HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0363.002 1996-1998 Eucalyptus Forestry on the Hamakua Coast
Presentation to the Committee on Human Services and
Economic Development of the Hawaii County Council
Dr. Guy A. Cellier
July 1, 1997
RECENED ''A~
~a~
A: Pro ress to date
g cAUnry Council
• 1,000 acres planted (of 16,000 acres);
• 71 direct jobs:
- Dias 26
- Cordoza 16
- DeLuz 7
- State Tree Nursery (training) 5
- Hamakua Timber (incl. one South African) 5
- Nakashima's Nursery 5
- Lima's Nursery 3
- Hawaii Cultivation 2
- Mauna Kea Agribusiness 2
Total: 71
• Plus ] 0 part-time jobs;
• Plus indirect jobs;
• Approximately 50 more jobs will be created by the end of the year.
B: Investment
• Confident investment made by pension fund managers;
• $6,000,000 of mainland money into Hamakua during 1997;
• Spent on local Hawaii firms;
• No Federal or State subsidization.
ca... 36 3.02
Eucalyptus forestry -County Council, 07/01/97 1yy 2(~ PnQe I R ~ T
~ ~ presented SFDC
r.t. Brra_'uN i_-?9.97 _
C: Aerial Spraying
• Carefully monitored under strict supervision;
• Uses approximately 30% less chemical;
• Only non-regulated herbicides-Roundup and Fusilade;
• Buffers of at least one field (approximately 600 ft) from resident
neighbors;
• Wind speed less than 6mph;
• Open water, gulches, streams, neighbors NOT sprayed;
• Temperature inversions avoided.
D: Ground Spraying
• Forestry uses 3-4 applications ofnon-regulated Roundup or Fusilade
in vear one only;
• No chemicals applied in years 2-7;
• Roundup nicknamed "God's herbicide" because of reputation for killing
weeds and leaving wild birds and mammals unscathed;
• Proctor and Gamble has applied for patent for medicines containing
Roundup as treatment for cancer and AIDS;
• No pesticides necessary;
• Compare with other agriculture:
- Ginger-uses acutely toxic Methyl Bromide as fumigant every year
- Coffee, papaya-use Roundup every year.
E: Burning
• Approximately 30% of fields will be burned;
• On most fields, cane mulched into the ground;
• Burning necessary only on fields where fallow cane has built up
impenetrable litter layer;
• IF field burned, is only burned ONCE;
• Burning carried out under strict Department of Health regulations;
• Neighbors and authorities notified-call Hamakua Timber Hotline:
775-9955.
Eucalyptus forestry -County Council, 07/01/97 Page 2
F: Timber Processing
• Many more jobs in timber processing;
• High quality paper has strong international market;
• Pulp mill in Hawaii not feasible-pulp mills require 250,000 to 1,000,000
acres of timber land to operate efficiently. Hawaii's potential (50,000 to
100,000 acres) would only make up one small part of one mill;
• Local processing, however, would add value and jobs. World-wide,
eucalyptus used for lumber, veneer, composite boards, telephone and
transmission poles, laminated woods, flooring, pulp and paper.
G: Soil and Water
• More than 800 species of eucalyptus;
• Species planted on the Hamakua Coast have no known toxic effects to soil
or water;
• Leaves and bark deposited during growing cycle and at harvest will add to
mulch layer and improve soil fertility;
• Only cellulose removed at harvest; bark and leaves (nutrients) remain;
• World-wide, land cleared of eucalypts and returned to sugar-cane showed
improved yields;
• Very short rotations (7 years) will not allow build-up of material posing
serious fire hazards;
• Nc effect on weather patterns;
• Air emissions-trees absorb Carbon Dioxide and release only pure
Oxygen.
H: Conclusion
• Forestry a dynamic, growing and environmentally sound industry bringing
much-needed revenue and jobs to the Hama~kua Coast;
• Significant potential for development of value-added industries to
manufacture lumber, composite boards, poles, furniture and building
materials;
• County Council should encourage solid, sustainable investmentat a time
when are few, if any, viable alternatives exist.
Eucalyptus forestry -County Council, 07/OI/97 -Page ~