Miconia calvescens Management Plan for the Big Island

Big Island Invasive Species Committee

Miconia calvescens is Hawaii's most threatening weed. Introduced as an ornamental from Central America in 1959 because of its large attractive maroon and green leaves, this invasive tree has started to spread aggressively in the Hawaiian Islands, including the Big Island. Declared a noxious weed in 1992, its broad ecological amplitude and ability to form dense, single-species stands indicate that it will invade and dominate a variety of forests, impoverish forest biodiversity, threaten habitat for threatened and endangered species, and lead to major changes in ecosystem processes. Our goal is to eradicate Miconia using mechanical and chemical means from as many sites on the Island of Hawaii as possible and to integrate these efforts with a biological control program. To achieve this goal, Operation Miconia intends to treat all satellite populations, establish Miconiafree buffers around all treated populations, survey all potentially infested lands, and monitor/retreat all previously treated areas bi-annually for up to 10 years. This management plan provides an overview of Operation Miconia's control strategy and methods. Annual work plans, containing the specific details and schedule of the work to be performed at each site, will supplement this plan.

Miconia calvescens Management Plan for the Big Island

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