HCR17

WHEREAS, the populations of feral goats and pigs in west Hawaii island have increased to sizes that cannot be sustained by the environment; and

WHEREAS, feral ungulates in Hawaii have no natural predators to limit their population growth and impact on native ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, feral ungulates contribute to the spread of rapid ohia death and can have deleterious effects on pasture forage and native forests; and

WHEREAS, the overpopulation of feral ungulates has a significant detrimental impact on the health of watersheds and coral reefs through increased vegetative disturbance and erosion; and

WHEREAS, grazing, browsing, trampling, and rooting by feral ungulates in West Hawaii have contributed to the destruction of crops, resulting in considerable losses for the agricultural industry; and

WHEREAS, feral ungulates damage landscape plants and structures within the built environment, causing significant economic damage to businesses, resorts, parks, cultural sites, and residential areas; and

WHEREAS, feral ungulates create major hazards on roadways in West Hawaii, occasionally causing motor vehicle accidents; and

WHEREAS, considerable private and public resources are being expended to address the overpopulation of feral ungulates, and more humane, effective, and beneficial solutions and best management practices are needed; and

WHEREAS, the hunting of feral game mammals is an important local food source and public recreational and subsistence hunting opportunity; however, the populations of such animals are not sufficiently controlled through hunting alone; and

WHEREAS, collaborative efforts are needed to identify opportunities for more effective management of feral ungulate populations, such as higher bag limits and increased open seasons for hunters, incentivization of commercially guided hunting operations, increased use of game mammals for meat and food security, targeted culling in overpopulated areas, and other methods; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene a task force to develop a feral ungulate management plan for West Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consist of the following members:

(1) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) One member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

(4) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture;

(5) One member appointed by the Director of Transportation;

(6) One member appointed by the Mayor of the County of Hawaii;

(7) One member appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo;

(8) One member appointed by the Co-Chairpersons of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council;

(9) One member appointed by the Manager of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee; and

(10) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at least:

(1) One member of the task force must have expertise in conducting wildlife population estimates and estimates of carrying capacity;

(2) One member must have expertise in managing populations of feral ungulates;

(3) One member must have expertise in managing hazards to public roadways; and

(4) One member must have expertise in the preservation of biodiversity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to select a chair from among its members and allow the chair of the task force to invite other interested parties to join the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that while developing the feral ungulate management plan for West Hawaii, the task force is requested to work in close consultation with wildlife managers, hunters, watershed managers, park and reserve managers, invasive species control experts, and large landowners in West Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force will serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, including travel expenses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force will be dissolved on June 30, 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Director of Transportation, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Manager of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and Chairperson of the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Feral Ungulate Management Plan; West Hawaii; Task Force; DLNR

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	17
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII