This open access book describes the serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems. Invasive species have caused and will continue to cause enormous ecological and economic damage with ever increasing world trade. This multi-disciplinary book, written by over 100 national experts, presents the latest research on a wide range of natural science and social science fields that explore the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species. It covers species of all taxonomic groups from insects and pathogens, to plants, vertebrates, and aquatic organisms that impact a diversity of habitats in forests, rangelands and grasslands of the United States. It is well-illustrated, provides summaries of the most important invasive species and issues impacting all regions of the country, and includes a comprehensive primary reference list for each topic. This scientific synthesis provides the cultural, economic, scientific and social context for addressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species and will be a valuable resource for scholars, policy makers, natural resource managers and practitioners.

This personal account of Forest Service (FS) activities in Hawaii is from the vantage point of an author who during his 2 decades there served as the sole FS rep. in the Hawaiian Islands, then research center leader, and finally the Dir. of the Inst. of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF). Contents: (1) Historical Setting: Sandalwood; Fuelwood; Posts and Poles; Treefern; Sawmills; Wood Markets; The Sugar Industry; Forest Decimation; Forming Hawaii Forestry Policy and Programs; FS Assistance to Hawaii Before 1957; (2) FS Program (1957-62): Developing a Broad Research Program; Reports and Pub.; Tech. Assist.; (3) FS Program: Research Program; State and Private Forestry; Amer. Samoa and Western Pacific Territories (1963-69); (4) IPIF. Illus.

"The RAWS network and RAWS data-use systems are closely reviewed and summarized in this report. RAWS is an active program created by the many land-management agencies that share a common need for accurate and timely weather data from remote locations for vital operational and program decisions specific to wildland and prescribed fires. A RAWS measures basic observable weather parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation as well as "fuel stick" temperature. Data from almost 1,900 stations deployed across the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii are now routinely used to calculate and forecast daily fire danger indices, components, and adjective ratings. Fire business applications include the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS), fire behavior, and fire use. Findings point to the fact that although the RAWS program works and provides needed weather data in support of fire operations, there are inefficiencies and significant problem areas that require leadership attention at the National level."