The fire mostly burned inside the Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to 22 species listed as endangered or threatened by the US government. Hawaii’s native plants evolved without encountering regular fires and fire is not part of their natural life cycle. Faster-growing non-native plants with more seeds tend to sprout in place of native species afterwards. There are also cultural losses when native forest burns. They will devise a restoration plan that will include invasive species control and planting native species.

Source: The Times November 12, 2023 08:37 UTC