Control & Eradication
Invasive plants, animals, insects, and pathogens are able to spread across Kauaʻi’s landowner boundaries and overlap jurisdictions. KISC is uniquely positioned to address this. Our operations are species based, not area based. Our team works across the island on both private and public land to detect and control target species before they make a lasting impact. KISC’s primary management goal for our target species is island-wide eradication.
KISC’s continued, long-term, control efforts help prevent the spread of high-impact species into our watersheds and agricultural areas. KISC target species are limited in distribution and recognized as having the greatest potential to impact native biodiversity and agriculture. We focus our efforts where the use of limited resources are most likely to lead to successful island-wide eradication.
We detect, control and monitor all of our target species using a variety of science-driven management strategies. KISC teams implement the best integrated pest management (IPM) techniques identified for each target species and site.
Management Strategies:
Detection:
Aerial helicopter detection surveys
Aerial drone surveys
Ground transect surveys
Control:
Mechanical
We use mechanized tools and machinery such as weed-whackers, chainsaws, & hydro-ax.
Chemical
We use as little herbicide or pesticide as possible and apply it in the safest effective way.
Monitor:
Monitor treated areas for re-growth
Survey for seed emergence
Eradication Success
To reach the long-term goal of island-wide eradications, we have to first successfully eradicate the target species from the individual sites. For successful site eradication, the target species must be completely eliminated from the site and the site has to be monitored for 1-10 years to ensure there is no regrowth or seed emergence.
70
successful site eradications
22
sites are in post-elimination monitoring stage
Fireweed
Fireweed, a small herb that is toxic to cattle and livestock, was accidentally introduced to Kauaʻi in 1990 in contaminant hydro-mulch material. KISC assisted Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) in the control and monitoring efforts at the two known sites. In 2006, fireweed was successfully eradicated from Kauaʻi.
Pampas Grass
Pampas Grass, a fire-promoting invasive grass, was brought to Kauaʻi as an ornamental plant. In 2009, Pampas Grass was removed from the last of the three known locations and has not been detected on the island since. Pampas Grass was successfully eradicated from Kauai.
Target Species
Learn more about our target plant and pests species.
