Tools for Rare Plant Conservation

Collection

Successful collection of rare plant propagules requires an assortment of equipment.

Whirl Pak bags used for collecting and organizing fruit and seeds.

Organza bags are excellent for protecting flowers and maturing fruit while allowing great ventilation.

A retractable blush brush was found to be the best tool for pollinating silverswords.

How do we collect fruit from way up high?

We often use a fiberglass telescoping pole with a hook on the end. It's also great for attaching a GoPro or similar camera to reach up high to look for plants, flowers, and fruit.

Footwear

In addition to sturdy hiking boots, specialized footwear is needed to navigate the streams and slick slopes of the Hawaiian Islands.

Spiked tabis

kahtoola micorspikes or similar to increase traction and grip on muddy slopes.

Outplanting

In some cases, a child's wagon works great to transport outplants to the site.

Action Packer with plants strapped to a hunting frame pack allows for easier transport through the forest.

Pin flags and plant tags are used to mark the location and ID of each outplant.

Monitoring

PEPP staff carry a variety of tools and instruments. Some are to assist in the collection of propagules while others are used to record information about the plants and surrounding habitat.

Digital cameras are used to document the health of plants, their threats and their developing flowers and fruit.

Game cameras connected to a cellular network are able to send daily photos of developing flowers and fruit of plants in remote locations. This allows PEPP staff to efficiently schedule visits to the plants, which often require helicopter transport.

Protection

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Taller fences are built in areas with deer and sheep, which can jump over shorter fences used typically for feral pigs.

Small cages and fences protect plants until a larger fence is built and the habitat is free of larger animals such as pigs, goats, sheep, deer and cattle. Rodents, slugs and smaller pests will remain so PEPP continues monitoring and controlling threats.

Goodnature A24 rat trap is a useful tool to control rodents that eat plants and fruit.

Fence material and tools must be flown in by helicopter and dropped in strategic locations.

An "X" created by bright flagging tape makes a clear target for the helicopter pilot to lower the load of fence material.