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Talakhaya Revegetation
ProjectUS Coral Reef Task Force Meeting
September 2016
PresenterPresentation NotesIntroduce myself and my role as it
relates to the re-veg project
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Outline Background/History
Talakhaya CAP
Past and Current Work
Barriers and needs
Future Work
Monitoring Summary
PresenterPresentation NotesThis is what we will try to get
through during the presentation – will attempt to cover
everything
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Background/History
Rota - Talakhaya Watershed & Conservation Area
PresenterPresentation NotesThe Talakhaya watershed area is
indicated in the green boxed area seen here on the island of Rota.
Directly north of the watershed is the Sabana. The Talakhaya
watershed is approximately 1,350 acres and contains the only
perennial streams on the island. Both the Sabana and Talakhaya
areas are conservation areas that provide habitat for protected and
endangered animal and plans species.
Historically, the island experienced over 400 years of German,
Spanish and Japanese control resulted in the significant loss of
forest lands for crop and livestock production. It wasn’t until
many years later, the 90’s when studies were performed and the
Sabana area was established as a protected area with Talakhaya
following in 2007. However, more recent years (approx. 2009) has
seen damage due to intentionally set fires resulting in significant
loss of soil and erosion.
*400+ years of German, Spanish and Japanese crop and livestock
production resulted in significant loss of historical forests in
the Talakhaya.
*In the early 90’s, several studies were conducted to evaluate
the natural resources in the area, which led to the establishment
of the conservation area.
*Sabana was established as a protected area in 1994, with
Talakhaya added in 2007.
*However, more resent years have seen negative impacts due to
intentionally set grassfires resulting in significant erosion and
soil runoff.
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PresenterPresentation NotesHere is an image of a fire scar from
an intentionally set grassland fire
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PresenterPresentation NotesHere you can see what happens after a
strong rain event
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Outline Background/History
Talakhaya CAP
Past and Current Work
Barriers and needs
Future Work
Monitoring Summary
PresenterPresentation NotesSo, based on all the threats facing
the watershed, the Talakhaya CAP was established
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Talakhaya Conservation Action Plan Est. 2010
“Protehi i rikesan i tano yan i tasi” Protect the wealth of our
land and sea
Targets for management and protection:
Wildlife including birds and fish
Coral reef ecosystem
Endangered and medicinal plants
Forest
Freshwater
Soil
Major threats:
Fire
Invasive plants and animals
Deforestation
Overharvest
Soil erosion and runoff
Natural disturbances
Poaching
PresenterPresentation NotesThe Talakhaya CAP was written in 2010
to help identify the key areas to focus management efforts the main
ones that are the focus of the re-vegetation project are…
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Talakhaya Conservation Action PlanEst. 2010
“Protehi i rikesan i tano yan i tasi” Protect the wealth of our
land and sea
Targets for management and protection:
Wildlife including birds and fish
Coral reef ecosystem
Endangered and medicinal plants
Forest
Freshwater
Soil
Major threats:
Fire
Invasive plants and animals
Deforestation
Overharvest
Soil erosion and runoff
Natural disturbances
Poaching
PresenterPresentation NotesThe Talakhaya CAP was written in 2010
to help identify the key areas to focus management efforts the main
ones that are the focus of the re-vegetation project are…
-
Outline Background/History
Talakhaya CAP
Past and Current Work
Barriers and needs
Future Work
Monitoring Summary
PresenterPresentation NotesSo based on what was outlined in the
CAP, I will now briefly discuss the work that has been done over
the past 10 years in the watershed.
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Talakhaya Revegetation Project
First planting season: 2007
Goal: To control erosion and reduce sedimentation, while
building community support and educational outreach efforts as well
as preventing fire through field surveillance.
Total grasses and trees planted to-date: 290,000+
Total acres covered: 84+
PresenterPresentation NotesThe Revegetation project officially
began in 2007 with the first planting season, the goal being…..To
date, with help from DLNR staff and community volunteers we have
planted over 290,000 trees and grasses covering over 84+ acres of
the 1350 acre watershed.
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Project Phases
Lupok As OnanAlesnaPhase I = As Onan*
Phase II = Alesna*
Phase III = Lupok
*most critical
PresenterPresentation NotesTherefore, based on the dismal
results, future years saw a more focused approach. The first step
was to prioritize certain areas of the watershed. Here there are 3
phases with areas to the left being the most critical areas
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Wonder grass introduced in 2009
Vetiver Grass - Vetiveria zizanioides
PresenterPresentation NotesIntroduced in 2009
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Methodologies Establish critical areas first
Species focus:
Grasses = Vetiver grass (wonder grass) and Bahia grass
Trees = Acacia confusa (non-native)
Plant grasses on contour/elevation lines - top to bottom to
avoid damage
Plant vetiver in single rows with 1 ft spacing
Between rows plant:
Bahia grass at 1-2 ft spacing
Acacia 2-3 ft. above row of vetiver at 6-12 ft spacing
Plots assigned GPS points
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Community Support
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No Burning Campaign Inform public of the
impact grass fires have on the entire ecosystem.
Effective, no fires since 2013
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Barriers and Needs Barriers
Steep and often dangerous terrain making site access
difficult
Limited equipment available to carry up seedlings and other
supplies
Needs
6-9 more years of funding to fully complete required work
Proper transportation
Improved road conditions
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Future Work Identify funding opportunities to continue the work
in
Talakhaya
Transition to planting native tree species
Continue monitoring freshwater streams and coastal areas
including coral reefs
Continue involving community in project work
Planting volunteers
Community outreach events
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Outline Background/History
Talakhaya CAP
Past and Current Work
Barriers and needs
Future Work
Monitoring Summary
PresenterPresentation NotesSo based on what was outlined in the
CAP, I will now briefly discuss the work that has been done over
the past 10 years in the watershed.
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Quantifying Our Efforts: Monitoring
Location Monitoring Periods Indicators
Coral Reef Ecosystems
2000 to present, CNMI DEQ Food fish size and abundance, algal
diversity, benthic cover, coral community characteristics and
macroinvertebrateabundances
Coastal Marine Water Quality
2016 to present, CNMI BECQ Total suspended solids and turbidity,
pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity
Stream Water Quality
2013 to 2014, University of Guam
2016 to present, CNMI BECQ
Total suspended solids and turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen,
temperature, salinity
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Marine Monitoring Data
Survey Sites
2000-2016; 13 surveys
2008-2016; 5 surveys
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Marine Monitoring Data Biological Indicators
cover (2000)
abundance and diversity (2000)
recruitment, size-class distribution, & diversity (2004)
abundance, biomass, size-class distribution, & diversity
(2012)
species richness (2012)
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0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
10020
00
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Ben
thic
Cov
er (
perc
ent)
Survey Year
Corals & Coralline Algae
Macroalgae & Turf
Benthic Cover
Rota average Site average
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Num
ber
recr
uits
/m2
Year
Coral Recruitment
Rota average Site average
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Coral Size-Class Distribution
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0-2 cm 2-4 cm 4-8 cm 8-16 cm 16-32 cm 32-64 cm >64 cm
Num
ber/
m2
Size Class
2004
2005
2007
2008
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
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Macroinvertebrate Abundance
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
16020
00
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Num
ber
per
100
m2
Year
Giant clamsEdible shells (other)Sea stars (corallivores)Sea
stars (other)Sea cucumbersCrinoidsUrchins (grazers)Urchins
(other)Total
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Fish
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2012 2013 2014 2015
Bio
mas
s (k
g)/S
PC
Year
Biomass
Apex predator Tertiary cons. Planktivore
Secondary cons. Herbivore Total
0
5
10
15
20
25
2012 2013 2014 2015
Num
ber/
SPC
Year
Abundance
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Biodiversity
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Num
ber
of s
peci
es
Coral
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Num
ber
of g
ener
a
Macroinvertebrate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2012 2013 2014 2015
Num
ber
of s
peci
es
Fish
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2012 2013 2014 2015
Num
ber
of s
peci
es
Macroalgae
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Marine Monitoring Summary Long-term monitoring of biological
indicators is necessary
to assess the effectiveness of upstream management actions and
inform management decisions.
Positive trends in key biological indicators at Talakhaya sites,
consistent with island-wide patterns, indicate that watershed
management has been effective
Cover of reef accreting substrates
Coral recruitment, size-class distribution, & diversity
Macroinvertebrate abundances
Improved water quality sampling will help link changes in
vegetative cover to downstream biological parameters
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Lyza Johnston, Ph.D.Lead Biologist - Marine Monitoring
ProgramCNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal
[email protected]
Autumn PoissonCoral Reef Management FellowCNMI Bureau of
Environmental and Coastal [email protected]
Talakhaya Revegetation ProjectOutlineBackground/HistorySlide
Number 4Slide Number 5OutlineTalakhaya Conservation Action Plan
Est. 2010�Talakhaya Conservation Action Plan�Est.
2010OutlineTalakhaya Revegetation ProjectProject PhasesWonder grass
introduced in 2009MethodologiesSlide Number 14Slide Number
15Community SupportNo Burning CampaignBarriers and NeedsFuture
WorkOutlineQuantifying Our Efforts: MonitoringMarine Monitoring
DataMarine Monitoring DataBenthic CoverCoral RecruitmentCoral
Size-Class DistributionMacroinvertebrate
AbundanceFishBiodiversityMarine Monitoring SummarySlide Number
31
