STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1837

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1, 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 to establish and implement a tree planting program to plant at least one million new native trees per year over the next four years.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from eight concerned individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that there are more than one hundred eighty thousand acres in the Forest Reserve System that would benefit from the planting of approximately five to seven million trees. If planted, these additional trees will improve watershed health and sequester millions of tons of carbon dioxide.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair