Bill Text: HI SB964 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Species Conservation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-15 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [SB964 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-SB964-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
964 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to SPECIES conservation.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Hawaiian tree snails, Kahuli, are treasured for their importance to native Hawaiian culture, their beauty, and their ecological role in sustaining healthy forest ecosystems. Hawaii's tree snails have been described as the "jewels of the forest", and Hawaiian folklore often depicts the tree snails as being able to sing. Over seven hundred fifty species of terrestrial snails once inhabited the Hawaiian islands, representing one of the most stunning examples of species radiations in the world. Sadly, it is estimated that over half of this diversity has been lost.
On January 1, 2019, another irreplaceable
native Hawaiian species was lost when the last known Achatinella apexfulva,
named "Lonesome George", perished. The international news media coverage of this
loss is a sober reminder that Hawaii has the unfortunate distinction of being
the endangered species capitol of the world. Hawaii's iconic native plants and animals are
being threatened by invasive species, fire, and disease.
However, there are effective tools to
protect these species that are part of Hawaii's natural and cultural legacy. A two-part strategy has proven successful in
rebounding snail populations. First,
critically rare snail populations must be relocated to facilities where they
are captively bred to increase their population numbers. Then, small predator proof fences must be
installed in their habitat, so these captive populations have a safe place to flourish
again in the wild. Fences in the Koolau
mountains of Oahu and in the West Maui mountains are urgently needed because
snail populations in those regions are crashing, and most of these species will
likely go extinct within five to ten years without intervention.
The legislature
additionally finds that there is a crucial need to relocate the existing
invertebrate captive rearing facilities to the Waimano baseyard in Oahu. The facilities are currently situated in
Kawainui, where the facilities are extremely vulnerable to flooding, high wind
events, and vandalism. Moving the
facilities to an improved department of land and natural resources baseyard
with maintained access and security, outside of a flood zone, will help ensure
that these ecologically and culturally important species are safe until they
can be reintroduced in the wild.
Further, the existing facility must be
expanded so it can house more populations of snails that are unprotected in the
wild.
The purpose of this Act is to authorize the
issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the construction
of two new fences to protect snails from predators and an invertebrate and
plant propagation facility and baseyard improvements for a permanent and secure
snail rearing lab that will also service other rare species.
SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the construction of an invertebrate and plant propagation facility and baseyard improvements on Oahu.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the construction of a predator proof fence on Oahu.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the construction of a predator proof fence on Maui.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2022, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Endangered Hawaiian Snail Conservation; Propagation Facility; Construction; General Obligation Bonds; Appropriation
Description:
Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the construction of an invertebrate and plant propagation facility and baseyard improvements on Oahu, a predator proof fence on Oahu, and a predator proof fence on Maui.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
