HCR 61: urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with its partners to increase investment in policies, incentives, workforce, and nursery capacity to reforest Hawaii's public and private lands.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with its partners to increase investment in policies, incentives, workforce, and nursery capacity to reforest Hawaii's public and private lands.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's forests are the foundation of the State's water supply, cultural heritage, biodiversity, near coastal ecosystem, and climate resilience, and are a key piece of the natural infrastructure upon which life on the islands relies; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's forests are unique to the State, provide a multitude of values including local enjoyment and recreation, cultural foundation for Native Hawaiians, visitor attraction, and economic opportunities from the management of species, such as koa, ʻiliahi, maile, and ʻōhiʻa lehua, that can be restored and sustainably managed so as to expand the forest economy in the State; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's native forests were cleared and are  degrading due to a history of land use changes, unmanaged ungulates, invasive weeds, and other disturbances, which have resulted in significant ecological, cultural, coral-fishery habitat, and economic losses that will continue if reforestation is not a priority for the State; and

     WHEREAS, restoring degraded forests and former forest lands to a healthy and fire resilient status will have many benefits to people in the State and the economy while also supporting agricultural diversification, including through silvopastoral systems and other markets; and

     WHEREAS, reforestation requires a suite of conditions, including landowner incentives, policy directions, stable funding, and strategic investments, to support the pipeline of reforestation needs on public and private lands; and

     WHEREAS, among the needs is investment in state and private nursery modernization to increase the supply of high-quality, clean native seedlings necessary for reforestation, including expanding the collecting, banking, and management of seed resources and seed orchards; and

     WHEREAS, strengthening reforestation in Hawaii has been identified by the Green Fee Advisory Council as a priority to achieve Hawaii's resilience, watershed protection, and ecosystem restoration goals; and

     WHEREAS, this body expressly recognizes reforestation as a priority for Hawaii and acknowledges that supporting and investing in reforestation will expand Hawaii's future economic opportunities and improve clean water supply and climate resilience; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to work with its partners to increase investment in policies, incentives, workforce, and nursery capacity to reforest Hawaii's public and private lands; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through its Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is urged to invest in its nurseries to modernize and increase capacity to meet Hawaii's present and future reforestation needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as part of the reforestation efforts, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to include and strengthen outreach, coordination, and partnerships with private nurseries, seed collaboratives, community organizations, and landowners; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to explore and advance reforestation policies, programs, tools, and structures that will support reforestation efforts and attract additional public, philanthropic, and private investment in reforestation across Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to work with its partners and use existing programs to further address barriers to reforestation in a manner that will defray upfront reforestation costs, including the costs for fencing and invasive weed and ungulate management, and support coordinated programs and planning across landowners and agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title: 

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Reforestation