RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
Enhancing social-ecological resilience and ecosystem services through restoration of coastal agroforestry systems
PI: Leah Bremer, Assistant Specialist and Conservation Scientist, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Gina McGuire, Department of Geography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Gina McGuire, Department of Geography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Perceptions of wildfire and wildfire management on Guam
PI: Christine Fejeran, Chief Forester, Guam Forestry Division
Co-PI: Farron Taijeron, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Farron Taijeron, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Future of fire in the Pacific Islands: Towards a national synthesis for wildland fire under a changing climate
PI: Christian Giardina, Research Ecologist, Inst. of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Co-PI: Alyssa Anderson, Fire Post-doctoral Fellow, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Alyssa Anderson, Fire Post-doctoral Fellow, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
2020 SURF Projects
Three students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2020 SURF program, investigating salinity tolerance in coastal plants, fire-plant interactions, and new techniques to improve reforestation efforts.
Biochar as a mitigation tool for soil rehabilitation in Guam’s badlands and savannah grasslands
PI: Mohammad Golabi, Professor of Soil Science, University of Guam
Co-PI: Patrick Keeler, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Patrick Keeler, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Development of an early warning system for climate-change related invasion by mosquitoes into Hakalau Forest NWR
PI: Patrick Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Comparing arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity among different life stages of Intsia bijuga (Colebr.) Kuntze in Guam’s Limestone Forests
PI: Alexander Kerr, Professor of Marine Biology, University of Guam
Co-PI: Charles "CJ" Paulino, Environmental Science, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Charles "CJ" Paulino, Environmental Science, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Optimizing techniques to restore forest to increase endangered species habitat and mitigate future drought
PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
Co-PI: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Understanding plants of the past to inform community reforestation efforts in the future
PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
Co-PI: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
Sea-level rise impacts on coral reef and mangrove interactions and resulting coastal flooding hazards
PI: Curt Storlazzi, Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Co-I: Karen Thorne, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Funded: FY2020
Co-I: Karen Thorne, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Funded: FY2020
Identifying the risk of runoff and erosion in Hawaiʻi’s National Parks
PI: Lucas Fortini, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Co-PI: Victoria Keener, Research Fellow, PacRISA, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018
Co-PI: Victoria Keener, Research Fellow, PacRISA, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018
Effectiveness of high-elevation habitat restoration for increasing resiliency of the palila honeycreeper
PI: Pat Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-I: Kahua Julian, Department of Agriculture, UH Hilo & Technician, Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project
Funded: FY2018
Co-I: Kahua Julian, Department of Agriculture, UH Hilo & Technician, Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project
Funded: FY2018
Impacts of climate changes on a native and an invasive Hawaiian plant using a newly developed Intelligent Plant growing System (IPS)
PI: Camilo Mora, Assoc. Professor of Geography, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Devon DeBevoise, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018
Co-PI: Devon DeBevoise, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018
Albizia as a solution for climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture
PI: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Joanna Norton, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Bruce Mathews, Professor of Soil Science, UH Hilo; Flint Hughes, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Funded: FY2016
Co-PI: Joanna Norton, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Bruce Mathews, Professor of Soil Science, UH Hilo; Flint Hughes, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Funded: FY2016