New opportunities for research, education, and demonstration
The Mission of the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF) is to provide landscapes, facilities, and data/information for those wishing to conduct research and education activities contributing to a better understanding of the biological diversity and functioning of tropical forest and stream ecosystems and their management. The HETF represents a significant contribution in the global effort that is necessary to understand and protect some of the most threatened and endangered ecosystems in the world. This can best be accomplished by facilitating tropical natural areas/species research, fostering an environment for interaction and exchange of information among scientists and to those outside the scientific community, and providing education and demonstration opportunities for those interested in tropical forest studies and management.
WHAT'S NEW!
HETF Climate Data
A new area of the HETF website is the Climate page. On these pages, climatic data from a number of weather stations is available for viewing and download. Graphs of precipitation and other climate variables are also available. Several of the weather stations have been in operation for over 40 years and have hourly precipitation records available for this entire period.
Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest Video Presentation
Take a look at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry's former Director, Dr. Boone Kauffman, give a video presentation entitled "A new pathway to enhance the quality and relevance of forestry research, education, and demonstration in the Pacific."
Highlights
National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
NEON is a continental-scale research platform for discovering and understanding the impacts of climate change, land-use change, and invasive species on ecology. NEON will gather long-term data on ecological responses of the biosphere to changes in land use and climate, and on feedbacks with the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The Laupahoehoe Unit has been selected to be the Core Wildland Site for the Pacific NEON Domain. The Puu Waawaa Unit will be a prominent site as a Gradient Observational Site. The research and implications generated by NEON and related research will be a great contribution to tropical forest ecosystems research with local, regional, and global implications.
Hawaii Permanent Plot Network (HIPPNET)
The HIPPNET program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), has established two of ten statewide large (4 ha), permanent research plots in the HETF, one each at Laupahoehoe and Puu Waawaa. HIPPNET plots and monitoring methods are designed to complement the network of long-term tropical forest research plots established by the Smithsonian Institute's Center for Tropical Forest Science.
Experimental Forest and Range Synthesis Network (EFR)
The HETF has been selected as a site for the USDA Forest Service's Experimental Forest and Range Synthesis Network, one of 18 sites nationwide. The EFR Synthesis Network will serve as a platform to conduct research at a national and trans-national levels, addressing environmental issues including changing climate, atmospheric chemistry, and invasive organisms.
HETF Research and Educational Activity Permit Applications now available!
Interested in doing research or educational activities? Go to our permits page.
HETF acts in partnership with the following oganizations:
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry
USDA Forest Service