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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 242 Draft 03 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. ID Fz9 RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION OF HUNTING RIGHTS IN HAWAII WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources' (Department) Division of Forestry and Wildlife has jurisdiction over more than 530,000 acres of huntable forest and recreational land on the Island of Hawaii, including more than 430,000 acres of forest reserve land, 82,500 acres in the natural area reserves system, and 40,000 acres designated as game management azeas; and WHEREAS, although all 530,000 acres are designated as public hunting azeas, only 40,000 acres are specifically designated as game management areas, none are adequately managed for sustained yield hunting, game populations are depleted and dwindling in many areas, Natural Area Reserve System (NABS) is mandated for native ecosystem protection with a goal of zero population of game animals where they impact native species, and access is not assured to all forest reserve lands; and WHEREAS, Hawaii's forests are an important resource for Hawaii's people, who use it for subsistence, cultural, ceremonial, scientific, and recreational purposes, including hunting, hiking, gathering, birding, and other activities; and WHEREAS, issues surrounding the use and management of limited forest resources on the Island of Hawaii have been a source of conflict for many years; and WHEREAS, these issues involve hunting, gathering, the protection and management of native ecosystems and species, the protection and propagation of ungulates, the need for greater community involvement in resource management, and the need to better plan for the future of Hawaii's forest resources; and WHEREAS, the Department created the Natural Areas Working Group (NAWG), consisting of various public, private, and community interest groups, to address these concerns and find reasonable solutions to differences of opinion regarding pig hunting, fencing, and the protection of forests and watersheds for rare, threatened and endangered native species; and WHEREAS, the NAWG has been working together since March 1994 to address the need for additional managed hunting areas and protected areas for native species on the Island of Hawaii by gathering information from the state and federal agencies responsible for administering and enforcing these areas, and establishing regional councils to recommend specific land use changes; and WHEREAS, although many good recommendations came out of NAWG and other community forums, progress has been slow and little has changed on the ground; and WHEREAS, the hunting community believes that the Departments emphasis remains on ecosystem protection with less attention to active game management, and feels that they aze being ignored, their natural resources are being depleted and their lifestyle is being dismantled in favor of another, better funded and more vocal segment of the community; and WHEREAS, the Asian pig was brought hereby the indigenous people of these islands, and other ungulates, such as the European pig, axis deer, feral sheep, goats and cattle were brought here as gifts to the Ali'i as faz back as the late 1700's; and WHEREAS, these game animals have become an important food source for our local people, and the hunting and gathering of them has become an integral part of our island lifestyle over the past two hundred years; and WHEREAS, because of the long history of game animals in Hawaii and their continued use by local families for subsistence, the government has a responsibility to continue to protect and nurture this resource to ensure sustainable hunting stock; and WHEREAS, the available public areas for hunting and gathering, and the population of game animals is decreasing, while at the same time the number of hunters and families that depend on these animals for subsistence is increasing; and WHEREAS, the traditional uses of public lands for hunting, gathering and ceremonial activities are in general compatible with the need to preserve our water sheds and native ecosystems; and WHEREAS, the hunting community recognizes the public need to establish and manage game areas, and the additional public need to protect certain endangered native ecosystems and believes that the most effective way to manage these areas is through a cooperative game management program that includes public hunting, live trapping for relocation, and any other efforts that include the hunting community, as well as vigorous plant propagation efforts to enhance native ecosystems when applicable; and WHEREAS, the hunting community believes that the best way to manage ungulates in areas that have been established for the protection of native ecosystems and where the goal of game control programs is zero is to use public hunting, live trapping and relocation, and other efforts involving the local hunting community; and 2 WHEREAS, an integrated approach to public hunting, game management, and plant and ecosystem management, each in appropriate areas, can be effective in protecting native ecosystems, while still preserving our local lifestyle. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the it encourages the Board of Land and Natural Resources to commission representatives of the Big Island hunting community and other interested groups such as the NAWG to work with the Department in developing a game management plan that integrates positive, measurable protection and regenerative practices toward both native ecosystems and game stocks. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council further encourages the Board of Land and Natural Resources to develop or cause to be developed a game resource program that, through incentives and public-private collaboration, provides for the development of game stocks and hunting opportunities on private lands available to residents of our Big Island community, and which complement the management and program objectives for public lands. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council requests the Board of Land and Natural Resources conduct multiple hearings among appropriate Big Island communities prior to removing any public lands from hunting or gathering inventories, in order to ensure that all interested parties are heard and that the impacts on the interests and needs of our traditional communities have been understood and carefully considered. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this resolution to the Chairman and Members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Commander of the Pohakuloa Training Area, the Ecoregion Manager of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Pacific Island Director of the National Park Service, the Director of the Pacific Island Research Center of the National Biological Service, the President of the Pig of Hunters Hawaii, the President of the Wildlife Conservation Association of Hawaii, the Chair of the Sierra Club Moku Loa Group, the Managing Attorney of the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, and the Director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable United States Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka; and the Honorable Members of the United States House of Representatives, Patsy Mink and Neil Abercrombie urging their support of this resolution. 3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable Benjamin Cayetano, Governor of the State of Hawaii; the Honorable Norman Mizuguchi, President of the Senate of the State of Hawaii; the Honorable Joseph Souki, Speaker of the House of the State of Hawaii; the Honorable Senators of the State of Hawaii Malama Solomon, Andrew Levin and Richard Matsuura; the Honorable Representatives of the State of Hawaii Jerry Chang, Eric Hamakawa, Robert Herkes, Virginia Isbell, David Tarnas, and Dwight Takamine. 1996. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 7th ,day of March INTRODUCED BY: ETLO/eja COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII ROLL CALL VOTE COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawau I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on March 7 1996 A"fTEST: COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER AYES ~ NOFS I ABS I EX Arakaki X Bonk-Abramson X Childs X De Lima X Osorio n Bath X Ray X Smith X B ~ 1 0 Reference - , ~ Q (DRAFT 3 ) RESOLUTION NO. ~ '