U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) recently announced that Hawai‘i will receive more than $14 million in federal funds to protect threatened and endangered local forest birds from extinction.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey have provided $14,092,200 in funding for the State's conservation efforts to protect native forest birds, a recent press release from Schatz's office said.
“Avian malaria from invasive mosquitoes has devastated our native bird populations and put them at risk for extinction,” Schatz said in the release. “This new federal funding will help stop the spread of this disease and help us protect and save our native birds.”
The funding will go toward protecting and recovering species including the 'akikiki and 'akeke'e on Kaua'i, and the kiwikiu and 'ākohekohe on Maui.
Climate change has brought warmer temperatures causing avian malaria-transmitting mosquitoes to reach the high-elevation habitats where the birds live, the release said. The birds face potential extinction because they have no natural resistances and are especially vulnerable to the disease.
The funding includes $6.5 million for the State to put into place mosquito control strategies and support captive care capacity for the wild birds. Another $6 million will go toward mosquito eradication at Haleakalā National Park.
The funding comes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law last November.