UHELP
§ About the Program

Working knowledge,
in the hands of
those doing the work.

§ 01 Mission

UH Ecosystems Work is a Cooperative Extension Program that provides evidence-based problem solving and best practices so conservation and watershed workers can effectively maintain and restore thriving ecosystems and landscapes.

We strive to provide practical support to land stewardship efforts and the conservation and watershed workers in Hawaiʻi.

§ 02 Common Topics
  • 01Native Ecosystems Restoration
  • 02Addressing ThreatsWeeds · Fire · Predators · Climate Change
  • 03Connecting & Supporting Ecosystems Workers
§ 03 Our Approach

Extension serves a key role in improving the relevance, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge generated through research. We serve as partners and collaborators on projects that prioritize relationship-building and dialogue with research users.

We use a Needs-Finding Process and a Logic Model to prioritize and guide our work.

§ 04 People

Current team

Extension Specialist

Clay Trauernicht

Phone ·
808-956-6875
Office ·
Sherman Labs 233
Twitter ·
@claytrau

I am an Associate Professor in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. My scientific interests revolve around the application of quantitative ecology and remote sensing to understand how people and climate influence the dynamics of tropical forest and savanna ecosystems.

In addition to many years of botanical and ecological fieldwork, I have published and presented on plant community ecology and population modeling, geospatial analyses of fire and species occurrence, and the use of local knowledge to adapt management strategies and inform research needs.

Project Specialist

Liat Portner

Office ·
Sherman Lab 210

I am passionate about sustaining native Hawaiian ecosystems through research, management, and community engagement. I completed undergraduate programs in Geography and Ethnobotany (2011) and a master's degree in Geography (2022) at UH Mānoa, exploring how land cover changes impact water processes.

Field experiences across the archipelago, from Holanikū to Kohala, immersed me in the aspects of managing across Hawaiʻi's biodiversity. Throughout this journey, I have had the privilege of engaging with the mālama ʻāina community, who continually deepen my understanding of, and expand my passion for, Hawaiʻi's native ecosystems.

§ 05 Alumni

Past team

Inaugural Project Specialist

Melissa Kunz

Melissa was the first Project Specialist for the Ecosystems Extension program, working with Clay before and during its inception. She currently holds a position with the U.S. Forest Service at the Institute for Pacific Island Forestry (IPIF) as a social scientist. We are forever grateful for the thought she put into this program and we will continue to collaborate with Melissa into the future.

§ Explore the Archive

Every workshop, forum summary, and practitioner resource we have published — searchable, shareable, preserved.

Open the Resource Library →
§ Listserv

For updates on resources and upcoming events, join our listserv. We're glad to stay connected.

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