Pu'u Maka'ala Natural Area Reserve NEON - United States of America

NEON's PUUM field site is located in the Pu'u Maka'ala Natural Area Reserve (NAR) on the eastern side of Hawaii's Big Island, managed by the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). More than 18,000 acres in size, the NAR is home to a rainforest with many native species, some of them endangered. It was established to protect some of the Big Island's best wet native forest and unique geologic features. Part of the reserve is fenced to reduce damage from feral ungulates making the area extremely important for the protection of native species. Due to the unique mix of soil conditions, flora and fauna on the island, researchers at PUUM will need to make a number of modifications to the sampling and measurement protocols used ...