Who do I contact? Reporting (Hawaii): M.I.S.C. / Maui Invasive Committee 1010 Holomua Rd. P.O. Box 186 Paia, HI 96779 (808) 278-6216 (p) Department of Land and Natural Resources 54 South High St. Wailuku, HI 96793 (808) 984-8100 General Information: H.E.A.R. / Hawaii Ecosystems At Risk http://www.hear.org (808) 572-4418

Landslide on a Miconia dominated mountainside in with young fruit Tahiti Other ideas for action: Œ Get more information in order to further educate yourself: request information from Spot the invader above contacts and investigate the web. Tip: start at www.hear.org and follow the links that Velvet , “Green Cancer” best fit your needs. Miconia calvescens T ell the appropriate authority • Create local partnerships to make community Description: members and businesses aware of the threats pose and the ways to stop • large, dark velvety with purple On-the-ground control them. undersides • three bold veins on leaves, which can Ž Make use of the media. For example: write a grow to be 3 feet long rotect your natural heritage letter to the editor of your local newspaper, P educating others about the invasive species in • young looks like a bush, but your area and calling for action. mature tree can grow to 50 feet • has flower stalks that produce tiny • Contact your local, regional and national “ It is the one plant that could really destroy purple fruits, each containing representatives and urge them to support the native Hawaiian forest.” funding for containment and eradication hundreds of seeds - Dr. Raymond Fosberg, 1971 projects. Smithsonian Institution Miconia: “likely the worst weed in the (after seeing what Miconia Pacific Islands” was doing to forests in Tahiti) -Pat Bily, The Nature Conservancy Where did Miconia come from? and increase the likelihood of landslides, What is being done? Miconia calvescens is one of about 1000 because of Miconia’s because of Miconia’s þ named a noxious weed in Tahiti (1990), species in the genus Miconia in the New shallow root system. Hawaii (1992) World Tropics. It is found in mountain Aggressive programs of manual and chemical þ aerial treatment of mature to prevent forests from southern Mexico, south to control of Miconia are underway on the French northern Argentina. Because of its Polynesian island of Raiatea and on the fruit set attractive leaves, it has been cultivated in Hawaiian islands of Maui and Hawaii. Spread þ development of road and trail access control European and Asian botanical gardens to additional high islands in the Pacific must by ground crews since about 1850. Introduced to Tahiti in be prevented. Biological control by natural 1937, it had come to dominate Tahitian enemies from Miconia’s native habitat may þ research in Tahiti, Hawaii, including forests by the 1980s, serving as a warning provide the ultimate solution, but this solution biocontrol research to other tropical islands. Unfortunately it is not yet even on the horizon. For now, reached Hawaii with little fanfare about vigilance and aggressive, community-based þ community outreach and education 1960, and is now found on four Hawaiian rapid response provide the only effective islands – Hawai’i, Maui, O’ahu, and Kaua’i. remedy. What can I do? What is it doing now? PRIORITY #1: IDENTIFY MICONIA Miconia has overwhelmed Tahiti and now = destroys PRIORITY #2: REPORT YOUR INFESTATION dominates the forest canopy in thick stands native PRIORITY #3: AVOID SPREADING MICONIA over 65% of that island. About 50 of the ecosystems 107 endemic plant species of Tahiti are on Thoroughly clean all equipment, clothing and the verge of , primarily because = eliminates footwear before leaving the infested area. of elimination by the dense shade under all other life Never dump miconia or parts in an Miconia stands. Tahiti’s rain forests are uninfested area. similar to those of Hawai’i, Samoa, Tonga, = interferes PRIORITY #4: CONTROL MICONIA ON YOUR the Marquesas, and other high Pacific with PROPERTY Islands. Tahiti’s fate could be ours if we do agriculture not put a STOP to Miconia. Seedlings or saplings can be pulled by hand. Hang them away from soil and moist surfaces, In French Polynesia, this invader has they must dry out completely to die. already spread from Tahiti to at least five other islands, aided by transport of Why should I be concerned? If a tree cannot be uprooted, cut shallow notches 1/2 inch deep, completely around the construction equipment or on shoes of Miconia: forms dense thickets that block humans. Whereas, Miconia has been nearly trunk and not more than 1ft. off the ground. sunlight from reaching the ground, shading out eradicated on the Hawaiian islands of Then spray Ortho-Brush-Be-Gon® until the all other vegetation. Kaua’i and O’ahu, it is more widespread on notches are completely wet. After 2 months, Maui and much more widespread on the Big Miconia: eliminates all other forms of life under the plant should be dead. If not, repeat the Island of Hawai’i. these dense thickets. process. Miconia not only crowds out island species Miconia: creates a bare understory under its Flowering trees require immediate treatment. Stopping seed dispersal and production is key of plants and animals, but degrades crucial dense canopies that can degrade watersheds to controlling the infestation. Surveillance is watersheds by shading out the lush forest through erosion. understory which protects against soil critical. Revist every treated site at 6 month erosion and serves as a sponge to allow Miconia: produces millions of seeds in a year, intervals to remove seedlings, because the for slow release of runoff. Its growth can that are carried by and humans to other seeds could be viable for up to 6 years in the also damage water management structures locations. soil.