This project integrates new climate change science with longstanding community conservation values. For this Greenprint, project partners will host discussions at local, regional, and state levels among technical and lay audiences to raise awareness, exchange ideas and develop an action plan. The Greenprint will help communities, agencies and organizations understand where land conservation can be applied to reduce climate change vulnerabilities in concert with other land use priorities.

Please describe your innovation?

There are three innovative components: (1) Integration of conservation and climate change planning utilizing new spatially explicit data. We will also use new GIS data identifying critical cultural lands. This project aims to preserve quality of life and facilitate greater climate resiliency. (2) Locally-informed decisions across six islands. Though at a large landscape scale, the project will incorporate values from individual community members via a variety of outreach methods, including booths at popular community events, to educate project partners and the public around topics of climate change, land use and land conservation opportunities. (3) A custom on-line platform where project partners can upload new datasets, create custom maps and log progress towards measurable goals. The tracking tool will monitor success for years to come. The interactive shared site is an innovative in conservation planning, allowing network members to work toward a coordinated vision for change.

What is the problem or situation that your innovation seeks to address?

First is the problem of climate change. Sea level rise projections for all the Hawaiian Islands will soon be available, and we will coordinate with a leading scientist to apply the results so we can anticipate where coastal inundation can be mitigated. The Nature Conservancy has identified the most important natural refugia habitats. We will also coordinate with the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative to use the best data available. Second is the problem of unplanned development. Using voluntary land conservation and public education, we aim to save the places now that are most important to our past and future, such as cultural lands, fields for agricultural independence, places for recreation, climate resilient refugia and uncontaminated drinking water supplies. Third is a lack of coordination among agencies and organizations working on these issues. The Greenprint will help coordinate these entities through a process, action plan and mapping site that tracks progress.

What effort have you made to test out your new idea?

In 2011 we tested the Greenprint concept on Oahu’s North Shore. Working with about 30 community representatives, North Shore Community Land Trust and Townscape, Inc, we completed a conservation plan that included seven goals and maps identifying the best places to meet those goals. We interviewed over three-dozen residents and reached about 200 people through community events. The Greenprint facilitated discussions about local values and what proactive actions are most needed by individuals, their community and their government. Also in 2011 TPL started a pilot project in New England to create an on-line mapping framework that will serve stakeholders preserving and enhancing the local forest economy, recreation and climate change adaptation strategies. Collectively this group is setting short and long-terms goals. The on-line platform allows them to contribute updates in real time and monitors progress towards achieving their goals. This cutting edge tool will go live this summer.

What is particularly noteworthy or novel about your innovation?

A few things make this project particularly novel. (1) The requisite statewide science-based climate change GIS data will be ready this year. We could not previously do landscape scale analysis with integrated climate change projections because the data was not available. Similarly, statewide cultural data has not been available in a GIS format, but will soon be ready. (2) GIS software has recently made tremendous advancements to accommodate networks of individuals and agencies wanting shared data uploading and progress tracking capabilities for landscape scale conservation. (3) This proposal reflects a new partnership between land conservation community (The Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy (data contributor), and The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Other state agencies may become project conveners and site users. We propose a structure based on local desires and values, but with cross sector benefits and economies of scale.

What impact do you expect your innovation will have on the problem or situation described in the previous question?

The Greenprint will benefit Hawaii residents, state and county agencies, the professional land conservation community and native plants and animals. Positive results will include: · Education around climate change impacts, including information on the timing and nature of change so people can make informed decisions. · Conserving lowlands that will eventually be inundated by the sea – planning now will help reduce economic hardship and allow for migration of shorelines for plants and animals. · Conserving uplands for plant and animal refugia. · Increased community awareness around the value and tools for preserving key cultural lands, and finding a balanced approach to growth. · Through land conservation support Hawaii’s economy, residents’ quality of life tied to the landscape, watershed lands that sustain island fresh water supplies, and Hawaii’s ability to obtain food security. Tens of thousands of agricultural lands are currently for sale and at risk of conversion to other uses.

What other community partners will you need if your innovation is to scale beyond your organization?

The concept has already scaled beyond our organization (see next response). But to deliver a Greenprint serving over 1 million residents across six islands, partnering with additional organizations will be necessary. This effort must be accountable to the diversity of people living on the Hawaiian Islands, which means working with organizations and individuals who can communicate effectively with residents of varying backgrounds to learn about and incorporate their conservation priorities. For example, we will form a representative stakeholder group for each island, and 1-3 organizations will co-lead the stakeholder groups. The leaders will vary depending on relationships with residents and will include Native Hawaiian led organizations. Together, these leaders will comprise an Island Leadership Team (ILT). In sum, each island will have its own stakeholder group and its own ILT, which will handle convening, logistics, and island-specific public outreach.

Why are your organization, partners, and key personnel suited to take on this project?

As the leading global conservation organization protecting ecologically important resources, The Nature Conservancy has a wealth of data and expertise, and TNC will contribute its own GIS datasets for this project. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ real estate mission is to protect and preserve Hawaiian lands and their cultural significance. OHA’s connection to community and the Hawaiian Sense of Place gives this project credibility and leverage. The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust is committed to working in partnership to protect Hawaii’s precious places and through a recent merger, now represents the combined skill and resources of four organizations. The Trust for Public Land has a long history of working with communities to establish successful Greenprints. TPL has also begun applying climate science to inform land conservation. TPL is working now on a similar process to protect important climate refugia in the Intermountain West and Northern Forest of Maine and New Hampshire.