CONSERVATION WATCH

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E G A R D E N C L U B O F A M E R I C A

VOLUME XXI, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2011-2012

IN THIS ISSUE:
THE ANCIENT HAWAIIANSAPPROACH TO CONSERVATION JAPANS TSUNAMI AND MARINE DEBRIS HAWAIIS CLEAN ENERGY IMPERATIVE CLIMATE CHANGE AND RISING SEA LEVELS IN HAWAII AN UPDATE ON GMOS AND MORE....

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"STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN ON ISLANDS"

BY SARAH YOUNG Broadmoor G.C. (Zone XII) Vice Chairman, GCA National Affairs and Legislation, Agriculture

Wise teachers not only present information, give historical perspective and explain issues, but they create opportunities for their students to experience different realities for themselves. Thus it was that our thoughtful hosts from the Garden Club of Honolulu, led by Heidi Ho Conjugacion,

helped us to understand the profound transformation that Western society has brought to the Hawaiian islands. We started our visit in the glass and concrete landscapes of Oahu, observing impermeable paved streets and parking lots as well as concrete canals which too quickly channel water from the mountains to the sea. Then, we left Honolulu and headed for the windward side of the island. It seemed that our bus traveled back in time to the lush, green, tree and grass covered landscapes of Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh and Kualoa Ranch. We saw an ancient temple (or heiau) and flooded taro fields. Our guides chanted the traditional chants, asking permission for our visit, showing respect for the place, transporting us to an ancient time to learn lessons for our future. We visited Honolulu Harbor and Hanuama Bay, and followed the ancient path from Mauka to Makai, studying national conservation issues that have particular resonance in the islands of Hawaii: ocean protection, sea level rise, and the challenge of alternative energy; food safety, fisheries, GMOs, and organics; tissue culture for seed propagation, rough terrain botany and the scourge of invasive species in the enclosed ecosystem of an island chain. It is said in evolutionary terms that "strange things happen on islands", for members of the Conservation and NAL committees on the 2011 GCA field study trip, strange meant extraordinary.
HEIDI HO AND PONO AT IOLANI PALACE Photo by Elva Busch

GCA MEMBERS FALL STUDY TRIP 2011 OAHU Photo by Pat Wall

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THE ANCIENT HAWAIIANS APPROACH TO CONSERVATION

BY MARSHA MERRELL James River Garden Club (AL) Vice Chair, GCA Conservation Committee, National Parks and Public Lands

Between a thousand and 1200 years ago, early Hawaiian society operated by a set of rules or laws called kapu. This complex religious, governmental and cultural system reflected the harmonious relationship between the Hawaiians and the natural world.

There were four groups into which society was separated: 1. 2. 3. 4. Alii, higher and lesser chiefs who ruled specific territories. They governed with divine power Kahuna, priests who conducted religious ceremonies and were advisors to the alii and profesMakaainana, commoners who were involved with agriculture, food preparation and other Kuwa, who may have been war captives. They were considered outcasts and often used as hucalled mana. The highest chiefs, alii kapu, were considered gods. sionals, such as carpenters, healers, genealogists, and boat builders. daily tasks for the good of the society. man sacrifices.

ULUPO HEIAU Photo by Candace C. Lyche

The kapu systems was derived from the religious beliefs and traditions of the people. The four main gods were Ku (God of War), Kane (God of Light and Life), Lono (God of Agriculture), and Kanaloa (God of the Ocean). There were many lesser gods and the equivalent of guardian angels. Since Early Hawaiians depended on nature for everything, the kapu system reflected a reverence and respect for the natural world. The kapu system is one of the earliest examples of environmental

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protectionism. At the heart of the system was the ahupuaa (an ecosystem) that was triangular in shape. It extended from the top of the mountain to the sea. Every island was divided into many ahupuaa and the segments were usually defined by river valleys. Each ahupuaa had all of the resources needed for life. The sea provided fish, a river for irrigation, drinking water and other uses; the uplands had lumber used for building. Agriculture was developed in each ahupuaa, usually at the foot of the mountain. As populations grew, villages developed and so did trade. The kapu system defined actions that were appropriate for people of different ranks. Commoners farmed, fished, and provided most of the needs of the society. They supported themselves and the chiefs and kahuna. The alii could forbid people from eating or using certain plants, animals, or other resources. Restrictions could be for certain times of the year. This was important to protect resources from over-exploitation. Heiau are sacred sites and places of worship where ceremonies and rituals were conducted. These structures were built using stones. The engineering abilities of the Hawaiians are evident in the stacking of rock to build these structures. No mortar was used. The heiau were a very important part of the religious and everyday life of Hawaiian society and fostered the power of kapu. Today these structures and areas not only represent amazing feats of an ancient civilization, but also an opportunity for "malama." Malama (care for) is a concept central to Hawaiian culture and values. The GCA Conservation Committee visited the Ulupo Heiau in the Kailua Bay region. Built around 1,000 years ago, it appears to be a luakini heiau (dedicated to the War God Ku). Today this place is treated with respect as a spiritual link to the past. Often, leis or other offerings are left to reflect this.

MEMBERS STANDING NEAR SACRED STONE PLATFORM OF THE ULUPO HEIAU Photo by Pat Wall

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While modern society coined the words "ecosystem" and "watershed," the concepts were clearly understood by the ancient Hawaiians. They realized that the mountaintop of their ahupuaa was very much connected to the basin of the bay. Fresh water that came from the top via watersheds provided fresh water needed for crops, health of the fish ponds miles below, and for sustenance. Tying religion, societal organization, and preservation of native ecosystems created an active stewardship of the Hawaiian Islands for thousands of years. Today the Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, a native Hawaiian conservation organization, works to ensure the preservation of native ecosystems and traditions through education, active stewardship, and research. This group, which is involved with many ecological restorations, is very careful to relate the spiritual nature as an important aspect of appreciating the ancient Hawaiians stewardship of the islands. The visitor to one of these sites receives a very fresh and holistic view of the term "restoration."

PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA: WHERE NATURE AND CULTURE MEET

BY JENNIFER FAIN Hancock Park G.C. (CA) Vice Chair, GCA Conservation and NAL Committees, Oceans

Papahanaumokuakea is the first mixed natural and cultural UNESCO World Heritage site in the United States. It was designated a Marine National Monument in June of 2006. The monument is a conservation area that encompasses the North-

western Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and is administered jointly by NOAA, the Department of the Interior and by the State of Hawaii. It includes approximately 140,000 square miles of Pacific Oceanan area larger than all of the U.S. national parks combined. We were fortunate to have Aulani Wilhelm, NWHI and NOAA monument superintendent, speak to us about Papahanaumokuakea. Its name (pronounced Papa-hah-nou-mo-koo-ah-kehah) comes from an ancient Hawaiian tradition concerning the genealogy and formation of the Hawaiian Islands. The area is significant as a sacred place where Native Hawaiians believe that life originated and where ancestral spirits will return after death. It is a place to connect to
PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA ENDANGERED MONK SEAL Cour tesy of Paphanaumokuakea.gov

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living cultural traditions and to pass to each generation the kuleana (right and responsibility) to sustain their ancestral beliefs. In the Hawaiian tradition there is a strong link between nature and culture. Papahanaumokuakea is the embodiment of that connection. It is a reminder and example to us all of our role as stewards to malama (care for) our natural and cultural resources.

PROPOSED NOMINATED AREA: PAPAHNAUMOKUKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT OVERVIEW Cour tesy of Paphanaumokuakea.gov

The natural attributes of Papahanaumokuakea are remarkable. The small islands, reefs and shoals of the area represent the clearest, and oldest example of island formation and atoll evolution in the world, spanning 28 million years. This most remote volcanic chain has helped our understanding of plate tectonics and hotspots. The deepest reaches of the area are 15,092 feet below sea level, and the highest is 902 feet above sea level. The habitats include abyssal depths, seamounts and submerged banks, two high eroded islands, pinnacles, atolls, coral reefs, lagoons, shoals, dunes, dry grasslands and shrublands, and a hypersaline lake. The monument is located about 3,000 miles from continental land masses, making it one of the most remote archipelagos in the world. The size of the Hawaiian Archipelago, as well as its isolation and distance between islands and atolls has led to very high rates of marine and terrestrial endemism (species found nowhere else in the world). Within Papahanaumokuakea, 60 percent of shallow-water fish species, 90 percent of deep-water fishes and about 40 percent of the corals are endemic.

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The near-pristine waters and reefs of Papahanaumokuakea provide habitat for many threatened and endangered species. It is one of the last apex predator-dominated coral reef ecosystems on the planet. On less than six square miles of land over 14 million seabirds, representing 22 species, breed and nest. Papahanaumokuakea appears to be a remarkably intact, pristine environment. Wilhelm raised the question, "Does pristine exist anymore?" Unfortunately, the answer is no. In spite of its isolated location, the monument habitats are threatened from human activities beyond its boundaries. Climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification, marine debris and the introduction of alien species on land represent the major problems. Every year, 50 tons of marine debris arrive in monument waters. On unpopulated beaches, television tubes, bottles, shoes and all kinds of plastic material can be found from countries surrounding the North Pacific. Wilhelm said they are apprehensive about the debris from the tsunami reaching the protected waters in the next few months. There are problems in paradise.

JAPANS TSUNAMI AND MARINE DEBRIS

BY DIANA FISH Carmel-by-the-Sea G.C. (CA) Zone XII Representative, GCA Conservation/NAL Committees

After the tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, debris from around Fukushima was swept into the ocean, clearly visible by satellite and aerial reconnaissance. The debris included parts of homes, boats, appliances, plastics and relics of human lives. After April 14, the debris dispersed, sank or broke into smaller

pieces. Current satellite imagery is unable to detect it. A computer model simulating ocean currents provides approximate predictions of where the trash may be headed, and there have been sightings by vessels such as the Russian sailing ship STS Pallada (September 2011), whose crew were aware of the computer projections. Near Midway, en route to Vladivostok, the Pallada came upon a Fukushimaregistered boat along with other buoyant objectsa TV set, refrigerator, and various home appliancesand continued
NOAA'S OSCURS MODEL PLOTS ROUTES OF TSUNAMI TRASH IN YEAR 1 (RED); YEAR 2 (ORANGE); YEAR 3 (YELLOW); YEAR 4 = LIGHT BLUE; AND YEAR 5 (VIOLET). Cour tesy of J. Churnside, NOAA

to find trash along the trajectory of the computer model. The crew measured the 20-foot

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Japanese boat for radioactivity, but found none. (NOAA officials such as Carey Morishige maintain it is highly unlikely any tsunami debris is radioactive since the debris was washed into the sea before radioactive releases occurred at the Fukushima reactors.) Although there are many variables and uncertainties, the debris is forecast to hit Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) this winter and then continue on towards the West Coast in 2013 and circle back towards the main Hawaiian Islands in 20142016. The precise direction, rate of drift and location of the debris in real time cannot be pinpointed. Possibly certain debris, like plastics or fiberglass hulls, may travel faster by wind than currents and so arrive sooner than expected. There are reports that some flotsam already has reached beaches in Washington. However, it also may be hard to distinguish tsunami debris from the general trash of the Western and Eastern Garbage Patchesvast stretches of moving debris and micro-particles circulating in the Pacific Ocean. The tsunami debris poses a threat to vessels at sea and to marine and coastal ecosystems. Fishing,
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE TSUNAMI OPERATION TOMODACHI Photo cour tesy of Timog

JAPANESE TSUNAMI DEBRIS ON THE OPEN OCEAN Photo cour tesy of Timog

tourism and local economies could be affected, and there is a potential risk to public health from hazardous materials and from personal injury by wave-borne objects. A serious concern for Papahanaumokuakea is that trash could damage coral reefs and injure marine mammals, birds, and critically endangered species such as the Hawaiian monk seal. Sea life can become entangled in fishing gear and

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discarded items and mistakenly ingest plastics as food. Nets can snarl and smother delicate coral polyps and reef species. There is a potential for invasive species to hitchhike on debris and colonize new areas. Since these mostly uninhabited islands, atolls, and reefs extend over 1200 miles from the main Hawaian islandsa distance greater than that of Seattle to San Diegoit is logistically difficult to intercept marine debris and challenging and complicated to remove it properly. The Ocean Conservancy notes, that "while the tsunami debris is the latest high-profile case of ocean debris, it is just a small part of the overall ocean trash problem. A tsunami's worth of ocean trash is created every year simply by the things we buy, use and throw away."1 The organization suggests a few basic ways to prevent marine pollution: reduce the use of one-time disposable items like cups, bottles, and straws; pick up litter; participate in a beach/waterway or area cleanup; and support legislation to deal with marine debris. If you live along the West Coast or Hawaii or are on a vessel in the North Pacific, you also can participate in a NOAA monitoring program by reporting marine debris.2
1 http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/marine-debris/tsunami-debris-what-you-need.html 2 mdsightings@gmail.com

KAWAINUI MARSH - ANCIENT HAWAIIANS UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF CLEAN AND PLENTIFUL WATER
BY RUTH FLOURNOY River Oaks Garden Club (TX) Zone IX Vice Chairman, GCA Conservation Water and Wetlands

Native Hawaiians believe their people and their native ecosystems are interconnected and that their natural resources, particularly water, are essential to their culture and spirituality. Ancient Hawaiians created a sustainable system for

food production that supported a large population of people and wildlife. They engineered diversions to use the water from the streams that ran from the rain-saturated mountain peaks to irrigate terraced taro fields. They then diverted the nutrient-rich water to the fishponds they built below that provided not only food for their people but permanent wetlands for water birds. They planted sweet potatoes and bananas on the slopes. They built religious temples to celebrate these places that delivered the bounty that nourished them. Our committee visited Kawainui Marsh, Hawaiis largest remaining freshwater marsh. The place shelters what remains of an ancient 450-acre fishpond, terraced taro fields, and

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MEMBERS HIKE KAWAINUI MARSH Photo by Sue Klein

a religious monument consisting of a massive stacked stone platform and altar. Visitors today see that this was, and still is, a sacred place, although it no longer supports the rich ecosystem that it once did. In the mid-1700s, the Europeans arrived with different ideas about agriculture and native ecosystems. They diverted huge amounts of water to grow sugar cane and pineapples. The Chinese followed in the 1800s, destroying many taro fields to cultivate rice. The taro fields dried up and sediments from the eroding land filled up the fishponds. In more recent times, many of the ancient fishponds have been drained for development. Over time, Kawainui evolved into a marsh with a floating mat of vegetation and very little open water. The watershed suffered as invasive plants supplanted the endemic and indigenous1 species. But a new sense of stewardship was developing. In the early 1990s, a small group of native Hawaiians formed Hawaiians for the Conservation of Native Ecosystems "to develop, promote, and practice a native Hawaiian conservation ethic, grounded in ancient tradition but relevant to our times, that is responsible to both Hawaiian culture and science, in order to protect Hawaiis native cultural and natural heritage through research, education, and active stewardship." In 1994, a master plan was developed for Kawainui Marsh to preserve and restore this natural ecosystem and the cultural monuments that are part of it. The plans include a visitor center for education about the valuable cultural and natural
1 "Endemic" refers to organisms that are native and found only in a particular area like the Hawaiian Islands, while "indigenous" refers to organisms that are native not only in Hawaii but also in other places. "Canoe" plants are also important to Hawaiians. These were carried by the ancient Hawaiians from Polynesia to the Hawaiian Islands.

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resources of this area. Numerous organizations, including the Hawaii Audubon Society, an historical society and a local civic club continue to collaborate on this effort. Their work was recognized in 2005, when the Kawainui Marsh received the prestigious designation of a Wetland of International Importance. This designation, the 22nd in the U.S., creates economic benefit by stimulating tourism, fishing and other recreation. It has encouraged the restoration of this large wetland and surrounding areas, which provide such ecological services as the nesting areas for four endangered endemic birds. More support arrived in the form of funding when, on July 29, 2011, the Hawaii Department of Land And Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement to implement part of the earlier master plan to help restore the wildlife habitat of Kawainui Marsh at a cost of $4 to 6 million, with the federal government paying 75% of the expenses. These funds have been welcomed by the many people who have been working to protect this ecological and historical wonder. Members of the Honolulu Garden Club allowed our committee to participate in a small part of this restoration effort by planting endemic and indigenous plants on the steep slopes above the marsh. Much work remains to be done. Earthjustice attorney, Isaac Moriwake, sums up much of what we learned when we visited Kawainui by explaining that restoration projects are "preserving and conserving the resource so that we still have it for decades down the line and for future generations We live on an island and we have no other source of water other than what weve got right here. And in that sense we in Hawaii are kind of a microcosm of what our entire world is facing towards water scarcity."
PLANTING NATIVES AT KAWAINUI MARSH RUTH FLOURNOY, ANNE LYMAN AND LINDA JAMES Photo by Sue Klein

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AQUACULTURE, OLD AND NEW

BY SARAH YOUNG Broadmoor G.C. (Zone XII) Vice Chairman, GCA National Affairs and Legislation, Agriculture

The Conservation study group in Hawaii learned about aquaculture as an ancient technology, but also about cutting edge scientific research on modern aquaculture and its impact on the environment. On

our outing to the windward side of the island and the beautiful Kualoa Ranch we saw some of the few remaining walled fishponds built by Ancient Hawaiians, called loko i a. The Molii fishpond is one of the largest in Hawaii, at over 125 acres with a depth that ranges from 4 to 30 feet. It is one of the few ancient, royal fishponds still in operation today, raising Moi (threadfish), amaama (mullet) and awa (milkfish). We learned how these fish ponds helped sustain Hawaiians when shoreline fishing was insufficient due to weather and surf, and how the ponds served to slow fresh water running from the mountains to the sea, allowing more water to be absorbed into the soil and recharging the important fresh water aquifers. Dr. Charles Laidley, Director of the Finfish Program at the Oceanic Institute, explained the importance of modern aquaculture for our food system. While seafood is touted as a healthy part of our diet and worldwide demand for seafood is strong, the productivity of wild seafood fisheries is now maxed out. Fish farming, or aquaculture, is needed to fill the demand, and in 2010 aquaculture produced more than wild fisheries for the first time ever.
SLUICE GATE AND ROCK WALL ANCIENT FISH POND Photo by Elva Busch

Globally, fish provides about 2.9 billion people with almost 20% of their av-

erage per capita intake of animal protein. From a production of less than 1 million tons per year in the early 1950s, aquaculture production has grown annually at an average rate of 6.1%, reaching 55.7 million tons in 2009. But that is not enough: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) projects that global aquaculture production will need to reach 80 million tons by 2050 in order to merely maintain current levels of per capita consumption. However, expansion of U.S. aquaculture is not keeping up with the rest of the world.

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There are several environmental concerns associated with modern aquaculture, and efforts to address those concerns while increasing production have led to fishery models that include growout in open ocean cages. While working to create a model for sustainable aquaculture, Dr. Laidley described several concerns, including the accidental release of non-native fish into the marine environment. In the Finfish program they use only native fish, eliminating that problem. There is also concern about the effect of captive stocks on the genetics of the wild fish populations. To reduce that problem, new stock is brought in annually, and genetic monitoring of all fish stock is continuous. Some pollution of the marine environment is inevitable, but the Institute monitors water quality around their open ocean cages to obtain reliable data about the extent of the pollution. In the studies undertaken by the Finfish program, no measurable pollution exists one hundred feet away from the cages in a horizontal direction, but there is some debris that falls below the cages. As a result of those studies, cages are sited carefully to avoid sensitive areas and moved every year to minimize impact in a single ocean location. Transfer of diseases to natural populations is still the biggest issue with open ocean fish farms. According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, "Where salmon farms are located near the migration routes of young wild salmon, parasites may infect and kill up to 80 percent of the wild fish. Pesticides and antibiotics used to control diseases and parasites can also leak into the environment, impacting local species." The most effective way to ensure that this does not happen is to use closed, inland fish farms. It is also important to locate these farms away from sensitive habitats where fish feed and breed. For their fisheries and stock enhancement projects, the Oceanic Institute uses 8,000 gallon tanks. They currently breed Pacific threadfish, among others. (There are many fisheries for cold water fish such as trout, but there were no fisheries for warm water fish before the Oceanic Institute established theirs.) Fish are collected from the wild with seine nets and quarantined until they grow up to be brood stock. In captivity, the fish spawn 8-10 days after each full moon. In the wild, they only spawn in the summer. Eggs are collected every day. In the tanks, the young fish are fed high quality food. They live
OPEN OCEAN CAGE WITH PACIFIC THREADFIN Cour tesy of oar.noaa.gov

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in a planktonic environment and become small fish in 3-8 weeks and are then released into a growout system. According to Dr. Laidley, current onshore tank systems are not very economically viable at this point. As with other kinds of agriculture, fish farms can provide much needed food for a growing world population, but they must be planned thoughtfully to avoid significant negative impacts on wild fish populations and marine ecosystems. The work at the Oceanic Institute to develop "green" aquaculture technologies will provide much needed information to be used in planning and regulating the future of aquaculture.

AN UPDATE ON GMOS
BY JOAN MURPHY Columbine Garden Club (AZ) Advisor, GCA National Affairs and Legislation Committee

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)(GMs) are plants or animals the genes of which have been modified through genetic engineering to enhance desired traits, such as an increase in yield or a resistance to herbicides, insects, diseases, drought or cold conditions.

These traits are transferred from one entity to another. GMO seeds have been available for 15 years and currently constitute 10% of the worlds agricultural acreage consisting mostly of commodity crops such as soybeans (95%) and corn (65%).
THE VALUE OF GMOS

Many farmers applaud the technology. Bt corn is an example. The seed is genetically altered to express the Bt toxin, which is poisonous to insect pests, making it possible to apply herbicides for weeds and insects without harming the corn. This means fewer chemical pesticides needed and less toxic runoff poisoning the water supply. Production costs for the grower are reduced and yields have increased substantially an important benefit as population numbers escalate. In Hawaii, ringspot virus was decimating papaya crops. A GM papaya was developed that resisted the virus and 75% of papaya sold there now are GM strains. A strain of "golden rice" is being developed with vitamin A imbedded in it, which serves as a protection against blindness in underdeveloped countries. GM salmon mature much faster than native salmon. A recent USDA grant will study ways to make them sterile to prevent them from breeding with wild salmon. Poplar trees have been genetically engineered to remove heavy metal pollution from contaminated soils.

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HAWAII'S RAINBOW PAPAYA GENETICALLY MODIFIED TO RESIST THE RINGSPOT VIRUS. Photo at hciaonline.com

CONCERNS REGARDING GMOS

Environmental Hazards. The use of genetically modified seeds continues to be controversial. Farmers note that "superweeds" and corn rootworms are developing resistance to the effects of the genetically inserted toxins, necessitating the use of even more chemicals. These toxins affect both good and bad insects, with amphibians and beneficial insects crashing. Because of the potential for drift of seeds and cross-pollination, adjacent organic farms can be tainted. A California farmer won $1 million in damages when pesticides carried by fog caused the total loss of his organic herbs. A reduction in seed diversity could also make our future food supplies vulnerable. Health Risks. While some scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health, they are not regulated in the U.S. and many feel studies need to be done. It is possible that an allergic reaction could occur to the introduced gene. In spite of this lack of guidance, foods containing GMOs already fill supermarket shelves. Californias Department of Food and Agriculture estimates that 70% of highly processed foods have GM ingredients, without public awareness. These include cereals, vegetable oils, high fructose corn syrup and soybean additives. A coalition of 400 organizations recently petitioned the FDA to require labeling of GM foods. In addition, some farmers have observed decreased fertility in animals fed GM corn. The lack of knowledge regarding possible health effects concerns consumers and several countries prohibit the importation of GM crops from the U.S.

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Economic Concerns. Many of the GM seeds are patented, raising the price of seed and a threat of lawsuits if GM plants are found in fields of traditional crops. The financial burden on small farmers can be tremendous. The fact that the E.U. and other countries will not buy GM products means fewer markets. Japan purchased $15 million worth of papaya from Hawaii in 1996. Following the introduction of GM papaya, this amount was reduced to $1.2 million. Japan, however, recently agreed to import papaya again. Currently, three government agencies have jurisdiction over GM foods: the EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and the Food & Drug Administration. As more testing is done and regulations implemented, these could also mean additional costs for growers and consumers. With greater yields, genetically modified foods have the potential to solve much of the worlds hunger problems while preserving the environment using fewer chemical pesticides and herbicides. However, there are many challenges safety testing, government regulations, international policies, unforeseen environmental issues, a reduction in seed diversity, and labeling. The growers and the public must be able to make intelligent decisions regarding genetically modified foods. Stay tuned.

Global consolidation of the seed industry raises concerns about ownership, access and seed diversity. (Editor)

SEED INDUSTRY STRUCTURE Cour tesy of www.msu.edu

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ALIENS ON MAGICAL ISLANDS: A REPORT ON OUR CONSERVATION-NAL TRIP TO HAWAII IN 2012

BY JEANNE ARTHUR Memphis G.C. (TN) Zone IX Vice Chairman, GCA Conservation Committee, Endangered Species/Ecological Restoration

The Hawaiian Islands are a 1500-mile-long archipelago of eight large islands and over one hundred smaller islands that form a chain in the Pacific Ocean. Each island is at least 1800 miles in any direction from its nearest neighbor. The islands are exposed peaks of an undersea mountain range, the highest be-

ing 3.1 miles from the ocean floor. For over 70 million years, the plant and animal life on these islands remained isolated and developed in solitude, untouched by invasive species. Almost all of the original plants were not only indigenous but also endemic. Beginning about 400500 AD, waves of people from other lands began to arrive by boat. Polynesians, the first to arrive, were in search of more promising farm land. They frequently left their islands in groups of boats carrying enough people and diversity to found new settlements. With them they brought five or six plants, such as bananas and taro, to cultivate; and animals, such as pigs, dogs, and chickens, to raise. The first Europeans arrived in 1778 with Captain James Cook. They also brought with them animals and plants, adding to the increasing pressure being placed on the fragile environment of the oncetotally isolated islands. Missionaries and whalers followed, bringing mosquitoes, goats, and mangoes, as well as 344 new varieties of plants, 40 reptiles, and 20 insects. The plentiful forests were cleared and species dependent on forest habitat and food began to disappear. At the same time, one crop began to be grown on huge tracts of land instead of the more varied plantings of the original islanders. In becoming a mono-crop culture, even more species began to be threatened. Today almost all of the remaining endemic plants and animals are considered endangered. Over time, more than 10,000 new plants have been introduced to Hawaii. At least 200 of these are causing ecosystem damage. Hawaii is known as the "capital of extinctions".
BROWN TREE SNAKE ON PAPAYA SNAKES POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS Photo cour tesy of USDA/WS

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In one of the horror stories about Hawaiis efforts to control alien species, the mongoose was introduced in 1883 to control rats. The rats were rampant in cane fields and it was hoped the mongoose would dissipate them. The day-hunting mongoose was brought in to do away with nocturnal rats. Instead, since neither was awake when the other was active, the mongoose became a terrible predator of birds, reptiles, fruits, plants, and of eggs of certain sea turtles (now endangered), while the rat continued to thrive. Aggressive programs to save plants have been developed on the islands. Scientists at Lyon Arboretum are protecting against extinction in the wild by keeping plants alive in cultivation. The Lyon lab uses techniques that allow preservation of the original plant genotype through micro-propagation, seed storage, cloning by tip and tissue cuttings, and grow-out of these propagated specimens in the lab. The arboretum is able to propagate plants that are technically extinct: 13% of the lab plants are extinct in the wild but exist in the lab; 80% of 681 specimens in the lab represent species with less than 1000 living plants; and 224 plants are on the red list for endangered plants. Scientists hope to restore these specimens into the wild. Other active organizations are CGAPS (Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species), which tries to control entry into the state via boats and plants. The Hawaiian Rare Plant Restoration Group has the PEP Program to Protect Endangered Plants that are represented by 50 or fewer specimens in the wild. The Hawaiian Invasive Species Council (HISC) is active at the cabinet level; and the Invasive Species Committees (ISC) are active at the islands level. Unfortunately, few options effectively prevent the introduction of alien species. First class mail and Federal Express shipping are two frequent methods of entry. Hawaii has instituted laws and agreements and employs federal inspectors to identify exotics at points of entry, but funding for inspectors and inspection facilities continues to be an obstacle. The state has also created state lists of endangered species, but state and federals lists do not match. The best methods for control include eradicating the alien species or containing them regionally. Google for a more complete list of aliens: Hawaiian invasive species, invasive birds, or invasive algae. To read more about Christy Martins presentation go to: www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/docs/council/HISC%20Presentation.pdf

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ABLE TO LEAP TALL BUILDINGS IN A SINGLE BOUND? WELL.... ALMOST.

BY SUSAN OSBORNE Susan Osborne, Carmel-by-the-Sea G.C. (CA) Zone XII Former Vice Chairman, Partners for Plants

While the botanists who work for the Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEP) in Hawaii are not actually supermen and women, they do engage in perilous activities as they practice rough terrain botany. The specialized PEP botanists are trained in extreme hiking and camping

and have learned to repel down cliffs and often fly to remote areas in helicopters. Why do these botanists go to these extremes? They are finding Hawaii's most endangered plants in order to save them from extinction. Hawaii has one of the highest rates of endemism in the world (90% of Hawaii's native flora is found nowhere else), but it also has the highest number of plants on the endangered species list (42%). Often these native and endangered species have survived by growing in areas that are very difficult to reach. At the present time, there are 201 PEP species, defined as a species with 50 or fewer individual plants remaining in the wild; these treasured rare plants are the plants upon which the PEP Program is focused. By preserving wild PEP plants or "founders", genetic diversity is also preserved, which allows a species to remain healthy and better able to adapt to changing environmental conditions. PEP botanists collect seeds or cuttings for propagation; and may have to hike for miles to bring back the propagative material. Sometimes the fruit of certain PEP species must be enclosed in stockings to protect them until they are ready to harvest. After cuttings or seeds have been gathered, they are propagated as tissue cultures at the Lyon Arboretum micropropagation lab, stored as seeds at a seed storage lab, or sown at rare plant nurseries and cooperating botanical gardens throughout the State of Hawaii. Eventually, plants grown from the collected material will be returned to protected natural habitats to maintain their unique place in the native plant ecosystem. The propagated plants are eventually reintroduced to the area where the original parents were found so that genetic diversity may be maintained. If necessary, the young plants are protected from feral animals with the installation of fenced enclosures. In addition, traps are set for rats; and, invasive
STEVE PERLMAN COLLECTS OXALIS SIMPLICIFOLIA Photo Cour tesy of Plant Extinction Prevention Program

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plants are removed that would compete for nutrients, space, and light. Predation by snails is yet another serious problem for PEP species. A snail infestation around an endangered plant species requires careful monitoring and both chemical and barrier treatments.
CYANEA DUNBARIAE Photo by Steve Perlman NTBG

Cyanea grimesiana subsp. grimesiana (hh) is one of the plants that has been successfully reintroduced.

A single wild specimen was found in 2004 and died a year later, but not before 30 progeny were preserved in test tubes. In 2006 three mature hh were planted in a small (1/2 acre) enclosure. These small fenced plots are considered short-term emergency measures until the threats can be removed for the long-term. The PEP program is a partnership of many people and organizations working together to save some of the world's rarest plants. The program also educates school children about the importance of saving rare plants and their pollinators - if an avian or insect pollinator goes extinct, so will the plant that it pollinates. During our fall study trip, Steve Perlman, a rough terrain botanist who works for the National Tropical Botanical Garden and collaborates closely with the PEP Program, spoke of the sadness of losing millions of years of evolution when a species dies out. He said people in his line of work need hospice therapy, as well as schooling in rough terrain botany.

BREADFRUIT, A STAPLE FOR WORLD HUNGER

BY TINA FREEMAN New Orleans Town Gardeners (LA) Zone IX Vice-Chairman, GCA National Affairs and Legislation, Endangered Species

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is not exactly on our radar, since it is a tropical fruit that is not generally found on our supermarket shelves. But breadfruit historically was such an important food source that the Bounty, Captain Blighs ship, was especially purchased and fit-

ted out by the British Royal Navy over 200 years ago to transport breadfruit trees from Tahiti to the West Indies to feed slaves. Today it is high on the list of foods that are being distributed to fight world hunger.

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The breadfruit tree has an amazing range of uses. The fruit can be cooked and eaten at all stages of growth, from small and immature, when it is similar to artichoke hearts, to starchily mature, to ripe, when it is soft and sweet. It is typically consumed when mature but still firm and is a delicious substitute for starchy root crops like potatoes, pasta, or rice. The fresh fruit can baked, boiled, roasted, or steamed. From a nutritional perspective, breadfruit is high in energy from carbohydrates and low in fat. It is a good source of fiber, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, thiamine, and niacin. Some varieties are good sources of anti-oxidants and carotenoids. These multipurpose trees also provide construction materials, medicine, fabric, glue, insect repellent, animal feed, and more. Breadfruit is an important component in traditional agroforestry systems and can be grown with a wide range of plants. The trees support sustainable agriculture, improve soil conditions and watersheds, and provide food security. Breadfruit trees also give shelter and food for important plant pollinators and seed dispersers such as honeybees, birds, and fruit bats. More than 80 percent of undernourished people live in the tropics and sub-tropics. World hunger is now an enormous problem and growing, the number of people affected recently reported by The Food and Agriculture Organization being 1.02 billion. Africa is a hotspot. The Breadfruit institute at the National Tropical Botanical Garden has recently sent breadfruit plants to Africa to help with this problem. Breadfruit is a versatile plant. The National Tropical Botanical Gardens Kahanu Garden on Maui houses the largest and most extensive breadfruit collection in the world. The collection contains more than 120 varieties of about 220 trees. They are native to over 30 islands throughout the Pacific region, including the Seychelles, Indonesia, the Philippines and other areas of the tropics. Dr. Diane Rigone, Director of the Breadfruit Institute, collected many of these over the last 20 years. She started collecting while doing her doctoral research and has worked with these trees all of her professional career. She painstakingly collected the small trees using the traditional method of root culture. In 2003 Dr. Rigone began investigating tissue culturing, an in vitro method of propagating. Which allows healthy, disease-free treelings to be grown in large numbers and shipped in test tubes. Another important aspect of her research is to combine varieties that fruit over 12 months of the year.
BREADFRUIT Photo by Candace C. Lyche

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Why breadfruit? Breadfruit trees grow easily in a wide range of ecological conditions with minimal input of labor or materials and require little attention or care. Trees begin to bear fruit in three to five years, producing for many decades. An average-sized tree with a canopy cover of 25m will conservatively produce 100 fruit (100 kg), while larger trees can yield 400 to 600 fruits. Yields are superior to other starchy staples due, in part, to its verticality of production. A similar-sized plot of land planted in plantains or root and tuber crops will produce less food while needing greater labor and materials. Breadfruit contributes to sustainable food security, diversified sustainable agriculture and agroforestry, improved soil conditions and watersheds, and valuable environmental benefits including reduction of CO2. Treelings have over the past three years been delivered to areas of the Pacific and last October 1000 breadfruit plants were delivered to Ghana, the first in Africa. Later in October H.E. President Olusegun Obansanjo of Nigeria took a flat of plugs home with him from the meeting of the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. This is an exciting beginning that hopefully will mirror the success of the potato 500 years ago. Many thanks to Dr. Ragone for the information she provided for this article.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND RISING SEA LEVELS IN HAWAII

BY LINDA JAMES Garden Club East Hampton (NY) Zone III Vice Chairman, GCA Conservation Committee, Climate Change

How is global warming influencing the climate in Hawaii? Dr. Chip Fletcher, a climate change geologist, opened his presentation with this question, at Kapi-

olani Community College on Day 2 of the GCA Conservation Conference. The answer includes the following data: Air temperature in Hawaii shows a warming trend that has increased over the last 100 years and is accelerating since the 1970s. Carbon dioxide, which has a higher concentration in the atmosphere than other greenhouse gases, has the largest impact on global warming and is also the gas most abundantly produced by the modern era of human civilization. Scientific measurement showing the increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was first developed in 1958 at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. {NOTE: Using this newly developed scientific technique at the top of Mauna Loa, the first amount of carbon dioxide measured in a relatively unpolluted atmosphere was 310 parts per million (ppm). By

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2007 the United Nations declared that scientific evidence on the earths warming had become unequivocal, with carbon dioxide measured at 383-384 ppm. In December, 2011 the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere was measured at 392 PPM.1,2 Dr. Fletcher outlined the impact of Hawaiis changing climate, which is consistent with the influence of global warming: rising air temperatures, decreased rainfall and stream flow, increased rain intensity, ocean acidification, rising sea surface temperatures and sea levels. In Hawaii, rainfall has declined about 15% over the last 20 years, but intense downpours have increased approximately 12% between 1958 and 2007. Although University of Hawaii marine scientists have measured an increase of sea surface temperatures for the latitudes of Hawaii in the eastern North Pacific, Hawaiian reefs have largely escaped major widespread bleaching. But they are not out of danger if a warming trend continues. However, as rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere mixes with seawater, the availability of dissolved carbonate, vital to the oceans marine biota, is reduced and the ocean acidifies. Continued acidification would have profound impacts in Hawaii on some of the most fundamental biological and geochemical sea processes. According to Dr. Fletcher, sea level in Hawaii has been rising over the past century at approximately 0.6 inches per decade, leading to episodic flooding and erosion along the coast, the result of extreme tides and weather events. Climate change is expected to escalate sea level rise. Coastal roads and communities are under threat. Salt intrusion in coastal wetlands and groundwater systems will intensify and extreme tides will increase in already-challenged drainage systems, and rising ocean waters will continue to cause increased coastal damage. Due to local variability, changing winds, and ocean currents, understanding the pattern of sea level change is complex and calls for careful monitoring and improved modeling efforts.
1 www.climate.gov/#climateWatch 2 "Climate Change Report", Garden Club of America Conservation Committee Vice-Chair - Climate Change LJames, November, 2011.
VIEW OF HONOLULU HARBOR Photo by Pat Wall

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Using a set of slides to visualize a projected coastal sea level rise of 3 feet above the 1990 level by the end of the century, Dr. Fletcher summarized his dramatic presentation with the following conclusions for Hawaii: Climate changes are having measurable impacts on human communities and natural ecosystems Climate changes continue to threaten Hawaiis water resources and forested coastal communities and marine ecology. Our thanks to Dr. Fletcher for a lecture that provided the NAL/Conservation Committee attendees an informative baseline in the general science of climate change. Linking the trends of climate change data to projected impacts on Hawaiis natural resources, Dr. Fletcher outlined the challenges Hawaii faces and the need for focused government monitoring and planning for adaptation and mitigation strategies. See "Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in Hawaii" by Dr. Chip Fletcher, Department of
AERIAL VIEW OF WAIKIKI Cour tesy of Wikipedia.com

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Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Continuing in an academic role, Dr. Fletcher provided me with a 2010 Briefing Sheet, "Hawaiis Changing Climate." In addition to my notes, his paper has been an important resource for this article. I also thank Dr. Fletcher for his list of climate change Internet resources (which I will gladly share with those who are interested). And, finally, a lasting thank you for addressing me as a growing "climate change junkie".

HAWAIIS CLEAN ENERGY IMPERATIVE

BY CAROL DAVIS Green Spring Valley G.C. (MD) Zone VI Zone VI Representative, GCA Conservation and NAL Committees

Hawaiian Electric Companys slogan, "Energy Independence its up to us," speaks volumes. With ninety percent of Hawaiis energy generated by imported fossil fuels and the highest electricity rates in the United States, Hawaii adopted the Clean Energy Initiative in 2008. It is the nations most

aggressive energy policy, formed through a partnership between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. Department of Energy. The agreement mandates that by 2030 the Hawaiian Islands will derive 70 percent of their energy needs via a combination of renewable resources (40 percent) and conservation programs (30 percent). An importer of six billion dollars worth of oil annually, the Hawaiians are constantly at the whim of world markets, potential supply uncertainties, and their own aging electric infrastructure. Over 10 percent of Hawaiians Gross State Product is devoured by energy costs. Not surprisingly, the Hawaiian Islands are ripe grounds for a diverse portfolio of aggressive clean energy strategies. One leader of the charge is Jeff Mikulina, executive Director of the Blue Planet Foundation, a local bipartisan nonprofit committed to a fossil fuel-free future for Hawaii. He spoke about his several-fold mission during the GCA Conservation/NAL study trip in Honolulu. His organization promotes implementing stringent energy policy, creating a social movement around energy, and developing pilot programs to help consumers make wise
BIG WIND AND WAVE ON MAUI Cour tesy of Wikipedia.com

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energy choices. The group pushes for an islandwide surge in use of renewables: gathering and storing more power from world-class tradewinds, broadening use of solar energy, drawing energy from ocean swells, and expanding use of local biofuels. The Foundation seeks to further energy efficiency and urges cooperation among residents, companies and the government to cut consumers costs. Solutions to Hawaiis burdensome fuel costs are literally all over the map. Six wind farms are in operation on Molokai, the big island of Hawaii, Maui, and Lanai. They have a combined potential turbine generation of 1,000 megawatts. One in four homes in Hawaii currently has a solar hot water system and all new homes require installation of rooftop thermal solar panels as of 2010. (Water heating accounts for about 40% of the average electric bill.) Hawaiis first utility scale photovoltaic installation was constructed on Lanai and expansion of photovoltaic panels at schools, hospitals and correctional centers was announced this past December. Oceanlinx, an Australian company, recently set up a stationary platform off the coast of Maui to capture kinetic energy created by waves, currents and tides via compressed air buoy technology. Another project in Honolulu pumps cold seawater into a cooling station to use for air conditioning. The 40-degree water brings the temperature down in the distribution systems of over forty downtown highrises, saving over 20 percent in annual cooling costs. The Hawaiian Light Company taps into the vast cauldron of heat under the Kilauea Volcano, where hot water and steam travel up wells to the surface to generate electricity. And the Hawaiian Electric Company is now partnering with Japan on a "Maui Smart Grid Project" to find ways to mitigate the unpredictable nature of erratic energy production from wind and sun. As part of Hawaiis Clean Energy Initiative, Hawaiians are tackling transportation issues, as well. The Department of Transportation aims to reduce ground fuel usage 70 percent by 2030 and place 10,000 electric vehicles on the road within five years. A Palo Alto, CA-based company, A Better Place, is setting up a network of charging and battery replacement stations for Hawaiis growing fleet. Mitsubishis first North American delivery of their "i" 100 percent electric model was to Honolulus port. EV cars are now available for rent at the Honolulu airport, more Zip Cars are available in designated spots, and eighty HEV transit buses are ferrying passengers around Oahu.
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC) USES THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WARM SURFACE WATER AND DEEP COLD WATER TO DRIVE A HEAT ENGINE. THE VERTICAL TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE MUST BE AT LEAST 20 DEGREES, AND IDEALLY 30 40 DEGREES. Cour tesy of Wikipedia.com

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Green initiatives and ingenuity are prevalent throughout the islands. Blue Planets conservation programs have included free CFL/incandescent exchange programs on Molokai at businesses, schools, churches, and Hui Up, an appliance replacement project. The Foundation purchased Energy Star appliances in bulk at wholesale prices and passed the discounts along with bill rebates to residents. On one plantation in Maui, biomass, known as sugar cane bagasee, produces all of the energy for the plantation and is sold to the local electric company. Other experimental crops for biomass production include eucalyptus, which does not require extensive replanting as it regenerates from stumps; and algae farming in the sea. One industrial park is fueled entirely by biodiesel, primarily animal fats and waste grease from restaurants. New publicly-owned buildings in Honolulu now have to be LEED certified. Looming questions include the enormous costs for grid modernization and island interconnectivity via undersea cables which are needed to efficiently distribute the renewable resources throughout the islands. The government is considering raising the barrel tax as dedicated funding for clean energy projects and as an emergency fund. Residents of the smaller Hawaiian islands resist the environmental impact and disruption of new energy resource development and seek royalties and community benefits packages for use of their land and resources. In the 1990s, the Big Islanders protested against thermal energy ventures, fearing that they were sucking the life force out of Pele, the volcano goddess of the Hawaiian people. Furthermore, after the 2012 State of the State Address, Jeff Mikulina is concerned that Governor Abercrombie has now added imported natural gas to the energy mix, lessening the urgency of renewable power generation projects and conservation efforts. Hawaiians refuse to run on empty, however. Hawaii currently leads the nation in energy savings performance per capita. And, visionaries like Jeff Mikulina are committed to achieving the 70 percent Clean Energy Initiative goal and harnessing Hawaiis many indigenous resources to sustain the community. Sources: blueplanetfoundation.info/Recent-News/gov-abercrombie-hi blueplanetfoundation.org Hawaii Powered, 2010 HawaiI Clean energy Initiative www.mauielectric.com/portal/site/heco www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011 www.onewater.org/stories Turning to the Ocean to Cool Honolulus Skyscrapers, 2010 Knight Center for International Media, Univ. of Miami School of communication

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THE ILLUSION OF FRESH WATER ABUNDANCE

BY SUSAN CAVEN First Vice- Chair Conservation Committee

Popular author Cynthia Barnett has followed her award-winning book, Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S. with a new title, Blue Revolution, Unmaking Americas Water Crisis. In this book she observes that the issue is not

that we dont have enough water but rather that we dont have enough clean water to waste. She describes how communities around the globe are addressing their water supply problems, worrying that the American people are unconnected to the water they depend upon and so leave freshwater ecosystems unprotected and vulnerable. Cynthia Barnett reminds us that: 1. America was blessed with a vast amount of water above and below the ground. Our lakes contain the largest number of fish and freshwater species found anywhere on the planet, yet our freshwater habitats are now the most degraded of all American ecosystems, with 40% of all fish species imperiled. Yet many individual states are beginning or continuing "water wars" with their neighbors. We can contrast that situation with water-independent Singapore, where every drop on that tiny island is used and reused. 2. Many Americans maintain the illusion that the fresh water

supply is endless and abundant. They believe the myth that we can always turn on our tap and have all the water we want. Still, they understand little about where the water comes from, who controls it, how much it really costs and where it goes after we use it a kind of "hydraulic illiteracy" making us not value water enough to protect it or pay for it. 3. Americans use more water than any culture in the world (about 410 billion gallons a day or

150 gallons per person). Half of this fresh water is used in agriculture. The other half, which we use in our households, is put on our lawns (Americas largest crop) and landscaping with all of it returning back to our waterways polluted primarily with pesticides and fertilizer. 4. When we understand that fresh water is a national treasure that must be conserved, reused, re-

cycled and protected instead of being squandered like "liquid litter", and that our existing water supply model no longer works, Ms. Barnett believes we will adopt an American "water ethic." Some droughtplagued American communities have already been forced to establish such standards, following the lead of an increasing number of religious organizations who sent out a moral call for responsible stewardship of the land.

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PRIVATE GARDEN TOURS TO END OUR JOURNEY

Photo by Gretchen Downs

Photo by Gretchen Downs

Photo by Gretchen Downs

Photo by Sue Klein

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A special thank you goes to the Hawaii study trip committee, led by Chair Heidi Ho, including Honolulu G.C. members Lisa Cavanah, Lili Meagher, Jean Abbott, Heidi Bornhorst, Barbara Kuljis, Phyllis Lee, Elizabeth Riegels and Joyce Tomonari for an extraordinary trip, and to the members of the Honolulu G.C. that welcomed us into their homes and gardens. Additional thanks goes to the leadership of our Conservation and National Affairs and Legislation committees, Fayetta Weaver and Melissa McAdams, respectively.
MELISSA MCADAMS AND FAYETTA WEAVER Photo by Pat Wall

Conservation Watch, a publication of The Garden Club of America, is produced by the GCA Conservation Committee. Readers' ideas, contributions, and suggestions are welcome, as are requests for additional information on any of the subjects presented, and may be emailed to the Editor. Candace C. Lyche, Editor

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INDEX

"STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN ON ISLANDS"

BY SARAH YOUNG

THE ANCIENT HAWAIIANS APPROACH TO CONSERVATION

BY MARSHA MERRELL

PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA: WHERE NATURE AND CULTURE MEET

BY JENNIFER FAIN

JAPANS TSUNAMI AND MARINE DEBRIS

BY DIANA FISH

KAWAINUI MARSH - ANCIENT HAWAIIANS UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF CLEAN AND PLENTIFUL WATER
BY RUTH FLOURNOY

AQUACULTURE, OLD AND NEW

BY SARAH YOUNG

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AN UPDATE ON GMOS
BY JOAN MURPHY

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ALIENS ON MAGICAL ISLANDS: A REPORT ON OUR CONSERVATION-NAL TRIP TO HAWAII IN 2012

BY JEANNE ARTHUR

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ABLE TO LEAP TALL BUILDINGS IN A SINGLE BOUND? WELL.... ALMOST.

BY SUSAN OSBORNE

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BREADFRUIT, A STAPLE FOR WORLD HUNGER

BY TINA FREEMAN

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND RISING SEA LEVELS IN HAWAII

BY LINDA JAMES

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HAWAIIS CLEAN ENERGY IMPERATIVE

BY CAROL DAVIS

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THE ILLUSION OF FRESH WATER ABUNDANCE

BY SUSAN CAVEN

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CONTACTS

Fayetta Weaver, Chairman GCA Conservation Committee Mill Valley Mountain Garden Club (VA) Zone VII 2502 Stanley Avenue SE Roanoke, VA 24014-3332 (540) 345-2229 (540) 345-5726 (fax) Melissa McAdams, Chairman GCA National Affairs and Legislation Knoxville Garden Club (TN) Zone IX 1043 Craigland Court Knoxville, TN 37919 (865) 558-9441 (865) 250-3890 (cell) mmcadams08@comcast.net

Candace C. Lyche, Editor GCA Conservation Committee Hillsborough Garden Club (CA) Zone XII 171 New Place Road Hillsborough, CA 94010 (650) 537-0506 cclyche@yahoo.com

Anne OBrien, Assistant Editor GCA Conservation Committee Columbine Garden Club (AZ) Zone XII 6018 East Cholla Lane Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 (480) 874-3323 (480) 970-8328 (fax) annie390b@gmail.com

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