HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0208.071 2004-2006
AMERICAN FARMLAND 14135869332 05/16 'OS 13:42 N0.516 01
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American 1~armlan~ rust
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Robert Wagner
Assistant Vice President, Regional Programs
One Short Street. Suite 2
Northampton, MA 01060-3952
Tcl.(413)586-9330
Far.(413)586-9332
e-mail. bwagner@farmland.org
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R .Date
AMERICAN FARMLAND 1413586933 05/16 '05 13:42 No.516 02
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American Farmland Trust
SAVING THE LAND THAT SU$TAIN$ LT$
May l F. 2MS
Stacy Higa, Chairman American fiarmlan Trust
Hawaiti County Council 1 Short Street
25 Auputti Street Northampton, MA 1060
Hilo, HI 96720 µww.(~ttnlggd.ara
RE: Hill 76
Dear Chairman Higa,
Amerioan Farmland Ttvst (AFT), a national nonprofit conservation organization dedicated t the
protection and conservation of our Nation's important agricultural lands, has been made aw of Bill 78
now before the county council to set aside 2"/0 of real property tax revenues for a Land Cona anon
Fund. AFT wholeheartedly supports the puryose and intent of this legislation.
While working with the Hawaii Agricultural Working Group in 2003 and 2004, AF'T' staff g fined a great
apprceiation for not only the value of Hawaii's important agricultural lands, but also the chap nges facing
farmland protection and conservation in the state. Having a local source of funding for, amo g other land
conservation projects, the protection of valuable farmland will be of great benefit to farmlatt protection
initiatives in Hawaii County.
The Farm and Ranchlande Protection Program administered by USDA's Natwal Resotuces C nservation
Service provides matching funds to facilitate the voluntary protection of valuable farm and ra ch
properties through the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. 'T'his program end si filar such
programs sdministered at the state and local levels across the United States have protected ov r 1.5
million acres of agricultural lands for future generations.
Being a matching grants program, FRfP will only provide funding for up to 50% of the cost a land
protection project with the balance typically provided Gom a combination of state, local and vats
sources. Having locally available funds will now provide the opportunity For the county to ca cure some
of these federal funds and participate in the protection of its important agricultural lands.
We respectfully urge adoption of this legislation. Thank yvu.
Sin/~~
Hob Wagncrl~~
Director ofJJtate Policy
and Field Programs