|
THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
74 |
|
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
URGING THE INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE INTERAGENCY PLAN FOR THE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF ALBIZIA THROUGHOUT THE STATE; STARTING WITH THE ISLAND OF HAWAII, AND TO PARTNER TO UTILIZE ALBIZIA TREES THAT ARE REMOVED AND URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO INVESTIGATE BIOCONTROL AGENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF ALBIZIA.
WHEREAS, the Falcataria moluccana, commonly known as the Albizia tree, is native to the South Pacific and was introduced to Hawaii in 1917; and
WHEREAS, Albizia is a fast growing tree with shallow roots, brittle wood, and a weak structure; and
WHEREAS, Albizia's rapid growth rate and soil-altering roots and foliage pose a threat to lowland native forests, falling Albizia trees and branches pose a safety hazard to homeowners and motorists, and Albizia trees have damaged overhead and underground utilities; and
WHEREAS, Albizia has proliferated on the island of Hawaii to the point where it has become a significant problem; and
WHEREAS, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, a voluntary partnership of private citizens, community organizations, businesses, land owners, and government agencies, has attempted to control and eradicate Albizia but has experienced difficulty doing so because of the extent of Albizia's proliferation on public and private lands and because the Big Island Invasive Species Committee is significantly underfunded at the policy level; and
WHEREAS, policy-level direction, coordination, and planning are needed to properly control and eradicate Albizia on the island of Hawaii; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Invasive Species Council is urged to develop and implement a comprehensive interagency plan for the control and eradication of Albizia throughout the State, starting with the island of Hawaii, pursuant to chapter 194, Hawaii Revised Statues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Invasive Species Council is urged to find partners to utilize the Albizia trees that are removed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is urged to investigate biocontrol agents for the control of Albizia; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and the Invasive Species Council.
Department of Agriculture; Invasive Species Council; Noxious Weeds; Albizia