The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative (WDFI) is leading the charge to improve and restore a native Hawaiian dry forest that is threatened with endangerment.
"The native forest in the Waikoloa region has all but disappeared," Jen Lawson, executive director of WDFI, told the Big Island Times. "There are a few pockets of lowland dry forest remaining throughout the state, but it is a critically endangered ecosystem."
Lawson said she found out about the efforts in Waikoloa through a colleague involved in the establishment of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve. After volunteering a handful of times, she was later asked to lead the organization, which was formed in 2011.
Though the drylands of Waikoloa were always relatively arid, Lawson said, they were historically dominated by native trees and shrubs including the wiliwili, 'iliahi and 'a'ali'i.
“Two centuries of degradation due to development, land use, wildfire and invasive species have had a dramatic impact on the ecology of the region,” Lawson said. “It looks very different now. Prior to establishing the preserve, it was easy to see how one by one, the rest of the native trees in the area would disappear, too.”
Lawson was drawn to conservation by a fascination with plants and natural systems, though she said she was discouraged by the general sense of apathy society has toward the environment.
“Global deforestation and loss of biodiversity are really daunting issues, but I think we have to do what we can, in our own communities, to make changes. At WDFI, we focus on increasing native forest, but we also have the opportunity to open people's eyes and empower them to participate in solutions to some of these bigger problems,” Lawson said.
The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations help to plant native trees for the restoration of the forest and programs, such as Adopt a Wiliwili Tree, Plant a Grove of Native Trees and Adopt an Acre.
Lawson said the best way to help the organization continue its work is to help fund it through partnership, sponsorship, advocacy or volunteer work. Interested volunteers can sign up at WaikoloaDryForest.org.
The organization will host two volunteering events on Saturday, Nov. 13, the Mālama ‘Āina Volunteer Day, between 8 a.m. and noon, and Re-Tree Hawaii Planting Day, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Residents are also invited to shop at the Dusty Donkey Emporium thrift shop at the Waikoloa Stables, where all proceeds will benefit WDFI.