What kind of archaeology projects have you been doing Hazel?
Before I started doing botanical surveys, I used to work on archaeology projects on Maui. I worked for Xamanek Researches (Drs. Walter & Demaris Fredericksen). I learned how to dig large holes with small spoons. In Wailea, Maui we found a hearth two meters below the surface and learned that Hawaiians had been in Hawai'i at least 500 years earlier than the South Point date (290 AD). The Hawaiians already had a tradition of boating to Kahoolawe, mining dense basalt, boating it back to Wailea, and making tools.
Interesting discussion on tree mortality.
Here people started to lament about dying Wiliwili trees (Erythrina sandwicensis) several years ago, and what could be done about it. They were quite beautiful seeing them in flower on the roadsides. What folks hadn't considered was that the Wiliwili trees used to be part of diverse dry forests that got turned into ranchlands. The Wiliwili trees were left standing alone in cattle fields. It just took them longer to die than the rest of the forests.
The cattle ranches have reeked havoc on the Island's ecosystems. They have caused the rain to go away on the leeward sides. We're seeing forests that were diverse endemic mesic forests turn into dry indigenous shrublands.
Add feral pigs, goats, and sheep and Hawai'i's rare endemic forests are not only in trouble, they've almost been completely destroyed.
Many folks have suggested removing the rare plants and putting them in a protected area, but the rare endemics need to be in their own intact habitat (not in a zoo).
This photo shows a forest that kinda looks okay, but the endemic plants are dropping dead, and being replaced by common indigenous species.
