COM 1141.000 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.M In reference to: Grading and Grubbing Revision 29 Jan 2008 Members of the County Council, Our unique native forest is diminishing with the passing years as it is cleared for homes and business sites. We have no laws in place to protect native forest on these private lands. If both development and lack of protection continue in the current trend, in the worst outcome, native forest could disappear fully from these lands. On the other hand, we could decide to do something to ensure a different outcome. We could prohibit unnecessary removal of native forest on lots of all sizes. Then, even if the trend of development continues, a little of the forest will still remain. In this scenario we mitigate and control the worst outcome: how much of the forest remains depends on how much people are restricted from removing. Once cleared, that forest is gone. Left to grow back, the hardier weeds and invasive plants will grow instead. The sooner we enact protections, the more forest we will be left with. The revision of the Grading and Grubbing ordinance is imminent. If we add some forest protection to the revision, we will be starting right away on ensuring remaining forest. Are people willing to further limit their rights as property owners and accept restrictions on native forest removal? In the enclosed petition (enclosure 1), the people are asking you to place the restrictions. Circulated by just a few people who have reached out to friends, community members, and absolute strangers, this petition asks that something be done within the upcoming revision of Grading and Grubbing to minimize further damage to our forest. Whenever anyone asked how this could be accomplished, they were shown a simple solution (enclosure 2) of leaving a forested buffer around the property, to attach to the next property, and thereby to preserve a forested grid. This forested buffer solution was proposed by the Natural Resources Working Group (NRWG) as one method of preserving forest, to be supplemented eventually by an umbrella Forest Protection Ordinance (enclosure 3). The NRWG submissions, originating from ideas in small community group meetings, were, in turn, condensed and incorporated into the draft Puna Community Development Plan (pertinent excerpts in enclosure 4). The NRWG members have been contacting the Department of Public Works during this past December and January, and requesting to meet with the group revising the Grading and Grubbing ordinance to discuss incorporating forest protection prior to the revision's release. No meeting has yet been granted. We, the people of the Big Island, are asking you, our elected leaders, to help us to preserve our forest, and to start now. Submitted by Jillian Marohnic (PO Box 611 Volcano 96785)