HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

67

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, SIERRA CLUB, HAWAII CHAPTER, LAND USE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF HAWAII, ESTATE OF JAMES CAMPBELL, EARTHJUSTICE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, TO ANALYZE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO HAWAII'S ENDANGERED SPECIES LAW, CHAPTER 195D, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE RECOVERY OF HAWAII'S UNIQUE AND IMPERILED FLORA AND FAUNA.

 

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii has been referred to as the "endangered species capital of the world"; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is home to over 300 endangered and threatened species; and

WHEREAS, once an endangered species is pushed to extinction, it represents an irreparable loss to both Hawaii's natural heritage and the Earth's biodiversity; and

WHEREAS, in 1997, the Legislature amended chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide private landowners with incentives to promote the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species and their habitats; and

WHEREAS, after five years of experience with the 1997 amendments, it is appropriate and necessary to evaluate how effective the amendments are to serve chapter 195D's fundamental goal of enhancing the prospects for survival and recovery of Hawaii's imperiled flora and fauna; and

WHEREAS, the 1997 amendments encouraged private landowners to protect imperiled species, but do not apply to public entities that have public trust responsibilities and affirmative mandates to promote species conservation; and

WHEREAS, appropriate checks and balances are essential to ensure that incentives actually promote the conservation of threatened and endangered species and to prevent the intentional or unintentional actions of public or private landowners from pushing species to the brink of extinction; and

WHEREAS, a working group should be established to examine potential amendments to chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to further the goals of protecting and promoting the recovery of Hawaii's unique and imperiled flora and fauna; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the State Environmental Council (SEC), Department of Land and Natural Resources, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Land Use Research Foundation, Conservation Council of Hawaii, Estate of James Campbell, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, University of Hawaii, and other interested parties, are requested to form a working group to discuss and analyze potential amendments to Hawaii's endangered species law, chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to further the goals of protecting and promoting the recovery of Hawaii's unique and imperiled flora and fauna; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this working group address the issues of conservation of threatened or endangered species on public lands; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the SEC is requested to report to the Legislature on the progress and recommendations of the working group no later than 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the SEC, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of Hawaii, Chief Executive Officer of the Estate of James Campbell, Managing Attorney of the Honolulu office of the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, and the President and the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Endangered Species; chapter 195D, H.R.S.; Effectiveness