WORD COUNT= 1,137 out of 4,000 for total brief (sorry about the length I can try to edit
it down as needed when we find out the total word count when we piece everything
together)
QUESTION 1: should the legal authority enacted by HTFRA be apart of my section? Or is
that more of Anne’s section on political actions to implement the bill? I wasn’t sure so I did
not add it to my section.
QUESTION (note) 2: I did not go into detail on any of the 25 recommendations due to the
fact that we only get 4,000 words, but if you guys feel that it is needed I could go back and
add that in! ALSO let me know if you feel I am missing anything or should cut anything out.
History & Background
Introduction (from our summary with small edits/rearrangement)
The Hawaiian Islands contain tropical dry forests, an endangered habitat in which unique species
of flora and fauna are found (World Wildlife Fund n.d.). Feral species, such as boars and goats,
trample and compact the ground causing loss of vegetation leading to erosion (Oahu Nature
Tours n.d.). Mosquitoes, an invasive species, can vector the avian influenza virus and spread it to
already fragile endemic bird populations (Hawaiian Conservation Alliance 2005). Deforestation
compounds the impacts these invasive species have on the natural ecosystem.
Additionally, growing agriculture, forestry, and tourism industries have had negative impacts on
the native species by degrading the quality and diminishing the size of their natural habitat. To
resolve this increasing issue, the local and national government agencies created laws and
policies to limit and reverse the effects of these industries. President George H.W. Bush signed
the most influential law, titled the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act (HTFRA), into
legislation on October 29, 1992. At the date of the act's birth, nearly two-thirds of the forested
land in Hawaii had been lost. With the passing of the HTFRA, the United States then complies
with the principles from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) declaring it as a nation concerned with conserving and protecting invaluable tropical
forests (Bush 1992).
Bill
Bill number S. 2679 titled Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act (HTFRA) was sponsored by
senator Akaka Daniel K. (HI), with co-sponsorship by senator Inouye, Daniel K. (HI). The bill
was introduced to the senate on May 7th 1992. With the bill purpose to amends the International
Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990. On September 30 1992 S.AMDT. 3352 was submitted by
Senator Akaka, Daniel K. to amend the original bill, with the amendment purpose to substitute
the original text of bill S. 2679. It was proposed by senator Cranston and amended by the
senator through Voice Vote on September 30th 1992 and passed by the House on October 2 1992.
Since the time HTFRA amended the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990 no other
major actions has taken place since 10/29/1992 when President George H.W. Bush signed
HTFRA making it a public law numbered P.L.102-574. The HTFRA has no other related bills.
Task Force
HTFRA lead to the development of the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Task Force (HTFRTF)
by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. The task force that was to be terminated within180
day of the submission of the action plan to rejuvenated Hawaii’s forest to the congressional
committee, Secretaries of Agriculture and the Governor of Hawaii. The HTFRTG was developed
to create an action plan that would rejuvenate the Hawaiian Tropical Forests through the
following 3 ways. (1) Facilitate the expansion of the Institute of Pacific Island Forestry and other
forest facilities in Hawaii, (2) At the request of the governor, establish a Hawaii Experimental
Tropical Forest and (3) Provide grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to promote sound
management and conservation practices of tropical forests and management practices that may
be utilized in other tropical forests worldwide. The act calls on the Secretary of the Interior to
appoint a representative from the Fish and Wildlife Service as well as a representative from The
National Park Services to assist and serve on the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Task Force.
Experimental Forest
HTFRA lead to the establishment and management of the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest
that was to be use in the following ways; (1) a model of quality tropical forest management
where harvesting on a sustainable yield basis can be demonstrated in balance with natural
resource conservation; (2) a site for research on tropical forestry, conservation biology, and
natural resource management; and (3) a center for demonstration, education, training, and
outreach on tropical forestry, conservation biology, and natural resources research and
management. (Cornell Legal Information Institute) the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest is
dedicated to long-term research on important environmental issues, such as global warming;
invasive species and land cover change affects on forest and watersheds. (DLNR of HI) From the
Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest two other forest sites were designated that would
encompass multiple gradients of climate, forest, soil and resource history. The two sites chosen
were 12,343-acre Laupahoehoe forest in North Hilo and the 38,885-acre Pu’u Wa’a Wa’a forest
in North Kona. Then on February 24 2006, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved
findings for the establishment of the Hawaii experimental tropical forest and recommended to
the Governor the establishment of the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest. (DLNR Of HI) On
March 23 2007 the areas were formally established when the secretary of agriculture designated
the areas for the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest.
Action Plan
The Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Task Force created the Recovery Action Plan on July 29,
1994, one year after their first meeting. It contains 9 guiding concepts and 25 recommendations
surrounding: (1) Informing and involving people regarding the planning and managing of Hawaii
forest (2) Working to establish a sustainable balanced forest program for Hawaii (3) Intensifying
research and stewardship activities to support forest restoration, management, protection and use
a proposed budget plan and implementation strategy and also presented within the recovery
action plan of HTFRA. Outlined below are the guiding concepts and recommendations held
within the Recovery Action Plan:
Guiding Concept 1: Working Relationships, has two recommendations within it encouraging
greater cooperation, coordination and collaboration, along with addressing natural resource
management issues.
Guiding Concept 2: Traditional and Community Uses, has two recommendation within it that
establishes sensitivity towards rights, responsibilities and practices of indigenous Hawaii culture,
and determines community forestry practices and uses.
Guiding Concept 3: Stewardship of the Forest has seven recommendations within it emphasizing
stewardship of Hawaii’s forest resources through expansion of current programs, restoring native
forest and creation of new habitat, assisting private landowners, reforesting, and managing game
and fire.
Guiding Concept 4: Incentives, has two recommendations within it that are to develop aggressive
incentive systems to help manage, protect and use Hawaii’s forest.
Guiding Concept 5: Training and Education, has two recommendations within it that enhance,
expand and integrate capabilities of training and education programs focused on conservation
and natural resource management.
Guiding Concept 6: Research and Demonstration, has three recommendations within it working
to support research and technology to improve understanding of the diverse environmental,
cultural and economic values of Hawaii’s forest.
Guiding Concept 7: Planning, Inventories, and Monitoring, has three recommendations involving
development, conduct, and maintaining of multiresource inventories and monitoring programs of
Hawaii’s natural and commercial forest.
Guiding Concept 8: Economic Development, has one recommendation within it that
promotes, supports, and expands the forest products industry creating sustainable
commercial forests to further economic development and diversification.
Guiding Concept 9: Innovative Funding, has three recommendations within it that
encourages new funding for forest-related projects and program from innovative funding
sources.