2022-01 - HB 1872 Legislative Testimony.draft

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\[Insert County of Hawai’i/Mayor’s Letterhead\] January ___, 2022 Representative _________________ \[Insert Committee name\] Hawai‘i State Capitol Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Dear Chair ___ and members: RE: Written testimony in support of HB 1872 Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of HB 1872. I write this testimony in support of HB 1872, relating to Sustainability, which amends Section 183D-2, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, which requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to recognize that game mammals and game birds provide a food source and play a role in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. HB 1872 also lends it support to achieve a right balance between the management of game mammal and game populations and sustainability of their natural habitats to reduce negative impacts of important watershed areas while recognizing Hawai‘i’s public trust responsibilities as to its land and ocean. HB 1872 adds value and worthiness of our local wild game resources. Local wild game resources have cultural and historical value, many depend on to this day. These resources are of particular value in a time when imported food has become uncertain and very expensive. Local businesses are springing up, utilizing wild meat. Local people are more often turning to wild caught meat for their sustainability. The DLNR has never had a classic model Game Management Plan in place. With properly managed game populations, grazers and browsers can benefit native species by controlling weeds and invasive grass fire fuel loads, while also maintaining a perpetual resource for sustainability. The predominant eradication agenda has for years put our local game resources at serious risk. I respectfully ask for your support of HB 1872. Respectfully submitted, Mitch D. Roth Mayor cc: Hawai’i County Game Management Advisory Commission