HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0988.038 2018-2020 From: alan everson
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2020 1:30 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 178 8/5 hearing
The passage of this bill is essential as a incentive for big island landowners to dedicate portions of their properties as a method of
restoring and preserving Hawaiian native forests. I am currently reforesting my 20 acre property in Ahualoa. At present, in order to
receive a tax exemption from Hawaii county, landowners must have at least 60%of their property in natives. Under this bill, the
exemption would start immediately upon approval of a reforestation plan. This would save the landowner money that could be put into
the reforestation project. If I could have taken advantage of this when 1 first started my project and plan several years ago, I would
have saved thousands of dollars.
Preserving and restoring native forests should be a top priority of the county. As former mayor Billy Kenoi recently stated "The last
pristine place in the world, at least in the Pacific, but I'm going to go the world, is Hawaii island". We need to do every thing possible to
preserve the unique ecosystems that native forests support. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of Bill 178.
I would like to emphasize the use of native species over any introduced or"canoe" species for reforestation projects. Allowing any
non-native species would totally negate the potential positive impacts of this bill.
I r F. ,; «n
NCA,A Fishery Biologist(retired)
r`larina idea conservation district forester of the year
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Comm. No.
Ref. 'Toe P C40ci
1
Ref. Date 5/05/=O