JOSH B. GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON For Immediate Release: December 8, 2022 MINIMAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS FROM MAUNA LOA ERUPTION Game Cameras Capture Forest Birds in VOG To view video please click on photo or view at this link:https://vimeo.com/779421863 (HILO) – Less than 24-hours after the current eruption of Mauna Loa began, Steve Bergfeld, the Hawai‘i Island Branch Chief with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) worried most about the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve (NAR) on the southeast side of the mountain. At that time lava flows were headed into the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa. “Obviously the biggest concern we have is public resources and people’s property being impacted. One of the areas we were most concerned about is the NAR. There’s a lot of endangered species and really good forest habitat in Pu‘u Maka‘ala that we’d hate to see lost,” Bergfeld said. His concern is valid, as previous eruptions in 1942 and 1984 surrounded Pu‘u Maka‘ala with vast expanses of hardened lava right outside ungulate fencing surrounding the NAR. Shortly after the eruption began Nick Agorastos, the Natural Area Reserve Program Manager for Hawai‘i Island said he was concerned right away. “I
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12/08/22 – MINIMAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS FROM MAUNA LOA ERUPTION
