STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2091

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 56

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States government to:

(1) Establish a national biodiversity strategy to ensure the conservation and restoration of the nation's biodiversity, secure ecosystem services for future generations, advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, set ambitious biodiversity conservation targets, promote equity and justice in conservation efforts, coordinate federal agency actions, and foster collaboration among governments, Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, and international partners;

(2) Increase public awareness of biodiversity issues and develop the national biodiversity strategy through robust public input, engaging federal and state agencies, Indigenous communities, communities of color, low-income communities, private landowners, and other stakeholders to strengthen biodiversity restoration efforts; and

(3) Include specific actions in the national biosecurity strategy.

Your Committee has received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Purple Maiʻa Foundation, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the United States is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, threatening approximately one million species with extinction. Furthermore, Hawaiʻi, home to a significant number of endemic species and habitats with great ecological, cultural, historical, and scientific value, has over five hundred fifty endangered species but receives only three percent of federal conservation funding.

Your Committee further finds that the loss of biodiversity poses a direct threat to the security, health, and well-being of Hawaiʻi's residents, particularly Native Hawaiians, by diminishing critical ecosystem services and increasing vulnerability to natural disasters. Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires coordinated action at the global, national, regional, and local levels. This measure urges the United States government to establish a national biosecurity strategy and increase public awareness of biodiversity issues.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 56 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair