The Koʻolau Mountains contain some of the most important and productive watershed forests on Oʻahu.
In addition to sustaining our supply of fresh water, a healthy functioning watershed forest performs valuable ecosystem services such as:
- retaining soils and nutrients,
- slowing erosion rates,
- preventing flooding in lowland areas,
- maintaining water quality in streams,
- reducing the sedimentation and pollution of nearshore reef environments, and
- providing important habitat for other native species.
