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<br /> May 17 n5 08:O1p Laura [8097968-7211 p.l <br /> Ku'Ohi'a laka Rainforest Reserve <br /> P. O. Box 504 , . <br /> Kea'au,HI 96'749 ~~I'~~' `~-!'I l ~ <br /> kol@hawaii.rr.com <br /> ~~C~,~_~... <br /> DATE: May 18, 2005 <br /> TO: Hawaii CounTy Council Members <br /> FROM: Laura Brezinsky, Ph. D, Executive Director <br /> RE: [n FULL SUPPORT of BILL 78, Land Conservation Funding <br /> There an urgency associated with passing this bill today. <br /> Every delay equals lost opportunities and lands. These lands are not replenish-able <br /> resources, and the development clock is ticking. Once lancLs get bought by developers <br /> and leveled for private interest, the public loses a great resource, and the island <br /> ("CounTy) loses a little more of it's ability to sustain its people, while inhcrlting more <br /> people to provide for. <br /> There a need for at least a 2% set aside to make it work. <br /> Settine aside 2% of the annual budget makes a strong statement of our commitment to <br /> conservation of Hawai' i County. <br /> The people of Hawaii County have voiced our overwhelming support of Bill 78 and <br /> our commitment to protecting our uniyue and fragile island. Bill 78 puts our money <br /> behind our commitment, provides important leverage to help secure additional Federal <br /> and State conservation funding and provides important direction for our future. In <br /> addition, these dedicated funds will provide important matching funds and help attract <br /> and leverage additional Federal and State funding to contribute to our conservation <br /> efforts. <br /> Bill 78 is affordable <br /> Let's learn from the mistakes and hindsight of other counties. Across The State of <br /> Hawaii native habitat and culture have been lost due to the lack of foresight. Hawai i <br /> county has an opportunity to look into the future and take positive initiatives that will <br /> help protect what is uniquely Hawaiian. We all understand the fiscal and current needs p <br /> Comm. No. o <br /> Ref. To: ¢rea,e <br /> Raf. Date <br /> <br />