HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0179.007 1998-2000 Patrick Conant
P.O. Box 1172
Volcano HI 96785
March 17, 1999
Mr. James Arakaki, Chairman
County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Resolution No. 54-99 Concerning Control of Miconia
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council,
I recently transferred from Oahu to this island to become the resident entomologist for
the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA). While on Oahu, I was supervisor of the
quarantine insectary where foreign natural enemies of miconia were imported and tested for
safety. I also lead the successful Sierra Club volunteer campaign to contain miconia on Oahu. I
am presenting testimony to you today as a citizen of the County of Hawaii, not as an employee of
the State of Hawaii.
I believe I can speak with experience regarding both the manual control as well as the
biological control of miconia. Through the support of the County of Hawaii and other agencies,
the Melastome Action Committee field crew has succeeded in removing all known reproductive
age miconia trees in Puna. This is a monumental task, considering the vast areas infested with
miconia compared to my work in a few valleys on Oahu. They are now closing in on the core
infestation at Onomea and two smaller infestations in South Kona. However, as you know, their
funding is in jeopazdy and all their hard work may be for naught if they are unable to destroy all
reproductive age trees. Containment of miconia on this island will require a long term
commitment. Manual control buys us time to find permanent biological control agents that can
reduce its reproductive capacity and subsequent spread.
The host specific fungus the HDOA has released on this island and Maui is only the first
of what I hope will be several biocontrol agents that will attack different parts of the plant. So
far, the fungus has not been as effective as we had hoped. Also, funding for this ongoing work is
not assured. This should serve as a warning that biocontrol is not a simple magic bullet. It may
take a decade or more to find a good natural enemy.
Please support the miconia containment effort to give us time to find biocontrol agents.
If we "drop the ball" now, it will only make it more expensive and difficult to reclaim the
progress that has already been made.
Thank you for this opportunity to express my opinions.
5~-
Patnck Conant ' ci 0O7
Comm. No.
IPile No. <rEf~
Rcf. ToPres., CouNc~ c.
Rcf. irate 3- t7-99