2014-54 -VLRP Transmittal - Laserfiche WebLink

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1. Ensure conservation of the native forest landscape and the diversity of associated plants and animals that it supports. 2. Strive for environmentally sound economic growth. 3. Welcome to the community learning sites for scientific research and sustainability of the natural and social environment. These goals for an International Biosphere Reserve Transition Area are implemented locally, without any control by the United Nations, which merely designates Biosphere Reserves. Based on federal laws and National Park Service management policies, HVNP oversees management of the Core and Buffer Zone in the National Park. Hawaii State and County would have exclusive jurisdiction in the Transition Area of the Volcano community. The United Nations has no power to force changes in land/resource management or ownership upon governments, public agencies, or private parties in the United States. Unfortunately, the U.S. Government association with UNESCO is presently frozen, resulting from political issues having nothing to do with promoting robust social and natural environments of rural communities. That notwithstanding, the VLRP intends to recommend a Biosphere Reserve Transition Area, knowing that the international community and the National Park Service will respect this designation. The term "Buffer Zone", applied to the Volcano community as noted in the PCDP, should be renamed "Transition Area" in order to comply with current UNESCO definition of the land uses outside of the "Core Area". Designating a Special Overlay District for Volcano as a Transition Area in the Hawaiian Island Biosphere Reserve would be consistent with recommendations in the PCDP (Ref PCDP Ch. 2.2 and Figure 2.2). All who reside in the Volcano community are privileged to be part of this Transition Area, whether or not it is formally designated. By designating it so, residents agree to live more gently on the land than we might if we lived in a suburban neighborhood or in a city. One of the key elements of the proposed Transition Area is the umbrella of native treetops that extends across the community and connects with the NAR and Park forests at the edges of the community. 13