STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1300

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1831

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1831, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GAME MANAGEMENT AREAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to protect native species, the natural environment, public and private land and resources, and public health and safety by amending section 183D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to fence game management areas to prevent game mammals from encroaching on public and private land outside of the game management areas.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Nature Conservancy; the Sierra Club, Hawai‘i Chapter; the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i; and a private individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and the Hawaii Rifle Association.

     Feral mammals, including pigs, goats, sheep, deer, and wild cattle, are one of the biggest threats to the health of the State's native ecosystems and critical watershed areas.  Although the hunting of these mammals is a popular sport for food and recreation, if left unmanaged, feral mammals can strip large areas of forest bare thereby contributing to erosion, runoff, damage to coastal areas and coral reefs, and impairing the natural absorptive function of watersheds.  Your Committee finds that appropriate game management areas should include efforts to enhance hunting opportunities, but should also protect and effectively manage these areas to prevent game mammals from causing further damage to land outside of the management areas.

     Your Committee recognizes, however, that requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to fence all game management areas may have insignificant results and may be too costly for the Department to accomplish.  Thus, your Committee believes that an integrated game management and control plan is a more effective method of providing a better hunting experience while protecting public lands and private property.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing it with language that:

     (1)  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to develop and produce mammal management and control plans for each island, beginning with the island of Oahu, which will include:

          (A)  Game management objectives;

          (B)  Provisions to address all areas where game mammals are present to clearly define and map any areas appropriate for sustained-yield hunting;

          (C)  Information to educate the public on game mammal impacts to ensure skilled and effective participation in control activities and public outreach; and

          (D)  Information to educate and work with hunters who use the game mammal management areas to ensure skilled and effective participation in control activities; and

     (2)  Strongly encourages the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to collaborate with and seek input from hunters who use the game management areas;

     (3)  Requires the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to periodically update each game management and control plan and provide opportunities for hunters to contribute input and any concerns with respect to the game management areas during the plan update process;

     (4)  Requires the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to submit a written report to the Legislature on an annual basis on the game management and control plans for each island; and

     (5)  Appropriates $180,000 to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to support and implement the research and planning for the game management and control plans.

     Your Committee believes that this measure, as amended, fulfills the intent of this measure, which is to protect native species, the natural environment, public and private land and resources, and public health and safety.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1831, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1831, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair