STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3952

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 678

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 678, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Endangered Species Recovery Committee

G.M. No. 678

LINDSAY YOUNG, for a term to expire 06-30-2028,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Lindsay Young for service on the Endangered Species Recovery Committee.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Lindsay Young from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and two individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Young's knowledge, experience, and desire to serve her community qualify her for appointment to the Endangered Species Recovery Committee as a field biologist member with expertise in conservation biology pursuant to section 195D-25, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Your Committee notes that Dr. Young earned a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Hawaii, a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of Hawaii, and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Young is not only the owner and operator of Conservation Fencing LLC, a local manufacturing business that provides materials and predator exclusion fencing to federal and state agencies, but also works as the Executive Director and Senior Scientist at Pacific Rim Conservation since 2008 and an affiliate graduate faculty member of the University of Hawaii's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management since 2017. According to testimony received by your Committee, Dr. Young was recently selected by National Geographic to be the Vice President of Research for its Pristine Seas program. Your Committee further notes that Dr. Young has attended and presented at multiple meetings of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee over the last ten years and that her familiarity with the federal habitat conservation plan process and expertise on native seabirds will be an asset to the Endangered Species Recovery Committee. Your Committee therefore recommends that Lindsay Young be appointed to the Endangered Species Recovery Committee based on her knowledge, experience, and desire to serve the public.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair