Partner Spotlight: Archipelago Research and Conservation (ARC)

On the island of Kaua‘i, recovery is underway. Endangered seabirds that once filled Hawai‘i’s night skies are slowly returning to restored habitats — a sign that years of dedicated conservation actions are making a measurable impact.

One of the key players in this effort is Archipelago Research and Conservation (ARC), co-owned by Dr. André Raine, Science Director. Founded in 2020, ARC focuses on protecting and restoring Hawai‘i’s native wildlife — particularly endangered seabirds and waterbirds. Dr. Raine and his team have been working on Kaua‘i for more than 14 years, leading large-scale efforts to restore nesting sites, reduce threats such as light pollution and powerline collisions and monitor the effectiveness of management actions such as the removal of invasive species.

Seabirds face similar challenges around the world — habitat loss, introduced predators, and environmental change. ARC’s deep expertise in Hawai‘i is now informing projects across the Pacific, including the Cook Islands and American Samoa, where less is known about seabird populations. By identifying key breeding areas and uncovering emerging threats, such as predation by cats and dogs, ARC is helping local partners design more effective management strategies.

For projects that span decades, reliable monitoring is essential. That’s where Conservation Metrics has been proud to collaborate — providing the analytical techniques needed for data collected from acoustic monitoring tools deployed by ARC.

“Long-term data is the backbone of successful conservation. With ARC, we turn years of observations into measurable results for seabird recovery,” says Matthew McKown, CEO of Conservation Metrics.

“With a project of this length, we need continuity,” says Dr. Raine. “Working with Conservation Metrics, you get that continuity — ARC collecting the data, and CMI analyzing it. That consistency is key.”

Long-term acoustic datasets are confirming what ARC’s field teams are witnessing firsthand: rising annual call rates are mirroring expanding colonies, increased reproductive success rates and new signs of recovery across key management areas.  As a key facet of monitoring data, these results are helping ARC and partner organizations demonstrate the tangible results of years of investment and collaboration.

“The Conservation Metrics team brings a strong science background,” Dr. Raine adds. “They’re passionate about conservation, and it shows in their work.”

From Kaua‘i to islands across the Pacific, ARC’s leadership and commitment are setting a standard for conservation that’s both community-driven and data-informed. Conservation Metrics is honored to support their work — helping turn years of listening into evidence of recovery.

Learn more about ARC’s impact: visit archipelagoresearchandconservation.com and follow them on social media @arc_kauai to stay updated on their conservation efforts.