1. Methods
Background
Russell Auwae, Miami University: Institute for the Environment and Sustainability
Reconstructing native Hawaiian tree ranges based on soil characteristics
• Search the soil growth requirements of ohia and koa
• Select by location soils in Waianae and Honolulu
• Erase areas that overlap with wetlands and ponds
• Reclassify favorable soils for ohia and koa in Waianae and Honolulu
• Overlay potential tree ranges on current land use/land cover
• Forests on Oahu are worth ~$14 billion for timber production and water quality and quantity
• Waianae receives ~35 inches of precipitation annually
• Honolulu area receives ~37-96 inches of precipitation annually
• Both areas are on the leeward side of the mountain ranges
• Honolulu is an urban center and has a population of ~990,000
• Waianae is a rural area and has a population of ~45,000
• Ohia (Metrosideros polymorph) and koa (Acacia koa) both require well-drained soils, full
sunlight, cinder/organic/clay loam, and 0-100 inches of precipitation
• Both tree species are important for timber production, cultural practices, and ecosystem health
Hawaii Statewide GIS Program, 2015, GIS Data, http://planning.hawaii.gov/gis/download-gis-data/ Accessed: 26 Feb 2015.
Native Plants Hawaii, 2015, plant profiles, http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu Accessed: 3 May 2015.
NOAA: Office of Coastal Management, 2005, Digital Coast, http://coast.noaa.gov/dataregistry/search/collection Accessed:3 May 2015.
USDA: NRCS, 2015, Web Soil Survey, http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm Accessed: 26 Feb 2015.
Location # Soil Series Most Common
Waianae 52 LPE, rSY; silty clay loam
Honolulu 62 FL, rRK; mixed rock lands
Soil characteristics
have the potential to
determine native tree
ranges and guide
restoration efforts.