The state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to form partnerships with private landowners on Kaua‘i and in the rest of the state to help protect threatened plants and wildlife on privately-owned lands. Landowners could apply for federal grant
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to form partnerships with private landowners on Kaua‘i and in the rest of the state to help protect threatened plants and wildlife on privately-owned lands.
Landowners could apply for federal grant funds administered by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and put up matching funds that are not from federal sources for selected projects.
The cooperation and assistance of private landowners is essential for the conservation and restoration of native flora and fauna in Hawai‘i, DLNR Chairperson Peter Young said in a news release.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the need to engage private landowners in protecting rare and endangered species, DLNR officials said.
Through the “Landowner Incentive Program,” Fish and Wildlife officials will provide the grant funds and technical assistance for the preservation of the species.
Fish and Wildlife requires interested landowners to contribute a minimum of 25 percent of the total project cost, DLNR officials said.
The landowner’s share could come in the form of a cash contribution or in-kind contribution of labor, materials or use of equipment, officials said.
Congress has not appropriated funding for 2004, but the DLNR forestry division is now accepting proposals in anticipation of the funding being provided, officials said.
Applications for the program will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 26, but interested landowners should submit proposals early so that DLNR forestry staffers can help refine the proposals to improve the likelihood of receiving funding, DLNR officials said.
The federal program is a nationally-competitive program, and projects are selected on their effectiveness in helping to support the recovery of the species or to reduce threats to species intended to be saved, DLNR officials said.
Young said the proposal could help government efforts to protect several hundred threatened and endangered species in Hawai‘i for future generations.
“The state of Hawai‘i contains more biologically unique species that any other state,” Young said in a news release. “Unfortunately, this high level of endemism is paralleled by Hawai‘i also having more imperiled biota than any other state.”
He said there are 378 listed threatened and endangered species, 127 proposed and “candidate” species, and 1,085 species “of concern in Hawai‘i.” Many of the species are found on private lands in Hawai‘i.
He said the types of projects that could be funded are those involving:
- The removal of alien species that threaten the recovery of native species;
- Reintroduction of rare species;
- Construction of fences to exclude animals from sensitive habitats;
- Planting native vegetation to restore rare plant communities.
For landowners who take part in the project, they must agree to allow biologists to access their lands to measure the progress of the projects, DLNR officials said.
For more information on the project, go to http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/LIP or call the conservation initiatives coordinator, Bill Standley, toll-free at 274-3141, then 7-4171# after the recorded message.
Deborah Ward, a DLNR information specialist, can be reached at 274-3141, then 7-0320# after the recorded message.
