STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1238

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 863

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 863, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FORESTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the forest stewardship program of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to build and expand facilities of the state tree nurseries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawai‘i System, 350.org, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Tree's for Honolulu's Future, Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the strategic planting of trees in agricultural landscapes may increase crop yield, improve soil quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and provide a variety of other benefits. Your Committee further finds that there is a need to repair, update, and expand the infrastructure of the State's tree nurseries so that the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources can provide high quality native, endangered, and windbreak trees and plants for the public and its reforestation projects.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 863, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 863, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair