Vegetation inventory project: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Cogan D, Schulz K, Benitez D, Kudray G, Ainsworh A. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. Natural Resource Report. NPS/KAHO/NRR—2011/462. National Park Service, National Resource Stewardship and Science. Fort Collins, Colorado
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (KAHO) covers approximately 486 ha (1,200 ac) on the western coast of the island of Hawai‘i. The park was established to preserve, protect, and interpret ancient Hawaiian settlements and structures including fishponds, fish-traps, anchialine ponds, petroglyphs, rock structures, and historic roads and trails. KAHO is situated on a vast lava field sloping westward towards the Pacific Ocean. KAHO supports 116 vascular plant species including examples of coastal strand and wetland native plants. Most of the remaining vegetation has been extremely altered over the years and consists primarily of non-native fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), koa haole (Leucaena leucocephala) shrubs, and kiawe (Prosopis pallida) trees. To better understand the distribution of the plant assemblages located on this site, the National Park Service (NPS) Pacific Island Network (PACN) Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M) started a vegetation inventory effort at KAHO in 2007. A three-year, four phase program was initiated to complete the task of mapping and classifying the vegetation at KAHO. Phase one conducted by PACN staff in 2008, collected 33 field plots and 22 observation points. In phase two, NatureServe’s Western Regional Office used this field data in conjunction with data collected at two other parks to classify 16 new plant associations for KAHO based on the revised US National Vegetation Classification (rUSNVC). Phase three, directed by Cogan Technology, Inc produced a digital vegetation map and supporting accuracy assessment (AA) materials. In the final phase, PACN staff collected 90 accuracy assessment points in 2010 used to check and finalize the map. To produce the spatial database and map layer, 2006, 0.6-meter, 4-band Quickbird satellite imagery (supplemented with 2008 Quickbird imagery) was provided by PACN. By comparing the signatures on the imagery to field and ground data 30 map units (18 vegetated, five barren, and seven land-use / land-cover) were developed and directly crosswalked or matched to their corresponding rUSNVC plant associations. The interpreted and remotely sensed data were converted to Geographic Information System (GIS) databases and maps were printed, field tested, reviewed, and revised. The final map layer was accessed for thematic accuracy by overlaying 90 independent accuracy assessment points. The final overall accuracy of the map layer was determined to be 97% with a Kappa value of 82%.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Cogan, Dan; Schulz, Keith; Benitez, David; Kudray, Greg; Ainsworh, Alison
- Date of Issue
- 2011-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service, National Resource Stewardship and Science
- Units
- KAHO , NRSS , PACN
- Keywords
- Accuracy Assessment, Biota, International Vegetation Classification, National Park, National Park Service, National Vegetation Classification Standard, National Vegetation Classification System, NPS, NVCS, Plant Inventory Report, U.S. National Vegetation Classification, US Geological Survey, USA, USGS, USNVC, Vegetation, Vegetation Inventory, Vegetation Map, Vegetation Mapping Inventory
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex