Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development District

The Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) provides a way for local residents to work together and plan how they can actively solve economic, environmental and social problems facing their areas. It pulls together communities, various units of government and grassroots organizations to help residents establish direction for their program.

Tri-Isle RC&D has been a coordinator, facilitator and financial supporter of Maui's Natural Resource Management and Research Efforts. Through Tri-Isle RC&D sponsorship and support, many programs for land conservation, community development, water conservation and envirnomental concerns have come about.

Tri-Isle RC&D Eradication of Invasive Species - Success Story

Miconia calvescens Eradication Project (from the National RC&D Net Web site) Miconia calvescens was introduced on Maui as an ornamental plant from Latin America. It has big beautiful leaves getting as large as three feet long with a purplish color on the underside. The tree grows to a height of 40 feet. It is very invasive, as it produces millions of seeds annually. As it grows, it replaces all other plant species because it grows so tall and has such large leaves. Sunlight can not penetrate to the forest floor. When the various plant species diminish, the animal species depending on the variety of plants also diminish. The result is a monoculture with an unprotected forest floor very susceptible to erosion.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee was formed to eradicate Miconia calvescens and other invasive plants. The committee is made up of a group of agencies which is educating the public, removing existing plants, and evaluating the extent of the problem. The lead agency for this project is the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Participating agencies include Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development, the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Maui Community College, Maui County Office of Economic Development, University of Hawaii, Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc., Haleakala National Park, the United States Department of Agriculture and the USDI Geological Survey.

TRI-ISLE RC&D OFFICE

210 Imi Kala Street, Suite 208
Wailuku, Maui 96793-2100

Phone: (808) 242-2822-- FAX: (808) 242-7005
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Serving Maui, Moloka'i & Lana'i

Sharon I. Souza Office Automation Assistant

What is RC&D?

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) provides a way for local residents to work together and plan how they can actively solve economic, environmental and social problems facing their areas. It pulls together communities, various units of government and grassroots organizations to help residents establish direction for their program.

RC&D helps communities identify problems and opportunities, gather necessary background information, plan desired future conditions, secure necessary funding and implement projects to benefit the area.

Its activities include: land conservation to protect the resource base and find maximum ways to use it; community development to improve economic and community development in rural areas; water management to conserve, utilize and improve the quality and quantity of available water; and environmental enhancement to improve the environment.

How did RC&D begin?

The Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program was initiated in 1962 to help people care for and protect their natural resources and improve their area's economic, environmental and social opportunities.

It is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) effort led by the Office of the Secretary. Many agencies contribute to the success of the program, and the Secretary has delegated administrative authority to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

When authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture, an RC&D area can receive funding from USDA to establish an RC&D office, hire staff, develop an area plan and receive other USDA financial and technical assistance. Currently, there are 289 authorized RC&D areas nationwide.

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