The Tropical Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (TropHTIRC) is hosting the "Acacia koa in Hawaii: Facing the Future" Symposium 2016. The event will take place at the University of Hawaii Hilo, Campus Center, Room 301 (click here to view map) on October 5th, 2016 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, followed by a reception at the Hilo Yacht Club. The focus of the symposium is to convey the current state of scientific knowledge in management and ecology of koa with purpose of informing present and future management under a changing environment. This event will feature recent scientific and management advancement of koa.
Symposium Sponsorship
- Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests
- County of Hawaii Department of Research & Development
- DLNR/DOFAW
- Hawaii Forest Industry Association
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Tropical Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
- USDA Forest Service
Agenda:
Commercial forestry:
Theme format: Short presentations and/or panel discussion:
- Greg Hendrickson (Hokukano/Kealakekua Ranch): Conservation easements and selling of koa logs.
- Steve McMinn (Pacific Rim Tonewoods): Harvesting of planted koa: A case study from Haleakala Ranch.
- Jay Warner (Awapuhi Farms): Trends in securing and milling koa.
- J. B. Friday (University of Hawaii) Value of young growth koa and consumer preferences for koa color and figure.
Silviculture:
- Douglass Jacobs (Purdue University), Anthony Davis (Oregon State University), Kas Dumroese (USDA Forest Service), Diane Haase (USDA Forest Service), and Jeremy Pinto (USDA Forest Service): Applying the target plant concept for regeneration and restoration of koa.
- Bradley Kaufmann (University of Hawaii): Modifying Acacia koa root morphology in nursery culture to promote survival, establishment, and growth.
- James Leary (University of Hawaii), Jeremy Pinto (USDA Forest Service) and Anthony Davis (Oregon State University): Chemical site preparation and interactions with koa nursery stocktypes and edaphic conditions.
- Travis Idol (University of Hawaii), Paul Scowcroft (USDA Forest Service-retired), and J.B. Friday (University of Hawaii): Stand management of koa: Thinning and fertilization.
- Nick Koch (Forest Solutions): An integrated program for koa plantation establishment (mechanical, chemical, fertilization, pruning, thinning)
Tree improvement:
- Richard Sniezko (USDA Forest Service), Nick Dudley (Hawaii Agriculture Research Center), Tyler Jones (Hawaii Agriculture Research Center): Breeding wilt resistance in koa.
- Christina Linag (USDA Forest Service), Jessica Wright (USDA Forest Service), Nick Dudley (Hawaii Agriculture Research Center): Koa seed zones: What do we know? What do we need to know?
- Carrie Pike (USDA Forest Service) and Oriana Rueda Krauss (University of Hawaii): Designing a long-term tree improvement program for koa.
Ecology and ecophysiology:
- Kyle Earnshaw (Purdue University): Adaptive significance of changes from true leaves to phyllodes in koa.
- Benjamin Sleeter (U.S. Geological Suvery): State and Transition Simulation Moled (ST_SIM).
- Paul Selmants (USDA Forest Service) Jim Jacobi (USGS), Clay Trauernicht (University of Hawaii), JB Friday (University of Hawaii): Current / potential landscape distribution of koa and associated carbon dynamics.
- Rick Camp (UH Hilo) and Eben Paxton (USGS): Forest restoration for wildlife: Acacia koa in Hawaii.
Evening Reception: Wednesday, October 5th from 4 pm. Heavy pupu and beverages at the Hilo Yacht Club. Max. 80 people.
