Kaua‘i residents invited to attend invasive pest meeting

Registration is now open for an invasive pest meeting scheduled at the Kauaʻi Community College in Līhuʻe in August.

Organized by the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, the two-day gathering, slated for Aug. 11-12, centers around the theme, “Protecting Island Ecosystems: Biosecurity, Invasive Species, and Resilience.”

The event will feature invited talks, collaborative networking opportunities, and a headline keynote presentation by Laura Brewington, co-director of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Research on Island Solutions for Adaptation.

Brewington will explain how climate change makes the threat of invasive species even worse for Pacific Island communities, according to a news release from the University of Hawai‘i. The meeting will also discuss how different groups can work together to protect local environments, stop new pests before they arrive, and make sure leaders have the right scientific data to make smart decisions.

“The future of island resilience will be decided not only by how well we can anticipate change, but by how well we prevent harm, restore what matters most, and act together before the next threshold is crossed,” said organizer Roshan Manandhar, extension agent on Kaua‘i for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

The $100 registration fee will cover event costs and food. Space is limited, and people are encouraged to register early online.