Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project (MFBRP) is dedicated to the conservation of Hawaiʻi’s native forest ecosystems.
Formed in 1997, our mission is to protect and recover Maui’s endangered forest birds and their habitats.
MFBRP acknowledges Hawaiʻi as an Indigenous space whose original people are identified today as Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians). In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani yielded the Hawaiian Kingdom under duress to the United States to avoid the bloodshed of her people.
We recognize and honor the generations of Kānaka Maoli lifeways and knowledge systems that have shaped and continue to care for the Hawaiian Islands. We recognize Kānaka Maoli as the original stewards of these lands. We recognize our kuleana to affirm Kānaka Maoli sovereignty, respect cultural protocols, and aloha ʻāina.
We recognize the importance of the ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i including the ‘okina [‘] and the kahakō [ō]. Some of these may have been omitted on our website, not out of disrespect but due to the formatting limitations or errors.
Maui’s Birds
The Gems of the Forest
Our Work
Put Extinction In the Past
Support
Be a Part of the Solution
Hawai’i’s Geographical Isolation
The Hawaiian islands are some of the most isolated islands in the world. This isolation has fostered unique relationships between native forest birds and the plants and trees they evolved with over the millennia — and this isolation also means that these native island birds are particularly vulnerable to the threats from introduced/invasive species and disease.
Introduced animals, plants and diseases from elsewhere in the world continue to disrupt the unique island relationships and impact the wellbeing of Hawaii’s forests and native birds.
Because of these impacts, we conduct research in the remaining native forests in the islands. We work to evaluate trends in native forest bird status and distribution. This data then guides management decisions about protecting these precious native birds and addressing challenges to their survival.
