HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1041.001 1996-1998
RECEIVED
C GAPS U
c~ Coundt
oordinafing Group on Alien Pest Species
c/o Office of the Chairman, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, 1428 S. King Street, Honolulu. Hawaii, 96813 (8081973-9563 Fox (808)073-9613
November 5, 1998
The Honorable James Arakaki
Chairman, Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chairman Arakaki:
The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) is a
multi-agency partnership to coordinate more effective
protection of Hawaii's economy, environment, health, and way of
life from harmful, invasive alien species. The group expedites
communications, problem-solving, and decision-making for
improved pest prevention and control work, and has succeeded in
bringing about both a heightened public awareness of the issue
and a number of significant pest management improvements since
its formation in 1995.
While pursuing a comprehensive set of solutions to this complex
issue, CGAPS' top priority at this time is to build
public-private teams on each of the Hawaiian islands for early
detection and effective containment or eradication of new
pests. I am writing on behalf of CGAPS' eighteen private,
state, and federal member representatives to strongly endorse
the proposal before the Council for funding of Miconia control
on the Big Island. This is a well-coordinated, realistic
proposal that builds on the impressive track record of the Big
Island's Operation Miconia team in containing the worst weed
threat to our watershed forests and windward agricultural
lands. This is a highly-leveraged investment of county funds
which will encourage further state, federal, and private
matching funds.
COOL No.101_
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Hawaii Department of Agriculture Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation U. S. Customs Service
Hawaii Department of Health Hawaii Visitors Bureau U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii U. S. Navy
Resources National Park Service U. S. Postal Inspection Service
Hawaii Department of Transportation U. S. Department of Agriculture U. S. Postal Service
A Multi-Organization Partnership
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The Honorable James Arakaki
November 5, 1998
Page 2
CGAPS' members will be doing all we can to help the Big Island
Operation Miconia team succeed. We acknowledge and appreciate
the leadership of Hawaii County on this issue, and ask that you
continue your wise investments in this critically important
endeavor.
Sincerely, 7)a
Letitia N. Uyehara
CGAPS Chair