one of the things that makes Hawaii unique is the isolation
unique is the isolation
unique is the isolation the fact that they are small islands –
the fact that they are small islands –
the fact that they are small islands – is part of the threat Hawaii is one of
is part of the threat Hawaii is one of
is part of the threat Hawaii is one of the extinction capitals of the world
the extinction capitals of the world
the extinction capitals of the world probably the extinction capital of the
probably the extinction capital of the
probably the extinction capital of the world I’m Steve Perlman I am a field
world I’m Steve Perlman I am a field
world I’m Steve Perlman I am a field botanist for the National tropical
botanist for the National tropical
botanist for the National tropical botanical gardens on Kauai and I work
botanical gardens on Kauai and I work
botanical gardens on Kauai and I work and specialize in endangered plants and
and specialize in endangered plants and
and specialize in endangered plants and so have been doing this work now for
so have been doing this work now for
so have been doing this work now for over 40 years there are only about 1,200
over 40 years there are only about 1,200
over 40 years there are only about 1,200 species of plants here and at least half
species of plants here and at least half
species of plants here and at least half of our species are threatened or
of our species are threatened or
of our species are threatened or endangered it looks like one right fruit
endangered it looks like one right fruit
endangered it looks like one right fruit and several immatures and so we had to
and several immatures and so we had to
and several immatures and so we had to form this program called the plant
form this program called the plant
form this program called the plant extinction prevention program because
extinction prevention program because
extinction prevention program because already 100 of our species in Hawaii had
already 100 of our species in Hawaii had
already 100 of our species in Hawaii had gone extinct we’ve been collecting this
gone extinct we’ve been collecting this
gone extinct we’ve been collecting this plant now for at least four years we’ve
plant now for at least four years we’ve
plant now for at least four years we’ve been coming up here and the seeds are
been coming up here and the seeds are
been coming up here and the seeds are good they germinate really want to get
good they germinate really want to get
good they germinate really want to get good genetic representation from every
good genetic representation from every
good genetic representation from every individual that we can find of these
individual that we can find of these
individual that we can find of these rare plants so when we find the plants
rare plants so when we find the plants
rare plants so when we find the plants we want to collect seed we that it’s got
we want to collect seed we that it’s got
we want to collect seed we that it’s got a lot of seed inside multiple seeds in
a lot of seed inside multiple seeds in
a lot of seed inside multiple seeds in there we tag them number them we monitor
there we tag them number them we monitor
there we tag them number them we monitor them regularly I have witnessed myself
them regularly I have witnessed myself
them regularly I have witnessed myself about 15 plants species die out just
about 15 plants species die out just
about 15 plants species die out just from my years and most of those were
from my years and most of those were
from my years and most of those were over the last 20 years they’ve just
over the last 20 years they’ve just
over the last 20 years they’ve just become like friends she’s doing good
become like friends she’s doing good
become like friends she’s doing good today when you see them you’ll go and
today when you see them you’ll go and
today when you see them you’ll go and see some a plant for 20 years and then
see some a plant for 20 years and then
see some a plant for 20 years and then you come back and it’s dead it’s like it
you come back and it’s dead it’s like it
you come back and it’s dead it’s like it is like losing a family member or a
is like losing a family member or a
is like losing a family member or a friend
Division of Forestry and Wildlife is
Division of Forestry and Wildlife is hoping to build a fence around the about
hoping to build a fence around the about
hoping to build a fence around the about Putin Valley area and so before that
Putin Valley area and so before that
Putin Valley area and so before that fence goes up we’d like to see if some
fence goes up we’d like to see if some
fence goes up we’d like to see if some of those rare plants are still there I
of those rare plants are still there I
of those rare plants are still there I want to check the plant called plant
want to check the plant called plant
want to check the plant called plant Aiko princeps that I can see we can’t
Aiko princeps that I can see we can’t
Aiko princeps that I can see we can’t really get to that one unless we’re
really get to that one unless we’re
really get to that one unless we’re roped in we’ve had a lot of things come
roped in we’ve had a lot of things come
roped in we’ve had a lot of things come in that threaten our native plants over
in that threaten our native plants over
in that threaten our native plants over the years they’ve introduced sheep
the years they’ve introduced sheep
the years they’ve introduced sheep cattle goats and add to that diseases of
cattle goats and add to that diseases of
cattle goats and add to that diseases of plants that have come in on them has to
plants that have come in on them has to
plants that have come in on them has to be a little bit careful
it is clinical princeps variety anomaly
it is clinical princeps variety anomaly which is only known from the island of
which is only known from the island of
which is only known from the island of Kauai what’s come later though is just
Kauai what’s come later though is just
Kauai what’s come later though is just an onslaught of weeds from all over the
an onslaught of weeds from all over the
an onslaught of weeds from all over the world thousands of weed this is a weenie
world thousands of weed this is a weenie
world thousands of weed this is a weenie plant coming in behind it
plant coming in behind it
plant coming in behind it miracle fly yeah if we could tell you
miracle fly yeah if we could tell you
miracle fly yeah if we could tell you that like one of the plants found you
that like one of the plants found you
that like one of the plants found you know might be used for cancer AIDS then
know might be used for cancer AIDS then
know might be used for cancer AIDS then everybody would say oh well then let’s
everybody would say oh well then let’s
everybody would say oh well then let’s save them but if these plants go extinct
save them but if these plants go extinct
save them but if these plants go extinct we’re never going to be able to even
we’re never going to be able to even
we’re never going to be able to even test them but the main reason that I
test them but the main reason that I
test them but the main reason that I like them and maybe it’s a little
like them and maybe it’s a little
like them and maybe it’s a little esoteric to some people it’s just
esoteric to some people it’s just
esoteric to some people it’s just because they’re there is enough for me I
hate to use cliches like the plague
hate to use cliches like the plague but extinction is forever they’re part
but extinction is forever they’re part
but extinction is forever they’re part of the species of this planet of these
of the species of this planet of these
of the species of this planet of these islands and they evolved here and
islands and they evolved here and
islands and they evolved here and deserve to be here
hoping that the future of this planet
hoping that the future of this planet has people who are much more caring than
has people who are much more caring than
has people who are much more caring than some of the people I’ve met who couldn’t
some of the people I’ve met who couldn’t
some of the people I’ve met who couldn’t care less with these things go so maybe
care less with these things go so maybe
care less with these things go so maybe it’s for a brighter future
”
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