Miconia Update

While Herculean efforts have been waged on Maui to eradicate or control infestations of the alien plant miconia, recent reports reveal that new areas of infestation have been discovered. And a further disturbing report of a single miconia plant found in remote Kipahulu Valley, which is within the boundaries of Haleakala National Park, has been an abrupt wake-up call to the community. The valley is one of the most pristine native forest areas in Hawai`i.

These new outbreaks, nearly 500 acres, come at a time that state funding for miconia control has been reduced. Seriously understaffed and under-funded, the groups coordinating the control efforts, such as the Maui Invasive Species Committee, are facing an uphill battle. The island’s current level of infestation is nearing 13,000 acres.

Erosion caused by miconia
covering hillside in Tahiti.

Miconia calvescens, a native of Central and South America, has been found in Hawai`i since 1960, where it was apparently introduced as a garden plant. But with no natural enemies in the Hawaiian forest, miconia is able to reproduce without constraint. Its large leaves shade out native plants growing beneath it and it can completely dominate an area, accelerating erosion and damaging the watershed. The plant was introduced in Tahiti 65 years ago, and has since decimated 70 percent of the native forest and put nearly half of Tahiti’s endemic plants in danger of extinction.

Miconia has become established on O`ahu and Kaua`i, but the largest areas of infestation occur on Maui and the Big Island, with the state’s largest infestation of 20,000 acres.