Could native plants help save
our coral reefs?

We’re raising $30,000 to investigate native plants that could enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems in Hawai‘i and beyond. Please join us!

Jump to: The problem  |  A natural solution  |  Project summary  |  Community-based research

The problem

Elevated nitrogen levels from submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) are negatively affecting corals along Hawai‘i’s coastlines, making them more susceptible to coral bleaching and disease. In Kahalu‘u Bay alone, for example, up to 1.8 million gallons of polluted water per day flows in via SGD, carrying high levels of nitrogen in the form of sewage and excess fertilizer that can amplify the rapid decline of coral reef ecosystems.

 

A natural solution

In many parts of the world, plants have been used as natural water filters to remove pollutants. This process is called phytoremediation, and has been used as part of wastewater and stormwater treatment processes for decades. Studies of one native Hawaiian plant, makaloa, have demonstrated that they are capable of removing nitrogen in nearshore environments. We want to expand on this research to study other native plants that may also have potential to improve water quality and increase the resilience of coastal ecosystems.

 

Project summary

This is a novel phytoremediation project that is designed to bridge ancestral knowledge and modern science to create natural solutions to address today’s water quality issues. We believe an important outcome will be to elevate community knowledge about the potential ecological services wetland plants provide. Specifically, the work would include evaluating two indigenous wetland plants, ahu‘awa (Cyperus javanicus) and ‘aka‘akai (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani), for their potential in reducing nutrient runoff from fertilizers, improperly treated sewage, and nonpoint source pollution levels in SGD prior to entering coastal waters. Research will include evaluating the adaptation of these plants to brackish/saltwater conditions.

Expected outcomes of this research will:

• Help support restoration initiatives in Hawai‘i where water quality in coastal areas has been compromised.
• Support research and development for these plants to be used in innovative natural wastewater treatment systems in Hawai‘i and other coastal communities where high salt concentrations are present.

 

Support community-based research!

We have received a grant for $30,000 to conduct this study, and need an additional $30,000 to support the research team, acquire project materials and plants, and complete the investigation. Your contribution will turn ancestral knowledge and research into action right here on Hawai‘i Island—for Hawai‘i and beyond.

This applied research project is a collaboration between The Kohala Center, Terraformation, and Roth Ecological Design International, LLC. Research is expected to take nine months. We are aiming to complete the project by August 31, 2021.

Read more:
Thirty years of unique data reveal what's really killing coral reefs (Florida Atlantic University, 2019)
Nitrogen pollution interacts with heat stress to increase coral bleaching across the seascape (Donovan et al, 2020)

 

back to top