Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, May 12, 2021

THE NATIONAL FOREST IN HAWAI‘I study measure, proposed by Congressman Ed Case and co-introduced this year by Kai Kahele has passed the House of Representatives. Case announced today that the legislation calls on the United States Forest Service to engage communities in the State of Hawai‘i in a study to identify suitable parcels to be incorporated into a National Forest. The measure now goes to the Senate for its consideration. Forty-one states have national forests.

    Case obtained passage of a similar measure in late 2020 but the Senate did not act before expiration of the prior 116th Congress. “My measure would direct the necessary first step in the establishment of a National Forest in Hawai’i,” said Case, a member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee and of its Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, in remarks to the full House on passage.     “Despite having some of the most unique and endangered forest lands in the country, Hawai‘i is one of the only a handful of states nationwide without a National Forest. Establishing a National Forest in Hawai‘i would support tropical forest conservation and research throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and provide appropriate recreational, cultural and commercial opportunities in Hawai‘i.”
    Kahele weighed in: “The study authorized by the bill would take steps to correct this oversight. It would consider how a Hawai‘i National Forest could contribute to the conservation of this biodiversity not found elsewhere in the National Forest System, while supporting the research mission of the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. The establishment of the Hawaiʻi National Forest Study is the first step to creating a National Forest System in Hawaiʻi. This legislation would help ensure the preservation of our State’s natural beauty and resources for generations to come. I thank Congressman Case for his work on the House Natural Resources Committee and look forward to our continued collaboration to protect Hawaiʻi’s land and natural resources.”

There are 41 National Forests in the U.S., none of them in Hawai`i where Congressmen Ed Case and Kai Kahele advocate for a study on the possibility. Map from Wikipedia

    During floor remarks, Case added: “Hawai‘i is the most isolated island chain and one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world. Within these constrained borders, it has ten of the 13 world climate zones, ecosystems ranging from the deserts to the tropics where plants and animals that found their way to Hawai‘i evolved like nowhere else.” “
    A 2014 survey identified 9,975 endemic species in Hawai‘i, many of them reliant on Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem to survive. However, since the onset of human arrival, Hawai‘i has lost almost half of its native forest cover and countless fauna and flora species. Case said an inventory would show where Hawai‘i’s
native koa, ‘ōhi‘a and sandalwood forests can be conserved and expanded for cultural and commercial practices. The bill would help identify where cultural sites could be better conserved and access expanded to the public and practitioners, and it would provide the basis to bring together local stakeholders to advance the conversation of how to responsibly establish a National Forest in Hawai‘i in a manner that will benefit both Hawai‘i’s island communities and the National Forest Service.
    “As we continue to identify solutions to our climate and biodiversity crises, I hope we can all see the value in taking this step towards protecting Hawai‘i’s unique forest resources and its native species, along with providing important recreational, cultural and commercial opportunities in Hawai‘i,” said Case. The National Forest System is comprised of 154 national forests, 20 national grasslands and several other federal land designations containing 193 million acres. Its core mission is to conserve land for a variety of uses to include watershed management, research, cultural site preservation, wildlife habitat management and research and outdoor recreation.
    Last year, Case and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ First Deputy, Robert Masuda, testified in favor of the measure at a Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands legislative hearing. “The citizens of Hawai‘i share a passion for the lands and resources that have sustained our islands for generations,” said Masuda then. “It’s ingrained into our culture and outlook. Like other island peoples around the world, we understand that we live with finite resources on a limited land base. Living on isolated islands, we are particularly sensitive to the threats posed by pollution, climate change, and invasive species. We know that the conservation of our terrestrial and marine resources is necessary for the quality of life we now enjoy, and for future generations."
    Masuda said: “We believe Hawai‘i’s existing Forest Reserves, watershed and endangered species protection programs would align well with a National Forest in Hawai'i.” Read the entire measure at https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/297/text?r=10&s=3. See Case on C-SPAN talking about a National Forest in Hawai‘i at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWnqzCtCxBs