The Forest Stewards is a peer-to-peer learning program for private forest landowners. Participants learn about forest management in a 3-day workshop then work in their communities to share what they learned.
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm HST
CC309
Abstract Almost half of all forest lands in Hawaii are privately owned. Forest landowners need to deal with threats to forest health and productivity including pests and diseases, invasive weeds, and wildfires and need to be aware of opportunities to protect and restore forests. The Forest Stewards is a peer-to-peer learning program designed to help teach forest landowners how to care for their land and how to reach out to their friends, neighbors, and community with information on good forest practices. Participants attend a three-day workshop where they learn about forest ecology and management, invasive species, wildfire, and restoration but also taxes, availability of assistance programs, and the importance of forests in Hawaiian culture. In return for the program, which is provided free of charge, participants agree to “give back” by performing at least 30 hours of service in reaching out to their communities. These volunteers greatly extend the reach of the CTAHR forestry extension program. Past participants have hosted neighbors and community visits to their forests to pass on what they learned, drafted legislation to expand the Native Forest Dedication for County property taxes, and served as landowner representatives on statewide advisory commissions. The Forest Stewards program continues to generate hundreds of hours of volunteer time annually, with some graduates continuing their involvement year after year.
Abstract Hawaii has a complex mix of environmental problems such as, resource import dependence, loss of biodiversity, and rising sea levels. The impacts of changes in public policy can have far-reaching consequences, and these changes need to have people from different backgrounds and communities integrated into their design. This presentation focuses on how economists, policy analysts, sociologists, and community leaders can meaningfully contribute towards achieving Hawaii's sustainability objectives. Policymakers consider the analysis of economists who assess the financial ramifications of environmental policies along with the benefits such as energy renewables subsidies and costs, like carbon emissions taxes. The sociological perspectives would aim at solving the problem also exist, like encouraging civic participation through understanding people's social and cultural values of the target audience. Grassroots and indigenous local leaders, as well as other non-governmental actors, have a deep understanding of the local socio-political context. They use this understanding to make sure that policies and programs formulated are culturally sensitive and politically feasible.
Lightning Talks are 5-minute presentations that forces the speaker to quickly and succinctly relay meaningful impacts from their research or program.
Young Cho:Advancing Hawaiian Resilience: Investigating the Impact of Environmental Stress on Tropical Crops Across CTAHR Research Stations. Andy Kaufman:Tropical Green Roof and Living Wall Research Center. Nan Jiang:Flavonoid pathway intermediates unveil novel functions for the UV-B receptor UVR8. Ashley McGuigan:Southwest Climate Hub: Progress in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Emilie Kirk: Farm Doctor - A Collaborative Twist on a Classic Extension Approach. Amjad Ahmad: Producing biochar from invasive species to reclaim arable land and improve soil properties and crop production. Garrett Roell: Collaborative Science: AI-Powered Web Tools for Expanding Research Reach Kyle Barber: Efficient On-Farm Composting: Demonstration and Outreach for Farmers
