Big Island Events: Native Hawaiian Plant Workshop at Volcano Art Center

Restore Your Backyard to a Native Forest

Learn step-by-step methods of returning your backyard ecosystem close to its pre-human arrival state in Volcano Art Center’s (VAC) “Backyard Forest Restoration.” This new workshop is held on Saturday, June 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at VAC’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/Hawaii-Events.html

Hawai‘i has gained the reputation for being the “endangered species capital of the world.” At least 10 percent of native Hawaiian plants have gone extinct, and an additional 40 to 50 percent are threatened or endangered. The main causes are loss of native habitat and invasion of non-native species.

Botanist Tim Tunison shows students how to identify a target forest community from which to model their restoration efforts and provides first hand examples of how to deal with common invasive plant and animal species that hinder such efforts. “I will demonstrate the nuts and bolts of alien plant control, how to do it safely and not harm native plants intermixed with the weeds,” says Tunison.

The first portion of the day is devoted to an educational slideshow of Tunison’s own challenges in returning his Volcano Village property to pure native forest habitat. He also explains the difference between true ecological restoration, replacement communities, and general horticultural landscaping.

In the later half of the day students are taken to four Volcano Village residential parcels at varying stages of restoration to see techniques and strategies in action. Students take home an illustrated packet and CD, devised by Tunison, to aid in further understanding of the topic matter.

Tuition is $60 and substantial educational subsidies are available to financially needy students. To register or apply for financial aid, contact the Volcano Art Center at 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org. This workshop is supported in part by a grant from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Natural Resources Program.