HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife will hold a public hearing on Wednesday to receive testimony on the request of Kamehameha Schools for a 50-year Incidental Take License from the Board of
HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife will hold a public hearing on Wednesday to receive testimony on the request of Kamehameha Schools for a 50-year Incidental Take License from the Board of Land and Natural Resources for a Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) for a 32,280-acre property located near Volcano Village on the island of Hawaii.
The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Volcano School of Art & Science, Keakealani Campus, 19-4024 Haunani Road in Volcano.
The safe harbor agreement is a voluntary agreement between parties that is intended to promote recovery of endangered species, the DLNR said in a press release Monday. It covers eight wildlife and 25 plant species (“covered species”). The 50-year agreement promotes recovery of the federal- and State-endangered Hawaii Creeper (Loxops mana), Hawaii Akepa (Loxops coccineus), Akiapolaau (Hemignathus wilsoni), Iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea), Io or Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarius), Nene or Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis), Alala or Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), Opeapea or Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) and 25 endangered plant species.
The SHA specifies the types of activities that would occur and that could result in incidental take. Overall, the plan will increase the likelihood of recovery of the covered species and result in a net environmental benefit through habitat improvement and resulting expanded species ranges and populations, and increased genetic diversity.
Copies of the draft safe harbor agreement are available for review at the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife office in Honolulu, 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325. Copies will also be available at the public hearing.
If you are unable to attend the hearing and wish to provide testimony, please send comments to the above address, attention Kate Cullison or send an email request to katherine.cullison@hawaii.gov. Comments should be received by Dece. 22.
