RES 816 Draft 01 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• LFA are easily dislodged by wind, pruning of trees, or fruit harvesting so that they drop onto the clothing of farm workers, where they become trapped and inflict painful bites resulting iu a variety of symptoms including intense itching, swelling, and blistering; • LFA bites have been known to cause blindness in animals and decimate populations of birds and soft-bodied organisms, and many myrmecologists (ant scientists) regard the LFA as the worst possible species of invasive ant; • It has become difficult to find labor to harvest fruit in other areas that have LFA infestations, such as the citrus groves in Florida, due to the swarms of stinging ants; and • Without immediate and decisive action on the part of the county, LFA infestations could have a disastrous impact on Hawaii Island's fruit and coffee industries, tourism, the local food supply, and the quality of life of county residents; and WHEREAS, incidences of persons having been severely bitten have been reported not only in Puna but also across the island in other districts; and WHEREAS, failure to take a proactive stand to minimize the impact of the LFA infestation on Hawaii Island will likely require a faz more costly program to address the foreseeable damage to the island economy; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that, by March 1, 2009, the county administration is strongly urged to designate a person or persons to coordinate efforts to control LFA infestations on the island. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the county administration is requested to create a LFA taskforce to provide management oversight for the county response to this crisis, and ensure that information from farmers who have been actively working to control large LFA infestations is considered by this taskforce. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the county administration, through its designated LFA taskforce, is requested to update the mapping of LFA infestations on the island. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the county administration, through its designated LFA taskforce, is requested to advocate at the State level for inspection of landscape materials, including green waste mulch and plants translocated around the island, as well as inspection and testing of all nurseries for the presence of LFA infestations, followed by quarantine and treatment of infected nurseries. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the county administration, through its designated LFA taskforce, is requested to mount a LFA public education campaign that provides direction on how to prevent and eradicate LFA infestations. 2