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WHEREAS, similaz concerns have been raised about the eucalyptus trees that have been <br /> planted close to State highways, which in some cases have limited viewing plains to the <br /> mountain and the ocean, and caused concerns of damage to power lines as well as the threat of <br /> road closure from fallen trees during strong winds; and <br /> WHEREAS, these concerns could be mitigated if residential homes, State highways, and <br /> County roadways are buffered by implementing a setback of 120 feet from property lines and <br /> roadways during reforestation; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and <br /> Wildlife (DOFAW) encourages Best Management Practices through its Forest Stewardship <br /> program, which provides technical advice and financial assistance on a cost-share basis to <br /> promote the stewardship, enhancement, conservation, and restoration of Hawai`i's forests; and <br /> WHEREAS, all Forest Stewazdship Program participants must adhere to current <br /> DOFAW Best Management practices, which states in pazt that, "the first and foremost concern is <br /> to prevent harm and damage to people and property. Fireline best management practices should <br /> incorporate minimum impact strategies, which meet land and resource management objectives."; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, on October 9, 2007, a meeting was held with representatives from KSBE, <br /> Forest Solutions, Hawaii Fire Depaztment, and DOFAW whereby concerns from the community <br /> were raised and discussed by Hawaii County Council Member Dominic Yagong; and <br /> WHEREAS, the harvesting of these mature commercial eucalyptus trees is inevitable, <br /> and it would be in the best interest of the public to have the commercial eucalyptus industry <br /> <br /> work with DOFAW and the community to identify specific areas to voluntarily implement <br /> setback and/or buffer zones and delineate these safety zones and defensible space for fighting <br /> forest fires in a reforestation plan; now, therefore, <br /> BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, that the <br /> Hawaii County Council recommends that the commercial eucalyptus forestry industry work <br /> with DOFAW to complete a reforestation plan that delineates specific setbacks and/or buffer <br /> zones of 120 feet from residential homes, State highways, and County roadways; and <br /> 2 <br /> <br />