Of all the places on Earth, tiny Hawaii has the most alarming concentrations of species teetering
on the brink of extinction. Hawaii amounts to only 0.2% of the land area of the United States. Yet
nearly 75% of the nation's historically documented plant and bird extinctions are from Hawaii. And
of all of the bird species currently endangered in the 50 United States, 40% are from Hawaii.BIRDS: Hawaii used to sustain at least 140 species of native birds. Now 70 of those species are extinct. Of the 70 surviving, 30 are endangered. And twelve of those species are down to such low numbers that they are at or close to the brink of extinction, and may be beyond recovery.
PLANTS: As of June 2, 1992, 85 Hawaiian plant species were federally listed as endangered. The entire U.S. Endangered Species list includes 271 plants -- 31% of which are Hawaiian species. Within the next two years, the Service expects to add 103 more Hawaiian plants to the list. Among the ranks of Hawaii's rarest plants are at least 96 species with no more than 100 known individual plants -- including trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and ferns. At least six of these plants have been reduced to a single plant.
FISHES, INVERTEBRATES AND OTHER ANIMAL LIFE: Many species described in the late 1800's can no longer be found, among them two dozen species of Oahu tree snails whose beauty inspired both native folklore and early publications on evolution. Scientists estimate that there are well over 5,000 species of insects and other invertebrates yet to be discovered and described. Without decisive action, many of them may not survive long enough to be discovered.
NATURAL COMMUNITIES: For many of Hawaii's rarest plants and animal, loss of habitat is a
primary cause for their decline. Ecosystems in Hawaii -- from sun-baked coastal shrublands,
through eternally wet rain forests, to snow-bound alpine deserts -- are as unique and varied as the
plants and animals they support. Nearly two-thirds of Hawaii's original forest cover has been lost,
including almost 50% of the vital rain forests. Today, the last remnants of Hawaiian coastal plant
communities are on our most remote and arid shores and 90% of the lowland plains once forested
by sandalwood and other unique dry forests, have been destroyed. Of the 150 natural
communities remaining today, 85 are considered critically endangered. While the loss of a single
species is of serious concern, the loss of entire natural communities represents a crisis for
Hawaii's plants and animals, and ultimately for us.
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