HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0988.008 2018-2020COUNTY CLERK L31 178
COUNTY 'OF HAWAI ' I COW %
RECEIVED
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42-378 Kalapahapuu Rd, PO Box 250, Pa'auilo, HI 96776 (808) 776-9900 Fax: (808) 776-9901 www,forestsolutionshi.com
J u ne 29, 2020
Re: SUPPORT for Hawaii County Bill 178 Relating to native forest dedication
Aloha Honorable Chairman Aaron Chung, Vice -chair Karen Eoff and members of the Hawaii
County Council,
Forest Solutions is the leading forestry services company in Hawaii; we manage over 160,000
acres of land on behalf of institutional and individual forest owners. Since our founding 24 years
ago, we have planted over 18 -million trees on 23,000 acres. With 6 foresters and 35 employees,
we are the largest private forestry service provider in the State.
The value of the native Hawaiian forest is increasingly recognized by the public. In our daily
work at Forest Solutions, we hear from more and more landowners who want to increase
native forest cover on their land, with no expectation of income. Landowners generally want to
"give back" and "improve the environment for future generations". These are noble goals that
fit within the broader context of the emerging green economy of Hawaii and within the State
goals of carbon neutrality by 2045.
However, the Hawaii County tax code, while much improved, still incentivizes the conversion of
forests to other more lucrative land uses. This bill will provide a significant incentive to
landowners who are taking on the burden of managing and increasing forest cover. Maintaining
a native forest or increasing its cover is costly. Planting a typical acre of native forest runs from
$3,500 to $5,000 per acre, with no near term source of income.
The benefits of such individual landowner actions when aggregated at the landscape level are
well known. Clean air and abundant water supplies, healthy forests, and increased native
biodiversity and carbon storage. All of this without removing land -use choices from landowners
who want to pursue other goals.
I, therefore, appeal to you to approve this ordinance, which will doubtless increase forest cover
in Hawaii for the benefit of our and future generations. My life is dedicated to this worthy
endeavor. I hope you concur.
Mahalo,
e�L" 14Z,
Nicholas Koch, President
Comm. No. ag
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Ref. Dote JUL 0 7 299