2017-08-22 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 22, 2017 TL: Did you get your question answered, Teresa? Discussion TN: You really don’t want me to answer that do you Tom? KS: No, no. I want to hear it. TL: Are we going... TN: Well, OK, if an area is pristine – why are you fencing it. Were studies made as to why the area is pristine and why it needs protection if the area is pristine. KS: Yeah. That’s a good question. Much of the areas outside of those areas have been degraded over the years and so we anticipate the \[unclear\] loss and degradation would continue, which is why we have selected those areas to protect. I’m not saying that it’s the only way to do it – I think the – what you’re trying to get to – has value – it’s just the management options that we’ve chosen. TL: On those management options – we’ve run into this “pristine” thing before and there’s – in the NARS – especially in some of the NARS areas where you have this pristine habitat that you want to fence in to protect – yet, in some of those areas – animals have been in there for maybe centuries in a couple of areas that we’re familiar with – and, so, when you’re trying to protect something that is already pristine – that’s primarily to keep invasives of non- native from coming into the area mostly – cause the animals don’t seem to have an impact with that area if it’s still pristine after, you know, animal impact over years and years and years. Is the purpose of fencing to keep natives or non-native out? KS: Yeah, the areas pretty good and we want to try and keep it that way. Obviously, I agree with what you guys are saying, maybe it doesn’t need the fencing. I don’t know. To be honest with you – I wasn’t really the one that decided any of those fences on this project or on any project cause I’m the young buck here – I don’t know if you can say agree to this or agree to what – I mean, I agree with you guys that you got that maybe it doesn’t need to be fenced or maybe it does. The areas that I’ve seen that are fenced – where animals are not – there’s forest regeneration there. I can’t quantify it – I know others can – if you want me to have them come back maybe and present it – sure – but visually I’ve seen it, so... Take that for what it’s worth. NP: You said first there were 4,000 acres and then 8,000 acres. Are they gonna fence more? 13