COM 1013.001 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Testimony Presented Before the Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance August 22, 2006 By Dr. Arnold H. Hara, Researcher University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) Hilo, Hawaii Comm. 1013 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE (Res, 425-06) OF STATE FUNDING APPROPRIATED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE PURSUANT TO ACT 160, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2006, FOR THE COQUI FROG ERADICATION AND CONTROL EFFORTS BY THE COUNTY OF HAWAII; and (Bill 323) AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 06-79, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 20, 2007 (appropriates $1 million to the coqui frog eradication and control account) Chair Virginia Isbell, Vice Chair Gary Safari and Members of the Committee: I am a resident and a UH-CTAHR researcher in the County of Hawaii. I am currently conducting research on the chemical, physical, genetic and biological control of the coqui frog and developing educational materials for public outreach. I am highly supportive of Comm. 1013 (Res. 425-06) and Bill 323 that will authorize the receipt and expenditure of state funds by the County of Hawaii in partnership with the Coqui Frog Working Group (CFWG). Since 2002, CFWG has collaboratively developed effective control efforts by Big Island communities, and coordinated research and education efforts by county, state, federal, non-profit and private organizations. Allocating coqui frog state funds to the County of Hawaii will assure efficient and accountable use of resources with the ultimate goal of suppressing the coqui frog on the Big Island. Without any mitigation, the coqui frog population will continue to exponentially increase because of their unlimited food supply, numerous nesting and retreat sites, and lack of natural enemies in Hawaii.