| The State of Hawai‘i created the Natural Area Reserves System, or NARS, to preserve and protect representative samples of Hawaiian biological ecosystems and geological formations. The system presently consist of 19 reserves on five islands, encompassing more than 109,000 acres of the State's most unique ecosystems. The diverse areas found in the NARS range from marine and coastal environments to lava flows, tropical rainforests, and even an alpine desert. Within these areas one can find rare plants and animals, many of which are on the edge of extinction. The reserves also protect some of the major watershed areas which provide our vital sources of fresh water.
The Natural Area Reserves System is administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Currently, management teams are working to control the encroachment of non-native plants and animals which threaten the existence of the natural biota on the reserves.
The Natural Area Reserves System is an irreplaceable legacy for the people of Hawaii. This program is committed to protect and manage these areas so that future generations can enjoy, study, and experience the natural heritage which belongs only to our State. |
