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On top of her business, Baxter now applies her conservation expertise as a forest response technician for the Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee (KISC). A major focus is ʻŌhiʻa trees — the most important tree in Hawaii.
“ʻŌhiʻa trees are the life of the forest,” Baxter said. “The entire ecosystem relies on them.”
She is mitigating the spread of a fungus appropriately named Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, which ominously turns the entire tree canopy brown.
“They control water tables, and provide food and habitat,” Baxter said. “Without them, the ecosystem would collapse.”
Baxter’s journey to Hawaii was long and circuitous. Like many future wildlife biologists, she always wanted to be outside in nature and close to animals. Once she discovered that you could major in wildlife ecology and conservation, within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Baxter never looked back. Her visit to Newark sealed the deal that she would become a Blue Hen.
“In addition to the campus, UD offered a study abroad course to Tanzania that no one else had,” Baxter said. “At UD, I not only studied conservation and learned taxonomy, but also got the chance to see charismatic megafauna like elephants, giraffes and lions.”
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