species. Once they’re established in an area, it’s difficult to control them,” Hazelhurst noted.

The invasive rhinoceros beetle is one such intruder that has invaded Hawai’i. The relentless insect bores into the tree, hampering its ability to produce coconuts and sometimes killing it.
Similarly, the nonnative little fire ant in American Samoa, Hawai’i, Guam and Yap have infiltrated farms, damaging crops and stinging people and livestock which threaten the health of the ecosystem and the community. 

Effectively addressing these invasive species and other environmental threats requires funding. That’s where the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping.

Hazelhurst and other workshop presenters helped to pinpoint grants for which foresters qualify and help them navigate the application process.
“Applying for funding is sometimes daunting, and the resources shared during the workshop helped break down the steps for those who are new to the process,” Danielle Okst, executive director for the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition stated.

Christine Fejeran, Forestry Division Chief for the Guam Department of Agriculture, is grateful for Forest Service funding, Hazelhurst’s expertise and the support from the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition and the Pacific Islands Forestry Committee. 

“Forests cover over 50% of Guam, which is so small that it can fit within Lake Tahoe. We need funding to protect our precious forests,” stated Fejeran.
In Guam and other Pacific Islands, there aren’t enough scientists. Many young people leave home to pursue opportunities elsewhere, as did Fejeran. “I left Guam to go to college at Penn State and get my degree in wildlife studies. But I returned and I’m here to stay.”

Fejeran’s deep connection to Guam comes across in the way she talks about her work. She particularly enjoys speaking with underserved communities about the benefits of trees. “I tell them trees provide shade, clean air, and barriers during typhoons and other extreme weather events. You don’t want to cut them down. You want to plant more.” 

Like Fejeran, Sara Goodwin, director of communications for the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition, is passionate about doing outreach. She creates one-page fact sheets, tree flash cards and other outreach materials for foresters and teachers in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. “I love hearing how communities are using these materials!” Goodwin said, excitedly.

Young people will play a critical role in forest conservation, Goodwin believes, and she is hopeful for the next generation. “The enthusiasm of the interns and young professionals at the workshop was inspiring.”

“I was honored to be part of such an effort which emphasizes that we are not alone in this vast blue world. Although our islands may be remote, we share common threats and challenges and together, we are able to pool our collective experiences and knowledge to find solutions and pathways forward,” shared Fejeran, echoing Goodwin’s sentiments.