[PCA] The Ōhiʻa Challenge: Combating the fungal pathogen decimating the Ōhiʻa tree

[plant at plantconservation.org]

The problem:

A new fungal pathogen infecting Hawai'i iconic Ōhiʻa and decimating  
Hawai'i's ecosystems is causing Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD).

https://www.savetheohia.org/?wvideo=w834dhmmgo

Credit: ROD_TechChallenge_KauaiEndCredit_V1_062018

Finding a solution:

The Ōhiʻa Challenge was launched in Fall 2018 to seek novel  
technologies to solve the problem of Rapid Ōhiʻa Death (ROD) in the  
areas of field-based detection; landscape-level detection; and  
pathways and predictors to infection.

Sponsored by Conservation X Labs in conjunction with Hawai‘i Volcanoes  
National Park, U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Native  
Hawaiian Relations, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, and  
National Invasive Species Council (NISC) Secretariat.  
https://conservationx.com/challenge/invasives/ohia

The winning project:

A team of researchers led by Dr. Perroy, Associate Professor at the  
University of Hawai'i-Hilo will use high resolution imagery &  
drone-based sampling detect, monitor, and amass data that will enable  
better prediction and verification of infections using aerial sampling.

More info at: https://www.savetheohia.org/