Hawai`i Tropical Forest Recovery Act
Concepts, Recommendations and Action Items

GUIDING CONCEPT 5

TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Enhance, expand, and integrate capabilities of training and education programs focused on conservation and natural resource management. There is a need to offer locally focused, locally available education so the people of Hawaii can assume leadership roles in charting the future of Hawaii's forests. Support a Center for Tropical Forests to serve as a focal point and catalyst for coordination of forest-related efforts; be a tangible place for information sharing and education; and be multi-agency in scope.

RECOMMENDATION 14: Establish a program to develop and train qualified professionals, technicians, and vocational specialists capable of leading Hawaii's agencies and communities in a partnership to manage, protect, and use Hawaii's forests.

SPECIFIC ACTION ITEMS:

Increase funding for the University of Hawaii to support the development of an undergraduate program in conservation biology, natural resource management, tropical forestry, forest socio-economics, and ethnography to provide an opportunity for local people, through training received in locally focused, locally available programs, to assume roles of participation and leadership in charting the future of Hawaii's forests.
In cooperation with the Bishop Museum, provide the necessary resources to establish a program for systematics research and education at the University of Hawaii to produce a cadre of locally trained systematists to provide the expertise necessary to conduct a complete inventory of Hawaii's unique biota.
Investigate potential niche roles or cooperative arrangements within the Pacific islands region for the training of forestry technicians in traditional forestry skills.
Establish or expand vocational training opportunities in wood-working and other forest products related programs within the state through existing community college and adult education programs.
Establish extension forester positions within the state to assist in training and technology transfer of research results to public land management agencies and private landowners.
Support the expansion of the existing Cooperative Fisheries Unit at the University of Hawaii to include wildlife research and training, which could include participation by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI National Biological Survey, University of Hawaii, and Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

RECOMMENDATION 15: Establish and operate a Center for Tropical Forests that will respond to information, research, demonstration, education, training, and outreach needs associated with the restoration and perpetuation of forests in Hawaii.

SPECIFIC ACTION ITEMS:

Establish and operate a cooperative forest resources information network, staffed so that: (1) personal and electronic access are available and materials are catalogued and made available to those requesting information; (2) the latest relevant information from island, state, national, and worldwide sources is continuously gathered, catalogued, and titles distributed; and (3) literature searches are provided upon request (see recommendation 2).
Develop a state-wide network of laboratories, field research and demonstration sites, classrooms, information sites, conference rooms, and office space for forest research, demonstration, education, and public outreach. Manage this network to encourage synergies among individual and organizational forest researchers, managers, users, and members of the public.
Encourage and capitalize on the willingness of potential partners on every island to adapt their existing and planned activities to becoming components of a Center for Tropical Forests that will manage the cooperative forest resources information network, coordinate the state-wide network of sites, and facilitate appropriate application of technical, traditional, and value choice information to the forest management programs of both public and private forest managers.
Develop a cooperative program for funding, managing, and siting a headquarters for the Center and for guiding the identification and participation of its many partners.

Hawai`i Tropical Forest Recovery Act
Concepts, Recommendations and Action Items

GUIDING CONCEPT 5

Main Links

Concept Links

Hawai`i Tropical Forest Recovery Act Concepts, Recommendations and Action Items

GUIDING CONCEPT 5

Main Links

Concept Links

Hawai`i Tropical Forest Recovery Act
Concepts, Recommendations and Action Items