Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0390.000 1996-1998 i Fi' _ , 'I'}wughts on the Your of the PruTimber Plantation" 1771~i1~7 ~ ~ ~ u I was impressed with the progress that has been made in planting trees ~.}~~st area of the Haznalva Coast. Bur, ler ..is not loss sight of the "forest" for the~(,'yTp}ttk~s - I iiJF;! case, the "forest" is the fact that this operation is simph• a sugar plantation all over again, with one major diIl±:rertce it provides few jobs! Of course, this is private land, and the Bishop Estate can do whatever is ~~:ants with its own land_ The question that the Coiuzty (?ouncil must decide is what use is best for the 45UU county owned acres on the Harnakua Coast. The easy thing would be to lease it to C)ji Paper and be done veith it. But, there are far better uses for this land, and also the 5100 state owned acres. Growing food for consumption in Hav,~aii is one good use for a state that imports about 90 % of its food. Re-establishing low elevation native forest will help protect our endangered plants and birds, and it will be a tourists attraction. Planting high value }tardwoods will provide as many jobs as the wood chip operation initially, but when harvest begets in about twenty years, it could support a wood working and crafts industr}~ on this island that would provide a great tuunber of jobs. The land, along with the sun and the rain, create weals},, whether it is growuzg grass to fatten cattle or growing trees fot wood chips or valuable hnnber. This land should not be leased out to a for.:ic;n i;rm, even to plant high value hardwoods. Even though [his would provide many more jobs than the wood chip farm, the profits from growing the wood would leave the isl2rtd. The wealth that the land creates should be kept right here. We must plant dre trees ourselves and then use the huttber to tnake items that will be uniquely our own. Ttus will provide the rnaximttm number of jobs and the profits will stay here on the island. it has been determined that 4'or each job that a wood chip f<rm provides, an equal acreage of hig}, value hardwoods will provide 25 jobs. Ibis is what value -added is all about. But, you say, who's going to pay for it? High value hardwoods will more than pay foe themsel~zs at harvest time. Foods svill pay back sooner. I'he County could ).ease small parcels to island farrzzers to grow what they will. Ur, a non-profit corporation could be established to oversee the land. It cotild contract out planting dze hardwoods, or it could sublease parcels to individuals who are urterested in forestry. The corporation could be funded by grants and/or Rtua1 Development loans. There may be other ways to finance what I have proposed. That is dre challenge before us. But, this is a chance to bring prosperity to the Big Island. A wood chip farm will not. David A. Caccia PGEIt S~= ~ I SY(~ I ~ U rte- Yp ~ LL W~ ~ pit I~ S O C o U t~ zY c o y ~U C' l 1___ uxnra. d0. Wile I(o. Q E S Stet. Zbi lief. DNa JUL p~y~.. Id P1NLb : L© LE6T ~a ' f'~f S?~ : ;-7E'B ~ ~Ot~ ~NQHd C r ~ WO~~