STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1610

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 124

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 124 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A TREE PLANTING PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Governor, in coordination with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to establish and implement a tree planting program that provides for the planting in Hawaii of at least one million native trees per year over the next four years.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu Island Parks Conservancy and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that there are numerous benefits to planting trees, including carbon sequestration; nutrient cycling; watershed filtration; enhanced groundwater recharge; diminished water loss from evaporation and transpiration; reduced erosion, runoff, and airborne pollution; nitrogen and phosphorous leaching removal; flood control; urban heat island effect mitigation; wildlife habitat preservation; increased shade; and the creation and expansion of recreational and culturally important areas. Your Committee supports tree planting efforts for reforestation and urban landscaping. Your Committee also finds that the tree planting project presents an opportunity for the State and City and County of Honolulu to work together on completion of the lei of green from Diamond head to Aloha Tower, as a model for state-wide expansion.

Your Committee notes the concerns of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and acknowledges the need of funding to meet the demands for tree planting support envisioned by this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting findings regarding the lei of green and requesting that completion of the lei of green from Diamond Head to Aloha Tower be done as part of the tree planting program;

(2) Urging the Office of Planning to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in establishing and implementing the tree planting program; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair