DLNR News Release: NEW DASHBOARD PUTS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS ON THE MAP
Published on April 26, 2022, in Latest Department News, Newsroom
(Honolulu) – Who takes care of the landscapes and seascapes across Hawaii? What overlaps and where are the gaps between stewardship projects? The Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program, a DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife program, announces the launch of an interactive Stewardship Mapping and Assessment project (STEW-MAP).
STEWMAP maps the diverse ranges of stewardship organizations working across the landscape. An interactive map and dashboards show who stewards this area, their primary methods of care, site and group types, as well as the services they provide. Interactive network diagrams show how stewardship organizations are connected in a larger network. STEWMAP was created and supported by USDA Forest Service, Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program and University of Hawaii at Mnoa.
“We are pleased to collaborate with the State of Hawaii and their partners on stewardship mapping. The project teams have demonstrated how this approach can be used to support aims of equitable and inclusive community forestry,” said Lindsay Campbell, Research Social Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.
STEWMAP Hawaii currently encompasses two geographic focal areas. Oahu (Kona (Koolaupoko) districts) and Hawaii Island (North Kona (South Kohala district). The project team surveyed stewardship groups and mapped their networks in order to improve capacity. 245 groups were surveyed. They included 2000 volunteers, 4833 staff and well over $143 million in annual budgets. These groups also identified over 1000 unique collaborators in environmental stewardship work.
Our community is rich in environmental stewards! Heather McMillen, Forester with DOFAW and affiliate faculty member at University of Hawaii Mnoa, said that the community of environmental stewards is profound. These online tools highlight sometimes hidden but extremely valuable work of community members caring for the lands and waters of Hawaii.
Survey results show a wide range of stewardship efforts, from managing a single garden to managing entire coastlines or forest reserves. The project also revealed a wide range of projects, from local to international land- and seascapes.
Rachel Dacks is a STEWMAP Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Hawaii, Mnoa and lead researcher. The goal of environmental stewardship is to support holistic community well being as well as environmental health.
Users interested in STEWMAP may attend a Facebook Live demonstration of how to use it on Monday May 2, 2022 at 1:30pm on the Kaulunani Facebook.
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RESOURCES
(All images courtesy DLNR).
STEW-MAP website: https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/STEW-MAP/
Kaulunani Facebook page (for May 2 livestreams): https://www.facebook.com/Kaulunani
Website of the Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Program
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/lap/kaulunani/
Photographs (including STEWMAP’s web interface):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/41nblky5sgh3l08/AACK9l6OwoOn7qHVkuaJ7RKVa?dl=0
Technical report STEWMAP: https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/STEW-MAP/oahu/pubs/
Media contact:
AJ McWhorter
Communications Specialist
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
[email protected]
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)