Q&A:  Fallow Agricultural Lands with Non-Native Grasses Are Hawai’i’s Tinder Box | The Daily Yonder

Wildfires in Lāhainā, Maui: A Changing Firescape in Hawai’i

On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a devastating wildfire broke out in the historic town of Lāhainā on Maui, Hawai’i, resulting in the loss of over 100 lives. The death toll continues to rise.

Fire scientists attribute the severity of the wildfire to a combination of factors, including climate change-induced warmer and drier conditions, the proliferation of invasive plant species, and an increase in human activities that can spark fires.

An Interview with Creighton Litton

The Daily Yonder recently spoke with Creighton Litton, a professor of forest ecology and management at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, about the changing firescape of Hawai’i, the communities most at risk, and the necessary policy responses at the local and state levels.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

The Role of Fire in Hawai’i’s Ecosystem

Claire Carlson, Daily Yonder: Can you talk about the role of fire in Hawai’i’s ecosystem historically?

Creighton Litton: Wildfires are a natural disturbance in terrestrial ecosystems, including Hawai’i. They have been occurring in the Hawaiian Islands long before humans arrived.

When considering natural disturbances like wildfires, it is important to understand their details, such as the ecosystems in which they occur, their intensity, and their frequency. The mean fire return interval, which refers to the average time it takes for fire to return to the same place in a given ecosystem type, is a crucial factor to consider.

Prior to human habitation, wildfires in wetter ecosystems in Hawai’i occurred infrequently, with a mean fire return interval of 700 to 1,000 years. In drier areas, such as native montane grassland shrublands, wildfires likely occurred more frequently, possibly every couple of decades.

Key points to note are that fire is a natural disturbance in Hawai’i, but it would have occurred infrequently. Additionally, wildfires would have been relatively small in scale and would not have burned vast areas due to the limited presence of fine fuels, such as grasses.

The Lāhainā Fire and Historical Fire Regimes

Daily Yonder: In West Maui, where the Lāhainā fire occurred, would it have been more common to see fires within a couple of decades?

Litton: Lāhainā is located on the leeward side of the island, which naturally experiences dry conditions. While the historical fire regime in low elevation coastal areas like Lāhainā is not well-documented, it is likely that these areas had fewer occurrences of dry lightning, which is a common ignition source for wildfires in other fire-prone regions.

Prior to human presence, wildfires in Hawai’i were primarily ignited by lava and lightning. Lava-induced fires were infrequent and limited to younger volcanic islands. Lightning-induced fires were less common in Hawai’i compared to fire-prone areas on the mainland United States due to the lower occurrence of dry lightning without accompanying rain.

Today, over 95% of wildfires in Hawai’i are ignited by human activities, such as discarded cigarettes or catalytic converters igniting dry fuels along roadways. While lightning-induced fires do occur, their frequency is relatively low.

Communities at Risk and Human Ignition Sources

Daily Yonder: Which communities are most at risk of wildfires in Hawai’i?

Litton: The majority of wildfires in Hawai’i start in non-native grasslands, particularly in areas with abandoned agricultural land. These fallow lands have high fuel loads and pose a significant risk to surrounding communities.

Rural communities are generally more vulnerable to wildfires due to limited resources for fire response. However, the recent fire in Lāhainā demonstrates that urban areas near abandoned agricultural lands can also be at risk.

Efforts to mitigate wildfire risks should focus on reducing fuel loads through techniques such as weeding grasses and using herbicides to prevent their growth. Additionally, implementing green breaks with species adapted to the area can help slow down or control fires.

Importance of Resource Allocation and Biodiversity Conservation

Daily Yonder: What improvements can be made in responding to wildfires in Hawai’i?

Litton: It is crucial for the state and counties to allocate more resources, both financial and personnel, to wildfire prevention and management. Since human activities are the primary ignition sources for wildfires in Hawai’i, addressing this human problem is essential.

Investing in wildfire prevention and management not only protects communities but also preserves native species and ecosystems. The loss of native species in Hawai’i contributes to the global biodiversity crisis, as many of these species are found nowhere else.

Understanding the scale of the wildfire problem and allocating appropriate resources are key takeaways from the Lāhainā fire. By prioritizing wildfire prevention and management, the negative impacts on communities and biodiversity can be significantly reduced.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the role of climate change in creating ideal conditions for devastating wildfires. It highlights the warmer and drier conditions propelled by climate change as one of the factors contributing to the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The article also addresses the impact of wildfires on land and ecosystems. It mentions the spread of invasive plant species and the expansion of non-native grasslands due to abandoned agricultural land, which have detrimental effects on native species and ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters

The article emphasizes the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters like wildfires. It discusses the changing firescape in Hawaii due to climate change and highlights the importance of policy responses to address these risks.

Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests

The article mentions the importance of sustainable forest management in mitigating the impact of wildfires. It discusses how abandoned agricultural land has been taken over by non-native grasslands, which contribute to the spread of wildfires.

Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats

The article highlights the negative impact of wildfires on native species and ecosystems. It mentions the need to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, particularly in areas surrounded by fallow abandoned agricultural lands with high fuel loads.

Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounts

The article emphasizes the importance of integrating ecosystem and biodiversity values into planning and development processes to mitigate the negative impacts of wildfires. It mentions the need for green breaks and managed ecosystems that are less likely to burn.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, some indicators can be inferred based on the information provided:

– Indicator 13.1.2: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population can be used to measure progress towards Target 13.1.

– Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.2.

– Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index, which measures the extinction risk of species, can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.5.

– Indicator 15.9.1: Progress towards national targets established in accordance with Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.9.

These indicators would provide insights into the effectiveness of policies and actions taken to address climate-related disasters and reduce the degradation of natural habitats.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: dailyyonder.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.