HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0988.009 2018-2020July 3, 2020
COUNTY CLERK ,�111 1?$
COUNTY -OF HAWAI ' I CON14.qp
County Clerk Office RECEIVED
25 Aupuni Street Time q:���tM By
Hilo, H1 967420 Date JUL 0 6 2020
RE: Written Testimony on Bill 178 Relating to Native Forest Dedications
Dear Esteemed County Council Members,
Please accept this written testimony expressing strong support for Bill 178 relating to Native Forest Dedications
and the proposed amendments to Chapter 19, Article 8, Section 19-59, of the Hawaii County Code. We fully
support the expansion and strengthening of the existing provisions to increase tax incentives for perpetuating
native forest on private land through Native Forest Dedications.
As a small nonprofit working to conserve native forest on privately held land, we know that it takes exceptionally
motivated landowners to take on the kuleana of restoring native forest. In doing this work, we have also realized
the financial costs associated with forest restoration. The proposed amendments to Chapter 19, Article 8,
Section 19-59 will further incentivize the protection of native forests and make forest restoration in degraded
forest habitats (that are often critical to many of our native species) a more realistic and feasible endeavor for
landowners. The collective benefit from protecting and restoring our native forests through forest dedications,
both economic and ecological, will far outweigh any loss in revenue for providing such tax incentives.
Unfortunately, our island's forests are under constant threat from invasive species, wildfire, and novel disease
such as Rapid 'Ohi'a Death. Our forests need robust protective measures to ensure that our community can
continue to enjoy the ecological services that our forests provide and ensure that our native species survive for
future generations. Considering that more than sixty percent of Hawaii's native forests occur on privately held
land, private landowners have an important role to play in conservation of our native forests. This County
Council can support private citizens in protecting and restoring native forest by approving the amendments
outlined in Bill 178 and we humbly ask for you to do so.
Thank you or your careful consideration of this bill and for your ongoing efforts to safeguard Hawaii's natural
resources.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Lawson
Executive Director
Comm. No. "� �� •
Ref. To: i %L
Ref. Mote JILL 0 7 20