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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0799.001 1996-1998 L~ndosfr.G ~o~ Hawai'i Forest Industry Association ° P. O. Box 10216 • Hilo, Hawaii 96721 voice/fax (808) 959-9545 3 R 14 April 1998 Statement by the Hawai'i Forest Industry Association to the Economic Development and Human Services Committee, Hawai'i County Council, in Support of the Proposed Harvesting of Cultivated Hardwoods in the Waiakea Timber Management Area presented by Andrea T.G. Beck, HFIA Executive Director Mr. John Ray, Chair, and Members of the Economic Development & Human Services Committee: The Hawaii Forest Industry Association supports the harvesting of cultivated hardwoods in the Waiakea Timber Management Area. HFIA is a not-for-profit organization founded by and for people who believe in healthy, productive forests and in the management of forest lands for a variety of uses, including protecting ecologically-valuable forests as well as managing appropriate lands for commercial timber production. We are not newcomers; we were incorporated in 1989 and presently have 280 members, including a small number on the mainland and overseas. Our members personify interest in a variety of forms of sustainable forestry, and include forestry professionals, woodworkers, land owners and managers, wood product manufacturers, recreational forest users, environmentalists, researchers and educators. The trees at Waiakea were planted as an investment in the future several decades ago. These mature trees are ready to be harvested, so that we can benefit Forestry Testimony, page 1 of 3 l;c~nm. Ma / Q q ~ / File No. b 24 PreseWed t{SEDc lA.l.IN 141998 from the accumulated value in this investment. Of course, as stewards of the forest, we should thoughtfully replant with the intention of long-term sustainable harvests, which will guarantee benefits to our children and grandchildren as well. Over a dozen species of introduced hardwoods were planted in the Waiakea Timber Management Area by the State Division of Forestry, starting in 1959. These species have good commercial potential. There are over 11,000 acres of cultivated hardwoods in Waiakea, representing an estimated 43 million board feet of timber, according to state estimates. To give you an idea of the scale of this investment, in 1991 the Governor's Agricultural Coordinating Committee (GACC) estimated that Hawaii's forest industry was based on only approximately 600 harvested acres. We believe that about 500,000 board feet of lumber per year sustains our industry, which the GACC ranked as sixth among diversified agriculture enterprises in 1991, with annual revenues of approximately $30 million. Granted, the value derived by our existing industry is based on a mix of wood species and products which is different from that in Waiakea. Nevertheless, the acreage which is ready for harvest will significantly increase the level of commercial forestry in the state. What can these trees be used for? Some may contribute to our value-added woodworking activities. HFIA, in partnership with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife and other agencies, has been working for several years to develop the market for lesser-known introduced hardwoods, such as those planted in Waiakea. Species such as Queensland maple, sugi, Australian red cedar, and various eucalypts have been used by HFIA woodworkers in fine custom furniture, bowls and sculpture. Although public recognition of and demand for these woods can certainly be improved, we believe that these introduced hardwoods can play a major role in a sustainable forest industry. In addition to the crafted high-value items for which Hawai'i is now known, a variety of commodity wood products could be manufactured from the trees at Waiakea. Shortly, HFIA will initiate a project to identify local, national and international markets for these products, focusing on the major introduced species found in commercial plantings at Waiakea and elsewhere in the state. By "commodity wood products," we mean veneer, dimensional lumber, flooring, oriented strandboard, chips, and similar items. This study is funded primarily by the Hawaii Forestry and Communities Initiative. The quantity of wood available in the state's commercial plantings, added to that of introduced hardwoods on private lands, will make investment in processing operations attractive. Opportunities for mills, kilns, and other businesses which add value to harvested timber will increase. HFIA sees our industry's future based upon diversified forest operations, with a continued emphasis on expanding our processing capability using uniquely beautiful tropical hardwoods. Forestry Testimony, page 2 of 3 There are other forest-related opportunities as well, which are effectively demonstrated in Waiakea. These tree farms, far from being barren, shelter hapu'u, uluhe and a variety of native and introduced understory species. The vigorous undergrowth is trimmed back to create mountain biking trails, and hunting and hiking are among the other outdoor activities enjoyed by Big Island residents in the area. The natural regrowth provides greenery for lei makers and flower arrangers, and firewood is gathered from fallen trees. It's clear that plantations of introduced hardwoods can provide a myriad of opportunities--commercial, recreational, and aesthetic. Thank you for the opportunity to share these comments. We hope to see commercial forestry operations sustained by harvesting in the Waiakea Timber Management Area. Forestry Testimony, page 3 of 3