The Hawaii Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is a partnership of graziers from Hawaii’s beef, dairy, sheep and goat industries committed to furthering the grazing industry’s contribution to natural resource and ecosystem conservation. GLCI promotes the sound management and skillful use of grazing land resources in Hawaii.

Privately owned grazing lands are a national and statewide treasure. In Hawaii, they represent approximately 25 percent of the total land mass, offering benefits and values that make them extremely important, not only to the landowners, but to the entire State. Historical use and management of grazing lands long occurred without the benefit of grazing land science as we know it today. As a result, there are now more potential conflicts than ever before on private grazing lands. We are at risk of losing our grazing lands, and, with them, the values they provide. GLCI is part of a national initiative to assure the sustainability of private grazing lands by focusing on the environmental, cultural, and economic ecosystem services they provide.

GLCI seeks to work with landowners to enhance grazing lands for future use and to inform the public of the reasons behind making such a national commitment and investment.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Pacific Islands Area, is one of the primary players in the initiative. NRCS is the technical agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, providing assistance to conservation districts and individuals in planning and carrying out conservation activities. NRCS also assists with public awareness activities to inform the public of the values and benefits of private grazing lands.

Why to come:

• Approximately 994 students attended NSO
• 81% of the students in attendance rated NSO a 4 or 5 (helpful and very helpful)
• 60% of the attendees rated the Meet and Greet session a 4 or 5 (5 being the highest). Student comments included: great meeting faculty, I feel less nervous, everyone is nice, informative, I found classes I want to take, etc.
• Students asked for a variety of professors to be represented

Future Dates:

• Register online at MyUH Portal (https://myuh.hawaii.edu).
• PBT 100 (1 credit), Orientation to Hawaii’s Agriculture Industry. Offered online and at LCC.
• PBT 200+Lab (3+1 credit), Introduction to Plant Science.  Get hands on experience with crop production in Hawaii.
• PBT 141, Integrated Pest Management.  Protect Hawaii’s natural resources by fighting off pests.
• Receive a $500 stipend* for a C grade or higher.

Enroll in these courses if you:

• Enjoy working outdoors or growing plants in fields.
• Are concerned about Hawaii’s limited Natural Resources
  
• Wish to grow your own food and Hawaii’s growing population.
• Are interested in pursuing careers in modern technology.

The Garden Club: Hui Mala (click for flyer)

Check out the newest student club at LCC, Hui Mala.  Located next to the lower campus Shade House, Hui Mala has three garden beds available for students and interested community members.  This club is about learning organic gardening techniques, while being able to enjoy your favorite fruits and vegetables!

For questions, please contact:

Dr. Kabi R Neupane                     Prof. Priscilla Millen                    Heather Aihara

Associate Professor, Biology     Professor, Botany                       Counselor

Phone 455-0418                         Phone 455-0285                         Phone 455-0443

Email kabi@hawaii.edu Email pmillen@hawaii.edu        Email Haihara@hawaii.edu

Please see the CTAHR website for more information.

Click here for a larger image of the poster below. 

To download a copy of this in QuickTime format click here: Movie File

Join the O’ahu Master Gardeners and UGC ‘Ohana Volunteers at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center for Second Saturday at the Garden!

• Featuring a new tropical gardening topic each month (See topics below)
• Learn about home gardening in Hawai’i from certified Hawai’i Master Gardeners and UGC Volunteers!
• See how the Master Gardeners are renovating our herb garden the organic way!
• Got a plant question?  Certified O’ahu Master Gardeners will be available every second Saturday to answer your gardening questions.
• Guided tours of our display gardens!
• Mini Plant Sale!

Check out upcoming Topics and Schedule

Answers: Pollinate all types of plants, 80%, b. crude oil deposits

Did you know the answers? More than 550 fifth graders from schools around Oahu explored these questions and more at Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Day, held March 5, 2009 at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Urban Garden Center in Pearl City. The students embarked on a fun-filled voyage of discovery, investigating how agriculture and environmental science affect their lives and can shape their future. More than 35 presenters and exhibitors from CTAHR’s departments and programs, Honolulu Community College, the Hawaii Nature Center, the Board of Water Supply, Hawaii Future Farmers of America,  the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch, and many other organizations helped the students examine important issues in agriculture and natural resource management. The kids encountered invasive species that damage the locally grown crops they eat, the houses they live in, and the delicate island ecosystems that surround them. They learned the value of beekeeping and biofuels, vegetables and vermiculture (composting with worms). At the same time, they met enthusiastic professionals engaged in a broad spectrum of agricultural and environmental science careers, experiencing firsthand what it might be like to be an entomologist, biotechnologist, animal scientist, or nutritionist.

As they visited the various exhibits and sessions, the students completed an Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Day quiz to reinforce what they’d learned. Congratulations to the fifth graders from Maemae Elementary, who earned the highest averaged score on the quiz! CTAHR is rewarding this outstanding effort by throwing the students a pizza party.

This year’s Awareness Day, the third held on Oahu, was well covered by local media. KHNL, K5, and KITV broadcast several news items on the event, and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin published photographs.

Now in its thirteenth year, The Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Day has become a Kauai tradition, and the event’s success has led CTAHR to expand the program to Oahu. Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Day was also held on March 13, 2009 at the Maui Tropical Plantation through the collaboration of CTAHR’s Maui County Office and the Maui Farm Bureau with funding from the County of Maui. The college also hopes to host future Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Days on Hawaii island once renovations at the Komohana facilities in Hilo are completed so students in all four counties can learn more about what they eat, where they live, and who they can become.

More pictures