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vMtY%�F N1+r�`. <br /> ��Jiyi <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII <br /> RESOLUTION NO. 61 17 <br /> (DRAFT 2) <br /> A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE <br /> SENATE BILL NO. 656 AND HOUSE BILL NO. 481 TO ADDRESS THE THREAT OF <br /> THE LITTLE FIRE ANT. <br /> WHEREAS, the continued spread of the invasive species known as the Little Fire Ant <br /> (LFA) threatens native biodiversity, alters tropical ecosystems, impairs human health, impedes <br /> tourism, diminishes agricultural productivity, mars horticulture sales, and blinds pets; and <br /> WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 656 and House Bill No. 481 in the 2017 session of the <br /> Legislature will fund a project administered by the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture to address <br /> the spread of LFA; and <br /> WHEREAS, a December 2016 article published in the Proceedings of the Hawaiian <br /> Entomological Society ("Exhibit A") chronicles how LFA has become established on Hawai`i <br /> Island, and how periodic infestations have been addressed on Kaua`i, O`ahu, and Maui; and <br /> WHEREAS, LFA concentrations can reach 20,000 per square meter, or nearly 1,900 per <br /> square foot; and <br /> WHEREAS, a March 2015 article published in the academic journal "Ecological <br /> Economics" ("Exhibit B") models the growth and spread of LFA on Hawai`i Island and <br /> estimates that an increase of$8 million to manage the ant during the next two to three years <br /> would save $5.496 billion in reduced control costs, $538 million in economic damages, 2.161 <br /> billion human sting incidents, and 762 million pet sting incidents over the next 35 years; and <br /> WHEREAS, the "Ecological Economics" article states that"In the next 35 years the cost <br /> of Little Fire Ant under current management will balloon to $6.1 billion. With efforts to suppress <br /> Little Fire Ant populations, under least cost management, net costs drop to $51 million, a <br /> substantial savings to the local economy"; and <br /> WHEREAS, Hawai`i County has continued treating sites infested with LFA at County <br /> parks for the benefit of residents and visitors; and <br /> WHEREAS, Hawai`i County's efforts have been funded by the Hawai`i Department of <br /> Agriculture, the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, and the Hawai`i Invasive Species Council; and <br /> WHEREAS, Hawai`i County continues to seek support to continue funding LFA control <br /> operations; and <br /> WHEREAS, the "Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society" article proves <br /> that multi-agency collaboration and funding are crucial for a biosecurity plan to contain the <br /> spread of LFA throughout the State; and <br />