STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1916

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 40

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 40 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES TO WORK WITH COMMITTED COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CO-STEWARD COMMUNITY FORESTS LOCATED ON PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE STATE'S FORESTS AND COMMUNITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources and other state agencies to work with committed community groups to co-steward community forests located on public lands for the betterment of the State's forests and communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, and Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association.

Your Committee finds that trees and community forests provide significant health, environmental, and economic benefits for the State's residents and visitors. Your Committee further finds that the State manages over seven hundred thousand acres of public forest reserve lands, in addition to other public lands with trees and community forests, including state parks, school campuses, and transit corridors. Your Committee also finds that active co‑stewardship of community forests between the State and the people of Hawaii will improve the State's communities and community forests. This measure requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to collaborate with committed community groups to co‑steward community forests located on public lands for the betterment of the State's forests and communities.

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 H.C.R. No. 40, and recommends its adoption.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair