Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 633 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified sum for the Hawaii forestry and communities initiative to match federal funds.

Your Committee finds that part of agricultural diversification in Hawaii includes the promotion of a viable forestry program. The Hawaii forestry and communities initiative was developed and designed to encourage sustainable forest practices through public and private partnerships, job training, and capacity building projects. The economic potential of forest products comes primarily from manufacturing of furniture, art, and other objects from native woods that could generate more than $100,000,000 annually. In addition, forested lands retain soil, moisture, and restores ecological balance in rural areas that would otherwise be vacant and unproductive.

Your Committee also finds that since 1995, over 65,000 acres statewide have been publicly committed to commercial forestry out of a statewide goal of 105,000 acres that are needed to sustain a commercial forestry industry. This measure will help the Hawaii forestry and communities initiative continue to make progress towards that goal.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 633 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.