Strategic backyard conservation is an outgrowth of the successful Go Native Project. The idea is to empower of the community to engage in conservation efforts. Those living in urban areas—particularly areas that are adjacent or nearby natural habitat—can grow native Hawaiian plants that provide habitat or food for native animal species, many of which are endangered or threatened. Grow Good Hawaii will follow a “top-down” and “bottom-up” approach.

The top-down approach entails identifying natural areas with significant populations of a specific native animal and then conducting outreach to residents of areas that are adjacent or nearby. If enough residents grow habitat and food, native animals may be able to extend their range or use these wildlife corridors to transit between natural areas. For example, there are known populations of ‘elepaio and ‘amakihi at the back of ‘Aiea (‘Aiea Loop and Ridge Trails). Residents of ‘Aiea Heights could potentially support these populations by growing more native Hawaiian plants.

The bottom-up approach involves development of an app or website where residents can check to see which types of wildlife are nearby and then which native plants they can grow to support these animal populations. This effort will be less targeted and more of a broad-based approach.

With both the top-down and bottom-up approaches, emphasis will be placed on educating the public about how their yards or other growing spaces can provide valuable ecosystem services to support nature while reciprocally benefitting human beings. Grow Good Hawaii will also involve participants in citizen science initiatives such as tracking the number and types of plants grown and wildlife sightings.