HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0142.001 2020-2022 c
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LAMA O PUNA
.O Box 1467
Pahoa Hawaii 96778
(808) 965-2000
www.malamaopuna.org
malamaopunaCcD-yahoo.com
-^ Protecting Hawaii's precious natural heritage
March 15, 2021
Hawai'i County Councilmembers
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Re: Support for Resolution 63-21-Transferring Contingency Funds to combat Little
Red Fire Ant (LRFA) infestations.
Aloha Councilmembers,
am writing today urging your support for Resolution 63-21 transferring District 4
Contingency Funds to combat Little Red Fire Ant infestations in the district.
As you may be aware, Little Red Fire Ants are a huge problem. However, together
there are still things we can do! In response to numerous requests for assistance,
MOP is undertaking a LRFA program to include short and long term solutions. In the
short term, it is necessary to fight fire with fire so to speak, so we are requesting funds
to get as much information and products distributed in the district as soon as possible.
MOP has been a presence at farmers markets in Puna of late passing out information
and testing kits for LRFA infestations and people tell us the hardest problem in
effecting control is the cost of the materials needed to combat the LRFA. We can offer
those materials along with instructions on how to use it effectively if MOP can secure
funding for this purpose.
In the long term, our organization will be advocating for biological control research and
use as we see this as a growing problem with the potential for devastating impacts to
the natural environment and great economic impacts on agriculture, forestry and state
and county property management.
Mahalo for your continued support.
Barbara Lively, Executive Director
Malama O Puna
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