$3 million pledged to help stem Hawaiian bird extinction crisis

08/11/2009 15:11:44 US congress dedicates critical funding to help Hawaiian species at epicentre of global extinction crisis
November 2009. President Obama has signed into law a key bill that included critically needed funding to address the looming bird extinction crisis in Hawaii. The 2010 Interior, Environmental, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill had been passed by Congress and sent to the President with $3 million dedicated for Hawaiian birds.

Dire situation faced by Hawaii's birds
"Thanks to the leadership of Hawaii's Senator Inouye and Congresswoman Hirono, the federal government is taking the much needed steps to address the dire situation faced by Hawaii's birds," said George Wallace, American Bird Conservancy's Vice President for Oceans and Islands, and head of the organization's Hawaii Program. "By investing in efforts to conserve and restore habitat and reverse the multiple threats that have decimated many Hawaiian forest bird populations, we can avert the crisis. This bill marks an important beginning - it is a bold move in the right direction and will go a long way to help species in peril such as the Palila and Maui Parrotbill."

Hawaii birds in severe decline
The need for this special Hawaiian appropriation was highlighted by The State of the Birds - United States of America - 2009, a report led by the US Fish and Wildlife Service which focused attention on the dozens of bird species throughout the island chain that are in severe decline.

71 extinct species already - 10 more not seen for years
Before human settlement, Hawaii was home to 113 bird species found nowhere else on Earth. Since then, 71 have gone extinct. Nevertheless, Hawaii still boasts an astounding 42 endemic bird species, but 31 of these (75%) are now federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Several are on the brink of extinction, and ten have not been seen in years.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) has proposed protection under the Endangered Species Act for two additional Hawaiian birds, the Akikiki and Akekee, due to their precariously small population sizes and ongoing threats to their survival. Those threats include habitat loss, introduced predators such as cats and rats, introduced pigs, and malaria from introduced mosquitoes. Now, the threat of rising global temperatures may be exerting still greater pressure upon the continued survival of Hawaii's birds.

The US FWS will use the $3 million in funding to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy for Hawaiian birds, hire staff, and begin on the ground projects to recover some of the endangered and threatened species.