HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0208.078 2004-2006
May 17 n5 08:O1p Laura [8097968-7211 p.l
Ku'Ohi'a laka Rainforest Reserve
P. O. Box 504 , .
Kea'au,HI 96'749 ~~I'~~' `~-!'I l ~
kol@hawaii.rr.com
~~C~,~_~...
DATE: May 18, 2005
TO: Hawaii CounTy Council Members
FROM: Laura Brezinsky, Ph. D, Executive Director
RE: [n FULL SUPPORT of BILL 78, Land Conservation Funding
There an urgency associated with passing this bill today.
Every delay equals lost opportunities and lands. These lands are not replenish-able
resources, and the development clock is ticking. Once lancLs get bought by developers
and leveled for private interest, the public loses a great resource, and the island
("CounTy) loses a little more of it's ability to sustain its people, while inhcrlting more
people to provide for.
There a need for at least a 2% set aside to make it work.
Settine aside 2% of the annual budget makes a strong statement of our commitment to
conservation of Hawai' i County.
The people of Hawaii County have voiced our overwhelming support of Bill 78 and
our commitment to protecting our uniyue and fragile island. Bill 78 puts our money
behind our commitment, provides important leverage to help secure additional Federal
and State conservation funding and provides important direction for our future. In
addition, these dedicated funds will provide important matching funds and help attract
and leverage additional Federal and State funding to contribute to our conservation
efforts.
Bill 78 is affordable
Let's learn from the mistakes and hindsight of other counties. Across The State of
Hawaii native habitat and culture have been lost due to the lack of foresight. Hawai i
county has an opportunity to look into the future and take positive initiatives that will
help protect what is uniquely Hawaiian. We all understand the fiscal and current needs p
Comm. No. o
Ref. To: ¢rea,e
Raf. Date
May 17 OS 08:OIp Laura (808)968-7211 p.
of the community. But it is that sort of short sighted perspective that has resulted in
overcrowding, gridlock traffic, destruction of our coral reefs due to runoff from erosion
and insufficient water supply on other islands. The resulting loss of culture and
connection to nature fuels the downwazd spiral of our community. We live in a fiagilc
and limited island community and we must take steps to protect it for the fi~iure.
So YES, I think a $3M (current budget), or 2% (annually) from County funds is
an affordable price to pay to insure that the most important resources of this
island are preserved in perpetuity.