HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0220.026 2008-2010
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Yoshimoto, J
From: Frances M Kinslow [kinslow@hawaii.eduj
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 2:05 PM 2009 JUL 8 Pin 8 51
To: dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us;dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us;jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us;C.jr
donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us; genriques@co.hawaii.hi,as;i~It 17Y ' [ :~!tt/
bford@co.hawaii.hi.us; kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us; phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi us
Subject: strawberry guava resolutions - OPPOSED
Aloha,
I would like to thank the 4 council members (Mr. Yoshimoto, Ms. Ford, Mr. Enriques, and Mr.
Hoffman) who came out in the rain this morning to appreciate and learn about our native forest and
natural resource issues. I hope that the other Council members will get a chance to have the experience
shared by Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Emiques on the tour led so well by Jon Price of UH Hilo.
I was there in the rain this morning as well, but was unaware that testimony would be taken back at the
Ben Franklin Building. I apologize for being late with my response; if I had known that testimony was
being accepted I would have come in to the meeting.
Please accept this as my plea to let the proposed resolutions against the strawberry guava biocontrol be
buried and forgotten. The issue we have confronting us of preserving what little is left of our
functioning natural systems - for the good of all people in this County - is much too big to be stymied by
misunderstandings, fear-inducing rhetoric, and a lack of faith in the good work done by the many good
people dedicated to saving Hawaii's native biodiversity.
Hawaii's native systems evolved and flourished in harmony with one another. Our plants, insects, and
birds formed complex interdependent relationships. Invasives like strawberry guava severely disrupt
that balance, threatening to forever sever those important ties. Strawberry guava, in its home range, also
developed complex relationships, some of which -like the proposed biocontrol, Tectococcus - allowed it
to be a part of the Brazilian forest, just one of many in that web. Here in Hawaii, strawberry guava is
way out of balance, with absolutely nothing at all keeping it in check. Our poor native species still have
all of their natural enemies and "checkers" which keep them from being able to compete with strawberry
guava. This is not our battle to win or lose. It is the native plants and the native forests who will
ultimately live or die from the outcome of this struggle, but in order to give them a fighting chance, we
need to restore some balance. The biocontrol is an inexpensive, safe, and sensible way to make this
happen.
I urge you to reject both resolutions opposing the biocontrol. Please do not set dangerous precedents
which will prevent this incredibly useful tool from being employed in the future. Remember that over 50
species of biocontrols have been safely introduced to Hawaii in the last 35 years, many of them
controlling species which had been rampant and out of control, bringing those species' numbers down to
reasonable levels. There may be some short-sighted people who do not see the forest for the trees, so to
speak. Please, do not let those voices be the ones that guide your decision.
Aloha and mahalo,
Frances Kinslow
Box 942
Mt
Mt. View HI 96771 Comm.
Ref. To,
Ref. Date JUL '08 Z_ p~~
7/8/2009