National Park Foundation awards innovation grant to Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park received a 2-year innovation grant from National Park Foundation to help protect Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park’s extraordinary native ecosystems through use of advanced aerial technology.
The project will use thermal imaging on unmanned aircraft systems and helicopter-based light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, to detect invasive non-native ungulates — hooved animals such as pigs and sheep — and identify fence breaches throughout challenging volcanic terrain.
“Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique ecosystems on Earth, including species found nowhere else in the world,” said Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Fien. “These innovative technologies will help the park more efficiently detect invasive animals, identify vulnerable areas and focus our efforts on protecting the native and irreplaceable plants and animals for future generations.”
Hurricane Lala caused extensive damage to protective fencing, allowing invasive animals to enter protected areas and putting native ecosystems at greater risk, underscoring the need for faster more efficient ways to assess fence conditions and detect invasive animals throughout the park’s rugged and remote terrain.
The grant award to the Friends is part of National Park Foundation’s latest $12 million investment to support innovation strengthening parks, expanding what is possible and ensuring these extraordinary places endure for generations.
