Communication No. 2022-06 Draft Ports of Entry Support Letter

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/ƚƒƒǒƓźĭğƷźƚƓ bǒƒĬĻƩЋЉЋЋΏЉЏ Mitchell D. RothZendo Kern MayorDirector Lee E. Lord Jeffrey W. Darrow Managing Director Deputy Director 74- County of 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Kailua- Phone (808) 323-4770 PLANNING DEPARTMENT Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 327-3563 Fax (808) 961-8742 DATE:March 3, 2022 TO:DR. LEYLA KAUFFMAN FROM:PUNACDP ACTION COMMITTEE SUBJECT:-of-Entry Biosecurity Program Aloha, The Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee on the Big Island of Hawaiiwould like to express support for the Ports-of-Entry (POE) Biosecurity Program(formerly known as Mmalu Poepoe), whichactively surveils our ports for pests likeinvasive ants, coconut rhinoceros beetle, Africanized bees, new mosquito species, and more. We are highly supportive of proactive efforts taken to prevent the naturalization of new damaging species. For many years, the Puna district has been subject to severe impacts from invasive pests that have cost us not only monetarily buthave also negatively impacted our health and well-being. From the invasive albiziatrees that crushed hundreds of our homes and left us without power for several weeks after Tropical Storm Iselle, to the parasite-carrying semi-slug which has led to our district being the hotspot for the highest rates of severe rat lungworm disease in the world, to the little fire ants that blind our pets and make growing more difficult for our farmers, we are plagued by the worst of the worst in Hawaii. Our burden is already great without the addition of new pests known to be some of the worst in the world. For many years now, economic analyses have made it clear that relatively small investments into biosecurity can have large payoffs later. Just one of the invasive ants targeted by this POE program, the red imported fire ant (RIFA), has been projected to cost Hawaii more than $200 million per yearshould it become established here. The health costs of diseases carried by certain species of mosquitoes, the losses to our honey industry and pollination services caused by Africanized bees -any of these impacts run into the millions of dollars annually, yet this statewide program costs less than a million dollars a year. Truly a bargain! Puna is a wonderfully rural and forested place, with many large-and small-scaleagricultural endeavors. We are currently engaged in a robust effort to recover from a series of natural www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov