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The Forages Website
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Forage Environment
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Hawaii has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. From the fiery lava fields on the coast to the alpine regions on the upper slopes of the world's largest mountain masses to the unique marine habitats of our Northwest Hawaiian Islands, adaptations of life forms over the millennia, as well as new "alien" introductions to these islands, have establish itself in these extensive environmental niches.

The work of J.C. Ripperton and E.Y. Hosaka (1942) entitled 'Vegetative Zones of Hawaii' is still used as the basis for describing the various plant zones on the major Hawaiian Islands.

To get a description of your particular vegetative zone:
  1. Select your island from the list below, click once.
  2. On the island map, find your approximate location and determine which zone best represents your location (use the map's color coded legend), click on the map.
  3. Find your zone in the table. The information will describe the altitude limits, average rainfall, land use and vegetation characteristics.
Click on your island to see a zone map:

Hawaii

Maui

Kauai

Molokai

Lanai

Oahu
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Last updated on 7/29/03