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Murashige, Laura 7 PICOAMM
From: Ann Kobsa [ann.kobsa@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:53 AM
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To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us 2009 RPR 21
Subject: no on Resolution 67-09
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Aloha County Council Members,
This testimony is in opposition to Resolution 67-09, which asks the Department of Land and Natural Resources
to stop removing cattle from the Honua'ula Forest Reserve on Hualalai.
The highest and best use of the Honua'ula Forest Reserve is not to serve as a cattle pasture. Feral cattle are
highly destructive to the natural environment, causing severe soil erosion, denuding the landscape of
vegetation, and preventing any and all regrowth of native plants. Hualalai has a delicate ecology due
primarily to the low rainfall. The DLNR has chosen this site for reforestation efforts due to its value as a dry
forest and watershed for an area where water is very limited. I trust the DLNR's choice to have this land host
native plants rather than cattle. There are many locations more suitable for cattle grazing, and the owner of
these cattle should take responsibility for removal. Why not create a resolution forcing him to remove the
cattle at his own expense, rather than having the DLNR pay for removal? At the least, the owner should be
billed for DLNR's removal efforts. Helicopter shooting is humane, effective, and probably the only realistic
option it this situation. If there is concern about wasting the meat, helicopter gunners can take GPS points
were they kill cattle and volunteer salvage teams can go in for the meat.
The argument, in this resolution, that we shouldn't portray the cattle industry as damaging to our ecosystem
because that further diminishes the industry's chance of survival, is ridiculous. If cattle are damaging to our
ecosystem, which in my opinion they clearly are, we should say so! What are our own chances of survival if
we continue to degrade our ecosystems? Cattle have been rated as one of the top three environmental
problems worldwide, due to their contributions to global warming through methane production and to species
extinction. The cattle in question are not even contributing to our island's supply of filet mignon or pipi
kaula-they are feral and a nuisance species on our public land!
Please vote against this resolution, for the sake of the'aina.
Mahalo nui loa for considering my testimony.
Ann Kobsa, PhD (Biology)
Invasive Species Coordinator for Malama O Puna
Koa'e, Puna
965-6273
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