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PMC Volunteer Recognized
Chief Lancaster presents Kristen Coelho
with a plaque in recognition of the 535 hours she has volunteered so far
this fiscal year at the NRCS Hoolehua Plant Materials Center (PMC) located
on the island of Molokai.
(NRCS photo
— click to enlarge) |
Chief Lancaster recently presented Kristen Coelho with a plaque in
recognition of the 535 hours she has volunteered so far this fiscal year at the
NRCS Hoolehua Plant Materials Center (PMC) located on the island of Molokai.
She assists the PMC staff with experimental test plot installation and data
collection, propagation of plant propagules, test plot maintenance, irrigation
repair, weed control, crop harvesting, seed cleaning, and facility and
vehicle maintenance. She is well versed in the operation of tractors,
combines, balers, rakes, mowers, disks, chemical boom sprayers, loaders, and
various seed cleaning machines at the center and is steadily gaining knowledge
of conservation plants as they relate to the protection and enhancement of the
resource base. She has been involved in plant identification of both
native and non-native plants for conservation efforts throughout the Pacific
Island Area.
She has also assisted in the propagation, harvesting and maintenance of
native Hawaiian plants to re-establish native plant population on Kahoolawe
island that has been severely eroded from decades of overgrazing by livestock
and use as a test range by the U.S. Navy.
Kristen Coelho was born and raised on the island of Molokai. She attended
Molokai High School and upon graduating, enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and
was stationed in Washington State. She retuned to Molokai in 2006 and
began volunteering for NRCS in November of that year.
Your contact is Jolene Lau NRCS
public affairs specialist, at 808-541-2600, ext. 135.
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