The Pacific RISA has partnered with the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to form a working group on climate change and invasive species in Hawaii. The working group aims to address the intersection between these two threats to island sustainability, food security, and economic prosperity, by improving the availability and use of climate information resources by managers. During December and January, around 60 natural resource managers in Hawaii responded to a survey designed by the working group to better understand the priorities of invasive species management in the context of climate change. Results showed that managers are well informed about climate change impacts on invasive species, but they lack access to appropriate tools to improve management practices and efficiency.

On May 5, the working group coordinated an online workshop that was attended by over 100 managers and researchers who wanted to learn more about the survey results and help identify next steps for coordinated research and product development. Laura Brewington from the Pacific RISA presented the survey results, followed by an expert panel discussion with invasive species specialists who helped answer participants’ questions about the limitations and availability of existing climate information products for natural resource applications. Toni Lyn Morelli, a USGS research ecologist with the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, then described their processes for establishing a Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change network, and the remainder of the discussion centered around next steps for creating such a network for invasive species managers and climate change researchers in Hawaii and the Pacific.

Attendees participating in the “Where Do We Go Next” discussion segment of the workshop demonstrated unanimous support for the development of a climate change and invasive species network. The top three hopes for what such a network could achieve were: 1) Improved communication between researchers/managers/landowners; 2) Better sharing of and access to resources in a centralized location; and 3) Better alignment of research with management goals. For next steps, the majority of participants suggested: 1) Collecting information and data resources into a centralized platform for access and communication; and 2) Prioritizing gaps and setting research priority areas. The working group will develop a formal listserv to share information, updates, and announcements, and establish a webinar series beginning this summer focused on the nexus between climate change and invasive species. We will continue to identify pathways to build this network and make it a success, based on the input from the workshop. Watch the recording of the workshop here.

Featured image credit: the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project.