Incompatible Insect Technique News Today

At Haleakalā National Park yesterday, the Director of Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and conservationists involved in Birds, Not Mosquitoes, shed light on the ongoing project to save native birds on East Maui. 

Center for Biological Diversity: HONOLULU— A federal judge has ruled in favor of conservation groups and the state of Hawai‘i, allowing a project to suppress mosquitos to protect imperiled Hawaiian honeycreepers on east Maui to proceed. The judge found that an environmental assessment was sufficient and a finding of no significant impact correctly issued for the project.

A judge has granted summary judgment in favor of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), thwarting efforts by an advocacy group to restrain the use of the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) to control mosquito born avian malaria on East Maui.

A state Circuit Court judge Tuesday rejected an attempt to block state and private conservation officials from releasing millions of mosquitoes into the forests of East Maui.

(HONOLULU)—The year 2024 is for the birds, thanks to a proclamation signed by Governor Josh Green, M.D., Friday. Forest birds arrived in Hawai‘i millions

The year 2024 is for the forest birds, thanks to a proclamation signed by Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green, M.D., on Friday.

The eight Hawaiian bird species are all forest honeycreepers.

This frightening revelation was shared by Justin Hite of the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project during a community open house Tuesday evening.

The draft environmental assessment was made public for the use of Wolbachia-based incompatible male mosquitoes on Kauaʻi to stop the spread of avian malaria that is decimating native forest bird populations.

A team from the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project are in the midst of another field season. The season is probably the last for the diminutive native Hawaiian honeycreeper, the ‘akikiki, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.