Pritchardia viscosa

The current threat is seed predation by rats, pigs, and humans, and competition from invasive introduced plants which may discourage seedlings from surviving in the wild. These include Rubus argutus, Psidium cattleianum, Morella faya, Paspalum conjugatum, Clidemia hirta, Psidium cattleianum, Lantana camara, Digitaria insularis, Andropogon glomeratus, Pterolepis glomerata, Paspalum urveillei, Ageratum conyzoides and Setaria gracilis. A charismatic palm, it is subject to illegal collection of seeds, and one juvenile individual was dug up illegally causing a decline in the population.

Pritchardia viscosa is Federally Listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. As such it has a Recovery Plan, and designated Critical Habitat. It is also therefore protected under Hawaii state law. It cannot be collected, sold, shipped, or grown without a state permit. Many trees have been propagated at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and are grown there as well as at a number of out-planting sites on Kauai.

Needed conservation measures include:
• Surveys and inventories—Survey for populations of Pritchardia viscosa in areas of potentially suitable habitat
• Ungulate monitoring and control—Continue to construct and maintain small-scale fenced exclosures around all populations to prevent imminent extinction. Protect all occurrences against disturbances from feral ungulates.
• Invasive plant monitoring and control—Control established ecosystem-altering nonnative invasive plant species around all populations.
• Control invasive nonnative species that compete with the species around all populations.• Implement effective measures to control rodents around all known populations.

Needed research includes:
• Predator and herbivore monitoring and control.
• Predator and herbivore control research; determine level of threat from invertebrate herbivory by the banana moth and two-spotted leaf hopper, and any additional needed recovery actions.
• Disease control research; determine the level of threat from Phytophthora fungus.
• Captive propagation for genetic storage and reintroduction—Continue to collect material for genetic storage which will need to be either by cryopreservation or possibly -80 deg. C. 
• Reintroduction and translocation—Reintroduce individuals into suitable habitat within historic range that is being managed for known threats to this species.
• Human disturbance: develop and implement effective measures to reduce the threat of malicious injury and illegal collecting impacts.